SHEPPEY UNITED 0 WHITSTABLE TOWN 3
Pre-season friendly
Saturday July 5 2025 15.00

Whitstable visited Sheppey for the second time in four days and once again returned with a win as their pre-season programme continued. Perhaps surprisingly, given the status of the opposition, this turned out to be a more comfortable success and the 3-0 margin of victory could easily have been greater. The goals, by Bradley Schafer, Javaun Splatt and Ashdon Day, were all scored in the second half. Whitstable ended the game strongly, which was encouraging for the future considering all of the team at that point were aged under 21, with the exception of Ricardo Thompson.

Following their 3-1 win against Sheppey Sports on Wednesday evening, this time the Oysters faced Step 4 opposition in Sheppey United. The hosts, who play their football one step above Whitstable, are now starting out under a new management team as Kevin Watson looks to build a squad for their Isthmian League campaign, so a number of trialists were named in their squad. Whitstable were without several experienced players, as Finn O’Mara was unavailable and the injured trio of Dean Grant, Mikey Dalton and Connor Wilkins watched from the side-lines.

The first half failed to produce any goals, but Whitstable created the better opportunities. A good move involving several players, after Cameron Brodie had won possession, eventually saw Joe Healy find Schafer in the box and he laid the ball back for Fin Cotton to try a low shot from 20 yards that was well saved by former Deal Town goalkeeper Adam Molloy. Midway through the half, Splatt flicked the ball on for Schafer, but he unexpectedly shot wide with just Molloy to beat. It was then the turn of Healy to test Molloy after a patient build up, but his shot was well saved. Sheppey had not threatened too much, but Dan Colmer turned a speculative effort by Trialist C behind for a corner in the 35th minute, although it appeared to be curling wide anyway. A long range free kick by Jake McIntyre almost caused some problems as it was deflected towards goal before being put out for a corner, but the teams went in level at the break.

Substitutions were made by both teams throughout the second half and only Thompson and Cotton played the full 90 minutes for Whitstable. Cotton won the ball and found Splatt who slipped it to Schafer and his shot was just tipped away by Molloy for a corner, then a long range effort by Healy bounced just wide. Sheppey's best moment of the game saw a neat build up on the right that gave Trialist B the chance to deliver a good cross to the back post where Trialist F slid in and looked sure to score but somehow the ball ended up in Colmer's hands. Straight afterwards, in the 56th minute, Whitstable were in front. Colmer gave the ball to Jayden Boulton who sent it forward to Schafer and he cut inside two defenders before shooting past Molloy. Day then raced clear but was denied by another good save before Whitstable doubled their lead in the 70th minute. A spell of pressure led to a cross by Luke Mandry that wasn't dealt with and the ball dropped to Splatt who fired it into the roof of the net. Jacob Lambert then curled a shot wide for the home team. Whitstable made their final changes in the 77th minute, leaving probably the youngest eleven ever to represent the first team on the pitch.

Some clever passing down the right opened up Sheppey again and a cross by Nico Grierson presented an open goal for Harry Baptiste at the back post, but he lifted the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out. Under 23 player Baptiste soon made up for his miss when he won possession on the left and drove forward before picking out Day who powered an unstoppable shot past Molloy for Whitstable's third goal in the 87th minute. Day then combined again with Baptiste whose shot from a tight angle was beaten out by Molloy. The final whistle blew soon afterwards to end a very satisfying run out for Whitstable who finished the game in dominant fashion with ten players aged between 16 and 20 on the pitch. They might have added more goals, but it was encouraging to see so many players from the under 23s and the academy involved.

Whitstable are on the road again on Tuesday evening when they play Ashford United in another pre-season game.

Sheppey United
Adam Molloy, Archie Johnson, Lex Allan, Trialist A, Eitel Goueth, Dan Bradshaw, Billy Bennett, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist E, David Opoku.
Subs: Tommy Linkson, Jacob Lambert, Louis Way, Trialist D, Trialist F.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Fin Cotton, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c), Callum Peck, Cameron Brodie, Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Joe Healy.
Subs: Luke Mandry, Nico Grierson, Ashdon Day, Zach Keeble, Tagan Kray, Harry Baptiste, Jake Abrahams, George Byrne, Thiago.
Goals: Bradley Schafer 56, Javaun Splatt 70, Ashdon Day 87.

Attendance: 258
Referee: Henry Saxton
Assistants: Jamie Law & Byron Beard