Following their historic FA Cup run, which came to an end at Wealdstone on Saturday, it was another cup competition that presented Whitstable with the chance to quickly return to winning ways as they travelled to Holmesdale to kick off their Kent Senior Trophy campaign. An even first half of few chances, in which the home team improved as time passed, ended perfectly for Whitstable when a defensive lapse allowed Bradley Schafer to give them a narrow half time lead. Holmesdale began the second half brightly before being undone with a route one goal by Javaun Splatt after which the result was never in doubt. Schafer and Splatt both helped themselves to another goal each as Whitstable ran out 4-0 winners to reach the last 16.

Whitstable were drawn away in every round of the Kent Senior Trophy last season, but made it all the way to the final at Maidstone where they lost 3-2 to Larkfield & New Hythe. This time they began with another away tie, at Holmesdale, which was their 18th game of the current season, only nine of which have been in the league, so they are certainly no strangers to cup football. Their Bromley based hosts have begun the season well and currently find themselves in second place in the league table. They are still managed by former Whitstable striker Andy Constable. Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle made two changes to the team that started the 5-1 FA Cup defeat at National League Wealdstone with Jayden Boulton and Joe Healy returning, while Ricardo Thompson and Connor Wilkins were both unavailable due to injury and illness. Amongst the crowd of 88, there were a number of Oyster fans who made the Wednesday evening journey.

The game began quietly with no chances of note until the 15th minute when Healy had a shot deflected wide. A few minutes later, Nathan Palmer latched onto a long ball and tried a shot from distance that flew past the left post. Whitstable almost opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Healy played the ball out to Boulton who made a good run down the left and sent in a low cross that was met on the volley by Healy, but goalkeeper Charlie Wealands did well to turn the ball around the post. Javaun Splatt got his head to the corner that followed and the ball looped up to Mikey Dalton who shot over the bar. There was a great chance at the other end in the 31st minute following another Whitstable corner when a quick break gave Palmer the opportunity to take the ball down the left before pulling it back for Kayden Turner who lifted his shot over the bar when he might have done better.

Holmesdale began to pass the ball around with more confidence and caused Whitstable a few problems. Lewis Heywood tried a shot that took a deflection before being safely collected by Dan Colmer. Callum Keeble delivered several long throws into the Whitstable penalty area and from one of these the ball was returned to him near the left corner and he sent over a cross which was missed by Colmer and the ball hit the bar before being cleared. It was Whitstable however that took the lead in the 44th minute as Finn O'Mara sent the ball forward to Dean Grant who managed to nod it on and Jude Jeffery's attempt to head it back to Wealands fell short and Bradley Schafer stole in to lift it over the goalkeeper into the net. It meant that Whitstable were able to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

The second half began with Holmesdale looking to get back on level terms and a well struck ball in from the right by Turner was spilt by Colmer but safely cleared, then Palmer curled an effort over the top. Whitstable did create a chance from a corner that led to a Healy cross bring headed over by Jake McIntyre. Healy then shot over before Turner put another chance over the bar from six yards at the other end. Whitstable scored their second goal that effectively settled the outcome in the 64th minute and it was a simple one. Colmer kicked the ball forward for Splatt to run between two defenders and shoot past Wealands. Colmer had to be alert to tip a curling left footed shot by Turner over the bar, but after some substitutions Whitstable scored again in the 76th minute. Splatt did well to meet a Colmer clearance on the edge of the box and play it across to Chris Alhassan who turned and set up Schafer to go past Wealands and roll the ball into the net.

Three soon became four as a Fin Cotton cross from the right wasn't properly dealt with by Ayo Lugboso, under pressure from Ashdon Day, and the ball dropped kindly for Splatt to score his second on 80 minutes. There was a debut for 17 year old Whitstable academy player Thiago Ferreira who came on in the 82nd minute. Whitstable did have three half chances to add to their score, but Schafer shot over, Dalton's shot lacked power and Ferreira hooked a corner over the bar with the last kick of the evening, but they will be happy enough with a 4-0 win to help get the memory of the FA Cup loss out of their system before returning to the quest for league points.

Whitstable return to league action on Saturday as they visit current leaders Erith & Belvedere who have collected five more points than Whitstable to date, although they have played five more games.

Holmesdale	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	7
6	Shots off target	5
3	Shots blocked	1
1	Corners	5
8	Fouls conceded	12
0	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Holmesdale
Charlie Wealands, Jude Jeffery (Ayo Lugboso 68), Tony Musoke, Cameron McGovern (Marcus Elliott 69), Micquelle Murray, Ali Mansaray, Kevin Dance (Nad Nwitua 80), Nathan Palmer (c), Kayden Turner (Jorden Mbola 76), Lewis Heywood, Callum Keeble.
Sub (unused): Chris Tuley

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Finn O’Mara (Chris Alhassan 72), Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c), Fin Cotton, Joe Healy (Ashdon Day 72), Javaun Splatt (Thiago Ferreira 82), Bradley Schafer, Dean Grant (Theo Osinfolarin 62).
Sub (unused): Josh Robson
Goals: Bradley Schafer 44, 76, Javaun Splatt 64, 80.
Yellow card: Javaun Splatt 69

Attendance: 88
Referee: Krystian Kaczala
Assistants: Kenny Aghasili & Richard Cooksey