WHITSTABLE TOWN 2 BEARSTED 3
SCEFL Challenge Cup Second Round
Tuesday October 28 2025 19.45

Whitstable made a swift exit from the SCEFL Challenge Cup on Tuesday evening, although they had looked almost certain to progress when goals from Chris Alhassan and Jack Peters and a red card for Bearsted captain Adam Turton had left them 2-0 up against ten men with less than half an hour to play. Defensive errors then presented Bearsted a way back into the game, which they gratefully accepted. Two goals in two minutes by Ashton Mitford and Richard Jimoh levelled the scores and despite Whitstable having numerous chances to score a late winner, a Bearsted clearance was not dealt with on the halfway line, leaving Mark Boruk free to score an unlikely winner in added time.

This cup clash between the two teams currently sitting first and second in the league table was clearly not a priority for either, with both making a number of changes to their starting elevens; Whitstable making seven and Bearsted five. A long run in the FA Cup had already left Whitstable playing catch up with league fixtures and they are still in the Kent Senior Trophy, with also the small matter of the FA Vase to defend, so this competition looked like an opportunity to rotate the squad. Josh Robson replaced Dan Colmer in goal, Jack Peters returned for this game from his dual registration with Margate and there was also a late change prior to kick off when Will Thomas replaced Finn O'Mara. There was a good attendance of 323 for this midweek cup tie, but with Whitstable having been almost constantly playing away from home recently, it was a chance to catch a home game for local supporters.

Despite the much changed line up, including some players in unfamiliar positions, Whitstable began well. Chris Alhassan beat goalkeeper Lucas Brookman to the ball outside the area, but it went wide. A promising move produced a corner when Alhassan's shot was deflected past the post and Thomas was first to the ball, but placed his header wide. Whitstable goalkeeper Robson was needed to prevent Richard Jimoh giving Bearsted the lead in the 11th minute after a quick break, then Alhassan was denied by Brookman before the loose ball was headed away. There were a number of breaks in play while the busy Bearsted physio attended to players. Bradley Schafer shot wide, but Robson made a second save when denying Ashton Mitford in the 23rd minute. Several shots at both ends were off target and it looked like the first half would be goalless, until Whitstable scored with the final action before the interval. Alhassan made a good run until being brought down 25 yards from goal by Reuben Jones and the free kick was taken by Connor Wilkins whose shot was spilt by Brookman and Alhassan was there to put the ball into the net. The incident brought yellow cards for Jones and also Adam Turton for dissent, something that would have consequences during the second half.

There were chances at both ends early in the second half. Wilkins headed a corner over the bar before Robson turned a 20 yard shot by James Bessey-Saldanha around the post. Wilkins had a shot saved following some good play by Cotton, Theo Osinfolarin's low shot was also saved by Brookman and Ashdon Day curled his shot over after cutting in from the right. Jimoh got himself into the box and Robson had to block at his near post, but from the corner that followed Turton chopped down Peters as he tried to break and a second yellow and a red card meant an early end to the evening for the Bearsted captain in the 60th minute. The officials' patience with the constant criticism from the Bearsted bench also ran out and another yellow card was produced. When play eventually restarted, Schafer sent the ball out to Osinfolarin on the right and his cross was turned in by Peters to give Whitstable a 2-0 lead. Cotton had an impressive game in the Whitstable midfield and gave Alhassan the chance to try another shot that struck a defender and looped up to Brookman for an easy catch.

After Peters was cautioned, Bearsted managed to give themselves a foothold in the game when they broke quickly and Jack Palmby slipped the ball to Mitford who beat Robson from 25 yards to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute. Just two minutes later it was 2-2 when a misdirected clearance went straight to Palmby who passed the ball to Jimoh and he took the ball out to the left before turning back inside and finding the net with a deflected shot. Cotton created another chance for Whitstable, playing the ball into the box for Day who turned and shot just wide. Schafer's shot was deflected towards goal and cleared as far as Jayden Boulton who fired past the post. Whitstable introduced strikers Javaun Splatt and Dean Grant for the last few minutes to try to capitalise on the chances that their team were creating and it nearly worked when Splatt threaded the ball through to Grant, but his shot went just wide of the far post.

There were some crazy moments in added time when Whitstable looked certain to score the winner after Mikey Dalton's right wing cross was deflected towards goal by Splatt and with the goalkeeper beaten, Grant headed the ball against the bar from about a foot; it rebounded to Splatt whose shot was well saved by Brookman and then Cotton tried a shot that was deflected over. Splatt then rose to meet the corner, but headed wide. In the fifth added minute, the ground was left stunned when another Whitstable attack was hacked clear and Ricardo Thompson's header in the centre circle struck Bearsted substitute Mark Boruk and gave him the opportunity the run forward and slot the ball past Robson. Bearsted were able to see out the remaining time, mostly in the corner, to edge through. Whitstable will be disappointed with the manner of the defeat after playing some good football to establish a two goal lead, but missed chances and some loose defending towards the end proved costly against a resilient Bearsted team.

Next up for Whitstable is a trip to London on Saturday to play Fisher in a SCEFL Premier Division fixture.

Whitstable Town
Josh Robson, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Jack Peters (Mikey Dalton 74), Connor Wilkins, Will Thomas (c), Chris Alhassan (Javaun Splatt 82), Fin Cotton, Ashdon Day (Dean Grant 82), Bradley Schafer, Theo Osinfolarin.
Subs (unused): Dan Colmer, Finn O’Mara.
Goals: Chris Alhassan 45+4, Jack Peters 61.
Yellow card: Jack Peters 70

Bearsted
Lucas Brookman, Reuben Jones, Luka Radojevic, Jack Palmby, Phil Headley, Sonny Jackson, Michael Hagan, Adam Turton (c), Ashton Mitford, James Bessey-Saldanha (Mark Boruk 71), Richard Jimoh (Aidan Clark 90+1).
Subs (unused): Sam Stace, Ryan Blake, Stephen Sage.
Goals: Ashton Mitford 73, Richard Jimoh 75, Mark Boruk 90+5.
Yellow cards: Reuben Jones 45+3, Richard Jimoh 73, Mark Boruk 90+5.
Red card: Adam Turton (two yellows 45+4, 60)

Attendance: 323
Referee: Myles Hewson
Assistants: Tom Baker & Freddie Waldron