INFINITY 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 2
The Isuzu FA Vase Second Round
Saturday November 8 2025 15.00

Whitstable began this season's FA Vase campaign in a vastly different setting to that in which they ended their historic 2024-25 run with a win at Wembley. The Sidlesham Memorial Recreation Ground in West Sussex was the venue for this Second Round tie against Infinity FC. Whitstable were far from their best against spirited opponents, but narrowly avoided the lottery of penalties when Dean Grant headed a very late goal to seal a hard fought 2-1 win. They had several chances to have made it a more comfortable afternoon, the best of which was an early penalty that was saved. A first half Joe Healy goal had looked like being enough, until Tommy Tierney equalised from the penalty spot with around twenty minutes remaining, but Grant's decider settled the nerves ahead of the long trip back to the Kent coast.

Last season's Isuzu FA Vase success meant a bye until the Second Round for Whitstable, when the draw paired them with Infinity, a Step 6 Southern Combination Football League Division One team, currently playing their home games at Sidlesham. The teams had unsurprisingly never met before. After receiving a bye in the first round of qualifying, Infinity had won two games in the competition to reach this stage. They were successful in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw against Christchurch in front of a home gate of 26, then had a 2-1 away win at AFC Aldermaston in a game watched by 37 spectators. Whitstable were without the cup tied Jack Nelson and Chris Alhassan, while Connor Wilkins missed out through injury. Ashdon Day has joined Sutton Athletic and was in their team that were knocked out of the FA Vase in a Friday night fixture, along with another former Oyster, Luke Mandry. Whitstable were making their second trip of the season to West Sussex, having previously won 1-0 at neighbouring Chichester City in an FA Cup replay. The memorial park pitch had a good covering of grass, although uneven in places. The official attendance on a sunny afternoon was 102.

The first real chance of the game went to the home team in the 10th minute when a Whitstable throw was headed away and collected by Clayd Roach inside his own half and he sped past two covering defenders, but when he reached the 18 yard line he sliced his shot horribly wide when he looked likely to give Infinity a dream start. It was Whitstable however that had an even better opportunity to take an early lead in the 14th minute when Joe Healy managed to get around Louie O'Brien inside the penalty area before referee James Hussey pointed to the spot when Ryan Gill raced back to assist and caught Healy, bringing him down. Javaun Splatt stepped up and, after some trouble getting the ball to settle on the worn spot, struck his penalty too close to Matthew Gregg who was able to make a relatively comfortable save. Shortly afterwards, the Infinity bench were not too impressed when Splatt was allowed to continue after appearing to pull his marker down, but his low cross was scooped over the bar by Bradley Schafer.

There was then a scrappy period of play before a more patient Whitstable build up gave Schafer a chance to try a shot that was blocked, then a Jake McIntyre cross from the left was headed back across goal by Healy and Schafer arrived beyond the back post, but the angle was tight and his shot was cleared off the line by O'Brien. Whitstable finally got the goal that they probably should have scored earlier, although it came from a defensive error in the 35th minute. Finn O'Mara sent the ball forward down the right and an attempted clearance by Ashton Leigh hit Schafer before rebounding kindly for Splatt whose low cross was converted at the far post by Healy. Cohwen Whitaker then managed to get free on the right to try a cross and the ball ballooned up towards Roach at the near post, but it was scrambled away by a combination of Dan Colmer and O'Mara. Healy played the ball forward from the left touchline for Splatt who held off a defender to get into the box, but then shot past the post from 12 yards. As half time approached Tommy Tierney broke into the box from the right and there were some loud, but somewhat optimistic, penalty appeals when he went down after running into Fin Cotton; the officials were not impressed however and play continued. Whitstable were a little fortunate to keep their 1-0 lead at the break when Infinity somehow failed to put the ball in the net in the 43rd minute. Some loose defending gave Tierney space in the box to deliver a cross from the right that went across goal before being returned into the middle by Joshua Cooper at the far post and with players closing in, nobody could get a decisive touch and Colmer was able to grab the ball.

Whitstable would not have been too happy with their first half performance, despite leading 1-0. They had though missed several good opportunities and although Colmer had not really been tested, Infinity had shown enough to suggest they were still well in the contest. The management team decided changes were necessary and altered their shape for the second half, with the two wing backs being replaced by Ricardo Thompson, who slotted in at right back, and forward Dean Grant. This seemed to give Whitstable more control and they remained relatively untroubled for the next 20 minutes or so. They should have doubled their advantage in the 54th minute when Schafer hooked the ball forward and a clever flick by Healy put Splatt clear, but with just Gregg to beat, his left footed shot went wide. Healy then threaded another ball though for Splatt who took it wide before his cross was cleared and another good chance had gone. The referee awarded Infinity a debatable free kick just outside the box in the 65th minute, but Leigh curled it way over the top. Some quick passing then won Whitstable the first corner of the match and Schafer's delivery was headed towards goal by Will Thomas, but Declan Seiden headed the ball out from under the bar.

Whitstable conceded a soft free kick just outside their penalty area on the right and when Roach sent the ball into that box, O'Mara was adjudged to have held Gill and out of nowhere, Infinity had a route back into the game from the penalty spot. Tierney took the kick and his low shot just escaped the clutches of Colmer to make it 1-1 in the 73rd minute. Whitstable then introduced Nathan Jeche in place of Healy as they looked to regain the lead in the gathering gloom. He had an early opportunity to run at the Infinity defence, but lost his footing and the ball rebounded wide. O'Mara was in the right place to head away a dangerous Roach cross and then, in the third minute of added time, Whitstable scored a very late winner. Colmer launched the ball up field and it was partially cleared, Schafer rolled it back to Cotton on the right and his cross was headed in by Grant. More substitutions followed and Whitstable saw out the time remaining for a 2-1 win, but will know how close they were to having to face a penalty shootout to stay in the competition. The Infinity team deserve plenty of credit for their performance and certainly gave an under par Whitstable a tough afternoon.

There is a quick return to the important matter of collecting league points for Whitstable who now have two home games, against Bearsted on Tuesday and Stansfeld on Saturday, as they look to maintain their position at the top of the table.

Infinity
Matthew Gregg, Joshua Cooper, Declan Seiden (Bradley Gale 90+5), Ashton Leigh (Cameron Duffy 90+5), Ryan Gill (c), Tommy Tierney, Harry Fox (Henry Foster 83), Clayd Roach, Cohwen Whitaker, Louie O'Brien.
Sub (unused): Elliot Banks
Goal: Tommy Tierney (pen) 73
Yellow cards: Joshua Cooper 37, Declan Seiden 68, Tommy Tierney 73.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Theo Osinfolarin (Ricardo Thompson 46), Jayden Boulton (Dean Grant 46), Finn O'Mara, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton, Fin Cotton, Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Joe Healy (Nathan Jeche 79, Bradley Walledge 90+8).
Sub (unused): Josh Robson
Goals: Joe Healy 35, Dean Grant 90+3.
Yellow cards: Ricardo Thompson 55, Finn O'Mara 87.

Attendance: 102
Referee: James Hussey
Assistants: Adam Davies & Luke Irelan-Hill