On a very wet afternoon in South London, Whitstable eventually overcame the challenge of SCEFL First Division Croydon to reach the Third Round of the GoCardless Kent Senior Trophy. An early goal by Malachai Belboda set them on their way, but Croydon fought back well and Tom Barton fired in an equaliser before half time. The second half was much better from Whitstable who always looked in control as they eased to a 4-1 win. Javaun Splatt and Theo Osinfolarin both found the net with good finishes and sandwiched between was an unfortunate own goal by Jack White, as Whitstable made it to the last eight for the third successive season.

Last season, Whitstable were drawn away in every round of the Kent Senior Trophy, but did reach the final at Maidstone where they lost 3-2 to Larkfield & New Hythe. The previous season, it was Croydon that denied them a place in the final when they won a close semi-final 2-1, at Whitstable. That was the first meeting between the teams since the 2017-18 season when they met four times; Croydon knocked Whitstable out of the FA Cup with a 3-2 away success, but Whitstable later won a SCEFL Challenge Cup match 4-0 and both league matches 2-0. This season, Croydon, who sit just outside the play-off spots in the First Division, beat Lewisham Borough 2-0 to reach this round and Whitstable had seen off Holmesdale 4-0. Whitstable were without the cup-tied Jack Nelson and Joe Healy who was unavailable. This game at the Croydon Sports Arena was played in front of a sparse crowd on an afternoon of thoroughly wet and miserable weather.

Croydon began promisingly, winning two early corners, but when the ball was put over the bar, Dan Colmer's goal kick led to Whitstable taking an early lead in the 6th minute when Dean Grant got free on the left and his low cross was finished at the back post by Malachai Belboda. Any thoughts of a straightforward win were unfounded as Croydon went on to create the better chances for the remainder of the first half, during which Whitstable rarely looked comfortable. Tom Barton and Tom Waters tried shots as Croydon looked for a quick response, then after a Whitstable corner was cleared, a long range effort by Jack White was easily held by Colmer. David Boorer had to be alert in the home goal when Bradley Schafer curled over a dangerous cross from the left that had to be tipped over the bar.

There was another warning for Whitstable when Finn O'Mara's headed clearance was collected by Barton whose shot was saved by Colmer. Croydon did get the goal their performance probably deserved in the 38th minute when Whitstable failed to clear a corner properly and Barton nipped in from the right touchline to win possession and find the far top corner from 20 yards. There was a collision between Grant and Boorer just before the break that left the Croydon goalkeeper needing treatment and although he was able to continue, he did not return for the second half. Barton poked another shot wide before the referee brought the half to a close with the scores level at 1-1.

Alfie Clark was handed the Croydon goalkeeper's gloves when play resumed and Whitstable made two changes, as Mikey Dalton and Belboda had both picked up injuries and were replaced by Fin Cotton and Theo Osinfolarin. Cotton was the first to test the new Croydon keeper when his deflected shot was pushed behind for a corner that was scrambled clear. Schafer set up Grant on the left and his shot was saved, then Schafer's deflected shot was turned around the post. O'Mara headed Brad Walledge's corner against the far post, but when Schafer's next cross was headed out, the ball went straight to Javaun Splatt who fired in from 18 yards to put Whitstable back in front on 60 minutes. Splatt tried again, but this time his shot hit a defender and looped over the bar before Grant was replaced by Nathan Jeche who continued his comeback from injury. An unusual goal all but settled the outcome in the 65th minute as Cotton launched the ball forward from his own half and White volleyed it over his own goalkeeper from the 18 yard line as he attempted to clear.

Whitstable were passing the ball around with more confidence as Jeche and Osinfolarin both had shots saved, then a long distance lob by O'Mara was just tipped over the bar by Clark. The game continued to be played at one end with Jeche and Splatt both denied again. More changes followed by both teams as the game drifted to its inevitable conclusion. Kieran Rufus collected the afternoon's only yellow card and just after the 90 minute mark, Schafer found Osinfolarin on the right and he curled a great shot into the far corner to make it 4-1. The referee had clearly had enough of the deteriorating conditions and didn't add much time on, so the game ended shortly afterwards. It had been a professional second half performance by Whitstable who denied Croydon any attempts on their goal during that period.

With no midweek game, Whitstable are next in action on Saturday when they visit Phoenix Sports for a league fixture.

Croydon	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	15
3	Shots off target	5
1	Shots blocked	7
3	Corners	7
6	Fouls conceded	7
0	Offside	5
0	Penalties	0

Croydon
David Boorer (Pat Ward 46), Sam Smith, Tommy Friend, Kieran Rufus (c), Alfie Clark, Ted Dwyer (Alfie Curnow 83), Kanan Fitton (Enoch Folorunsho 86), Red Jenkins (George Palmer 75), Tom Waters (Kiyan Pinnock 78), Jack White, Tom Barton.
Subs (unused): none
Goal: Tom Barton 38
Yellow card: Kieran Rufus 89

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton (Fin Cotton 46), Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas, Dean Grant (Nathan Jeche 62), Brad Walledge, Javaun Splatt (Chris Alhassan 74), Bradley Schafer, Malachai Belboda (Theo Osinfolarin 46).
Sub (unused): Josh Robson
Goals: Malachai Belboda 6, Javaun Splatt 60, Jack White o.g. 65, Theo Osinfolarin 90+1.

Attendance: 59
Referee: Matthew Williams
Assistants: James Brennan & Philip Anthony