Whitstable secured their place in the Fourth Round of the Isuzu FA Vase with a clinical second half performance that earned them a 3-0 win against Eastbourne United. There was plenty of support for the Oystermen as they played their first home Vase tie since winning the trophy at Wembley last season, but they were given some anxious moments in a tight first half by their Southern Combination League opponents who hit the bar and forced Dan Colmer to make a good save. Whitstable were probably happy to get in and regroup at half time and were much better when play restarted. Three well worked goals by Javaun Splatt, Nathan Jeche and Jayden Boulton put Whitstable in command and their defence rarely looked like allowing Eastbourne back into the tie.

Eastbourne United entered the competition at the start and had won four games to reach this stage, knocking out Loxwood, Halls Athletic, Sporting Club Thamesmead and Epsom & Ewell. Their season has seen some mixed results, including a 9-0 FA Cup loss at Sheppey United, but more recently a 9-0 league win against Lancing and they currently occupy a mid-table position in the Southern Combination Premier Division, although with a healthy +16 goal difference. Whitstable entered later and a 2-1 win at Infinity was enough for them to progress to this home Third Round tie. The last FA Vase game at the Primcura Healthcare Stadium, the semi-final against Hartpury University, attracted a crowd of 2,905 and 629 were there to see if they could edge closer to a Wembley return. Jack Nelson was cup tied and Malachai Belboda away, so there were a few changes to the Whitstable team that had won at Phoenix Sports a week earlier. Tommy Ansell, who scored a hat trick for the Under 23s on Tuesday evening was named among the substitutes.

Eastbourne almost caught Whitstable out in the opening minute when James Hull was able to break through on the right, but fired an early shot wide of the near post. Whitstable then created several promising moments without being able to find a finish, as Joe Healy had a shot deflected wide then volleyed a good Brad Walledge cross over the bar. Following the game's first yellow card for a foul by Dan Hull, the best chance came in the 15th minute when Finn O'Mara headed on a Fin Cotton cross and Will Thomas arrived, only to lift the ball over the bar from about six yards. At the other end, Eastbourne were presented with a great opportunity in the 19th minute when Whitstable failed to clear a long ball and it fell kindly for Charlie Ball who thumped his shot against the angle of the bar and right post from just inside the box, but it rebounded out and the ball was cleared.

Whitstable then lost the services of Healy who had been struggling with a knee problem since the early minutes and he was replaced by Nathan Jeche. Bradley Schafer fired over and a few minutes later pulled the ball back for Walledge who also shot over. In the 31st minute, Yannis Drais received the ball on the left edge of the box and made himself room for a shot that was tipped over the bar by Dan Colmer's right hand. The visitors had the better of the closing minutes of the half and when Koby Farrell was brought down 22 yards from goal, a free kick in a threatening position was curled over the top by Drais. That proved to be the last chance before the half time and the Whitstable management team were no doubt left with some thinking to do during the interval.

The response was to bring on Mikey Dalton, who had been recovering from injury, in an effort to strengthen the midfield. Whitstable soon found themselves in front with a well-crafted goal in the 48th minute. Schafer hooked the ball forward to Javaun Splatt and he passed to Jeche in the "D" who turned and played a clever return pass to Splatt who finished well for his 15th goal of the season. An injury to Dean Grant then meant another enforced Whitstable change, with the introduction of Jayden Boulton on the left. An Eastbourne free kick on the left was headed well over by Jordan Ray. Whitstable doubled their lead on 63 minutes as the ball was sent forward to Jeche who chested it down for Schafer and he returned it to Jeche and his quickly taken 22 yard shot found its way past Alex Hobden into the far corner. The game was effectively over in the 70th minute when Whitstable added a third goal that was started on the right when a neat flick by Splatt found Schafer who played a lovely pass to Boulton and although his touch took the ball a little wide on the left, his low shot back across goal beat Hobden and nestled in the far corner.

Eastbourne did have a chance to pull a goal back in the 74th minute when Farrell pulled the ball back from the right to the near post for Mo Huchu who steered his shot just wide. After two more Eastbourne corners came to nothing, a Jake McIntyre free kick from long range out on the right hit the top of the bar. Schafer's free kick from the other side bounced awkwardly for Hobden, but he managed to turn the ball around the post. Schafer then retrieved the ball following a corner, cut inside and tested Hobden with a powerful drive that was pushed away. Drais had a shot cleared away, although it was probably bending just wide, but Whitstable's front three continued to cause problems at the other end and Jeche set up Schafer who shot over. Some late substitutions included an appearance for Ansell, as Whitstable eased through to await Monday’s draw.

Whitstable return to SCEFL Premier Division action on Tuesday evening for a top of the table clash with Larkfield & New Hythe.

Whitstable	Data	Eastbourne Utd
5	Shots on target	1
8	Shots off target	7
2	Shots blocked	3
2	Corners	8
13	Fouls conceded	17
1	Offside	1
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jake McIntyre (c), Fin Cotton, Finn O'Mara, Will Thomas, Dean Grant (Jayden Boulton 48), Brad Walledge (Mikey Dalton 46), Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Joe Healy (Nathan Jeche 20, Tommy Ansell 90).
Sub (unused): Josh Robson
Goals: Javaun Splatt 48, Nathan Jeche 63, Jayden Boulton 70.

Eastbourne United
Alex Hobden, Anthony Thomas, Sam Scott, Dan Hull (c), Jordan Ray, Brett Patton, Mo Huchu (Charlie Purvis 90+1), Koby Farrell, James Hull, Charlie Ball (Teddy Loft 90+1), Yannis Drais.
Subs (unused): Rhyle Ovenden, Anthony Storey, Josh Thomas.
Yellow cards: Dan Hull 14, Koby Farrell 68, Sam Scott 79.

Attendance: 629
Referee: Richard Joss
Assistants: Adam Miller & Mark Roberts