WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 COCKFOSTERS 1
Cockfosters won 5-4 on penalties
The Isuzu FA Vase Fifth Round
Saturday February 7 2026 15.00

Two memorable FA Vase campaigns have done so much for the club, both on and off the pitch, and created memories that could hardly have been dreamt about, but a penalty shootout defeat to Cockfosters denied Whitstable another quarter final place and left them to focus on maintaining their position at the top of the league and winning promotion back to Step 4. A tight, physical encounter, watched by a big crowd, brought little excitement in a goalless first half after Ronald Sithole's early effort struck the post. The game sprung to life in the second half when a mistake presented Cockfosters with an opportunity to take the lead, which they gratefully accepted as Kendall Gyamfi rolled the ball past Dan Colmer. The Cockfosters defence had dealt with everything Whitstable had created in the first hour, but eventually Javaun Splatt fired in to level the scores. A key moment then saw Jay Lovell sent off and Whitstable awarded a penalty, but Connor Sansom saved Bradley Schafer's spot kick. Whitstable piled on the pressure, but just couldn't find a winner and a penalty shootout was required. Nine out of ten found the net, with the only miss being Whitstable's fourth, as the unfortunate Theo Osinfolarin shot over.

After winning the competition last season, Whitstable only had to enter in the Second Round this time, so had won three games to reach the last 16, the last being a 4-1 win at Harpenden Town. The draw presented Whitstable with a home tie against an in-form Cockfosters team who, like Harpenden, play in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and were handily placed just three points off the top. They had won five games to reach this stage, three by penalty shootouts. Whitstable were missing a couple of cup-tied squad members and Mikey Dalton who is still a few weeks away from returning, but captain Jake McIntyre had recovered sufficiently from a broken toe to take a place on the bench. New signing Harvey Kedwell, dual registered with AFC Croydon Athletic, started in midfield. The attendance of 1,547 was really impressive on a horribly wet day on the Kent coast.

There was almost a perfect start for Whitstable when Javaun Splatt sent the ball forward to Ronald Sithole and it rebounded to Bradley Schafer who headed it back for Sithole whose shot from a tight angle on the right was kept out by a combination of goalkeeper Connor Sansom and the post before bouncing kindly back into the grateful hands of the goalkeeper. That was as good as it got for some time, with both teams happy to pump the ball forward with little end product, although Junior Moses curled a free kick harmlessly over the bar from a promising position.

In the 30th minute, Whitstable won a free kick just inside the Cockfosters half and Kedwell's delivery found Lewis Chambers at the back post and his downward header was saved by Sansom. Just afterwards Chambers was caught by Junior Mubiayi in the centre circle, earning the Cockfosters player the game's first yellow card. In the moments that followed, home captain Will Thomas had too much to say to the referee and, after some confusion and a discussion with the assistant, the referee sent him to the sin bin for ten minutes. A long throw from the left corner by Jay Lovell was flicked on and down by Jandir Da Cruz and the ball was pushed out from the foot of the near post by Dan Colmer. Whitstable put several balls into the box from set pieces, but it was no great surprise that the teams went into the break with the score 0-0.

When play restarted, a long ball forward was headed on by Da Cruz for George Hughes to volley over the bar. Somewhat out of nothing, the deadlock was broken in the 51st minute and it was a gift for Cockfosters as Chambers attempted to pass back to Ricardo Thompson, but underhit it and George Lutaaya was first to the ball and raced down the left before sensibly finding an unmarked Gyamfi in the middle and he had the simple task of steering the ball past the stranded Colmer. There was then a lengthy delay as two physios appeared to treat Da Cruz, but when the game began again, Lovell was booked for chopping down Kedwell. The Cockfosters physios reappeared soon afterwards as the game was halted once more.

The Whitstable management team have been excellent at doing their homework on opponents and adjusting tactics and team selection effectively, as evidenced by an impressive run of results, including knocking three Step 3 teams out of the FA Cup. This game though was starting to feel like an exception as the towering Da Cruz continued to repel a stream of high balls into the box and there was some expectation among supporters of substitutions as time ticked by, but they stuck to the plan and in the 70th minute a long throw by Sithole was headed on by Finn O'Mara for Splatt to volley an equaliser. More drama soon followed when Jayden Boulton won the ball and drove down the left before his low cross was handled by Lovell and the referee pointed to the spot before issuing a second yellow and a red card to the Cockfosters captain. It appeared that the tide had turned in favour of the Oysters, but Sansom had other ideas and managed to push away Schafer's penalty kick to keep his team on level terms. Whitstable kept pushing and Theo Osinfolarin shot over, then Thomas headed a long throw wide. A Boulton pass sent Schafer through, but Egan Ntege got back well to block the shot as he tried to slot it past Sansom. There was a brief threat at the other end when a long cross field run by Moses gave him the chance to turn back and try a curler from 20 yards that went wide. Sansom then misjudged a Sithole throw and a defender cleared as far as Thomas whose shot was blocked at close range.

The game went into added time and a Splatt cross reached Schafer whose shot was deflected for a very late corner. Substitute Joe Healy was first to Kedwell's corner, but didn't connect properly and the ball rebounded off a defender in the crowded goalmouth before Chambers tried a shot that was also kept out. There was no way through a resilient Cockfosters defence and penalties were required.

When Whitstable lifted the trophy last season, only one penalty shootout was needed, at Walsham le Willows, but since then they had lost twice in shootouts. Given the recent record of Cockfosters from the spot, most around the ground were very nervous! Whitstable had introduced McIntyre just before the final whistle and he stepped up to tuck the first penalty away. It was soon 3-3, with Kedwell and Thompson both scoring for Whitstable, while Gyamfi, Mubiayi and Da Cruz replied clinically as neither goalkeeper could make a save. Osinfolarin then lifted his effort over the top to put the visitors in charge and despite Thomas converting Whitstable's fifth, Colmer was unable to prevent either Moses or Adam Hastings finding the net, so Cockfosters were through to the quarter finals for the first time. Whitstable didn't do enough for the first hour, but will probably feel they should have won the game in the later stages before the lottery of penalties. Cockfosters though defended admirably and will not be easy to beat for the other teams that remain in the last eight.

Whitstable return to league action on Saturday, hoping to consolidate their position at the top, where they currently have an 11 point lead. They have an important home match against Rusthall, who are the team best placed to catch them, 17 points behind, but with three games in hand.
Coincidentally, they are at home to the same opposition the following week in the semi-final of the Kent Senior Trophy.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton (Jake McIntyre 90+7), Harvey Kedwell, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (c), Ronald Sithole (Joe Healy 90+3), Lewis Chambers, Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Theo Osinfolarin.
Subs (unused): Jack Peters, Malachai Belboda, Dean Grant.
Goal: Javaun Splatt 70
Yellow cards: Will Thomas (sin bin) 32, Ricardo Thompson 68, Jayden Boulton 90+2.

Cockfosters
Connor Sansom, Egan Ntege, Junior Moses, Conrad Holland, Jay Lovell (c), Jandir Da Cruz, George Lutaaya (Terry Offeh 90+2), Luca Gordon (Adam Hastings 76), Kendall Gyamfi, Junior Mubiayi, George Hughes (Kenny Nobrega 79).
Subs (unused): Michael Evans, Coskun Grantham.
Goal: Kendall Gyamfi 51
Yellow cards: Junior Mubiayi 31, Jandir Da Cruz 86.
Red card: Jay Lovell 72 (two yellows 56, 72)

Attendance: 1,547
Referee: Jack Willmore
Assistants: Daniel Doyle & Peter Wilson
Fourth official: Richard Joss