Whitstable beat Punjab United 2-0 to win their fourth Kent Senior Trophy and make it a league and cup double. On a sunny Sunday afternoon in Maidstone, Bradley Schafer scored an early goal to help settle any nerves amongst the large number of Whitstable supporters that had made the trip to the Gallagher Stadium. The game could have been wrapped up inside twenty minutes as both Joe Healy and Schafer had great opportunities to add further goals. Whitstable suffered a series of injury blows with three players having to depart early, but the defence stood firm when Punjab did test them, primarily from long throws, corners and free kicks, before Dean Grant eventually added an important second goal towards the end. Whitstable goalkeeper Dan Colmer was generally well protected by those in front of him, but gave an assured performance when threatened and made one great save to deny Harry Ottaway a late consolation goal.

During the excitement of the run to Wembley and winning the FA Vase last season, while also challenging for promotion via the playoffs, it was easy the overlook the achievement of reaching the final of the Kent Senior Trophy, although the performance on the day was somewhat underwhelming in a 3-2 loss to Larkfield & New Hythe. This time however, with the league championship and promotion already achieved, the team was fully focussed on trying to with the trophy for the fourth time in the club's eighth final appearance. Opponents Punjab United were also enjoying a memorable season, just missing out on Wembley after a semi-final defeat to Cockfosters in the FA Vase, and currently on an impressive winning run that looks like earning them a playoff spot and a chance to join Whitstable in the Isthmian League next season. They had reached the final once previously in 2022-23, comprehensively beating Deal Town 6-0. Whitstable had won both league meetings between the two teams, but both were closely fought games. Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle had some selection headaches for this game and made three changes to the team that started the previous game, with Dan Colmer, Jayden Boulton and Lewis Chambers returning. The free scoring Jack Hopkins was back in the Punjab starting eleven.

The Kent FA confirmed the attendance for the final was 1,448, which was higher than the 1,036 for the 2024-25 final. This was the eighth time this season that a Whitstable game had attracted a four figure attendance! The teams were accompanied onto the pitch by two drummers, one wearing a Punjab shirt and the other a Whitstable top, which was a nice, and unique, way to begin the afternoon.

Chances were rare in the early stages, with the first serious attempt on goal being a low Harry Ottaway shot from just outside the box that drifted wide. Shortly afterwards though, in the 11th minute, Whitstable opened the scoring after Malachai Belboda made a run into the box from wide on the right and tried a shot that was blocked, but the ball ran loose to Bradley Schafer who clinically fired it past Mitch Beeney into the net. That goal sparked a period of Whitstable pressure that should have brought further goals, but somehow Punjab survived. In the 16th minute, Javaun Splatt did well to send Joe Healy through with just Beeney to beat and he chose to take the ball around the stranded goalkeeper, but a heavy touch allowed it to run out for a goal kick. Another opportunity soon followed when Schafer suddenly found himself in space about 18 yards from goal, but unusually for the 28 goal midfielder he curled the ball the wrong side of the post. After Healy was fouled about 25 yards out, the resulting free kick eventually led to Steve Ratcliff slicing a dangerous cross over his own goal. The corner that followed saw Whitstable work a short routine, but just as it looked like a good shooting chance had been created, the ball hit the referee and play had to be halted.

Colmer punched a free kick safely away as Punjab struggled to find a way through the Whitstable defence, with Finn O'Mara, Tyler Hatton and Will Thomas all having good games against the considerable aerial threat of Ottaway, Roman Campbell and Jack Hopkins. After Punjab cleared two Whitstable corners, they lost the ball in midfield when pressed by Healy and Belboda and the latter broke away before being crowded out in the penalty area. The best Punjab chance of the half came in the 39th minute when a long throw by Chris Edwards was knocked down to Ottaway, but he couldn't keep his shot down and lifted the ball over the bar. Edwards then swung over a great cross, but Mikey Dalton got back well to clear the danger. In added time, Healy had an effort blocked after a Chambers throw, but then Whitstable suffered their first unfortunate injury blow when Dalton went down and was unable to continue, so Connor Wilkins replaced him just before the half time whistle blew with Whitstable leading 1-0.

Four minutes into the second half, Belboda became the second Whitstable player to depart with an injury and Ronald Sithole was introduced. Zak Bryon was unable to find a route through a crowded box when he tried a shot following the first Punjab corner of the afternoon, then his team made a double change, with the introduction of Hudson Scudder and Lee Bird. Ratcliff collected the game's first yellow card for a foul on Schafer, who volleyed just wide from 20 yards when the free kick came out to him. In the 61st minute, a promising Whitstable break released Sithole on the right and he picked out Splatt with a great cross, but the top scorer for once was off target with his header, much to his own frustration. A foot injury ended Boulton's game on 68 minutes and another reshuffle was required as Ricardo Thompson was the third Whitstable substitute used. The enforced changes unsurprisingly did allow Punjab to pose more of a threat and O'Mara made a timely interception to prevent a shot on goal following a short corner, but he was injured in the process when caught by Ratcliff who appeared to be given a final warning by referee Ayden Gillespie before being substituted soon afterwards.

Two more Punjab corners followed and from the second, Roman Campbell tried a low shot that proved a routine save for Colmer. Splatt was cautioned before Healy was replaced by Dean Grant who didn't take long to score the crucial second goal for the Oystermen in the 79th minute. A low cross by Sithole was turned towards goal by Grant and although Beeney managed to keep the ball out, it rebounded to the striker who this time gleefully slammed it into the net. There was then some action at both ends as a weak Bryon shot was gathered by Colmer before Splatt's effort was blocked by Wayne Bushell and Sithole lifted the ball over the top from a tight angle. In the 85th minute, substitute Will Johnson-Cole squared the ball for Ottaway whose rising shot was acrobatically turned away by a diving Colmer. Another Ottaway shot was deflected wide as Punjab threw bodies forward. Whitstable had a couple of chances on the break as the 90 minute mark approached and they were then content to see out the five added minutes with a couple of late corners before Splatt shot wide. Punjab had one final opportunity when an Edwards cross was headed into Colmer's hands by Ottaway and the Whitstable team could begin to celebrate their 2-0 win and another trophy with their families, friends and supporters. The trophy was received jointly by club captain Jake McIntyre and the team captain on the day Will Thomas.

This season concludes for Whitstable with an away league game on Saturday at Corinthian when the team will be aiming to finish on a high with a win that would take them to 89 points.

Whitstable	Data	Punjab United
3	Shots on target	4
7	Shots off target	3
3	Shots blocked	2
5	Corners	5
11	Fouls conceded	15
2	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Tyler Hatton, Jayden Boulton (Ricardo Thompson 68), Mikey Dalton (Connor Wilkins 45+5), Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (c), Malachai Belboda (Ronald Sithole 49), Lewis Chambers, Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Joe Healy (Dean Grant 77).
Sub (unused): Jake McIntyre
Goals: Bradley Schafer 11, Dean Grant 79.
Yellow card: Javaun Splatt 76

Punjab United
Mitch Beeney, Kyden Lewin-Thomas (Ryan Gill 90), Jordan Campbell (Hudson Scudder 57), Wayne Bushell (c), Steve Ratcliff (Will Johnson-Cole 73), Jack Hopkins (George Monger 87), Zak Bryon, Toch Singh (Lee Bird 58), Roman Campbell, Harry Ottaway, Chris Edwards.
Subs (unused): none
Yellow card: Steve Ratcliff 59

Attendance: 1,448
Referee: Ayden Gillespie
Assistants: Matt Jackson & Kayden Abnett
Fourth Official: Tom Reed