FAVERSHAM STRIKE FORCE 2 WHITSTABLE TOWN 5
Pre-season friendly
Tuesday July 7 2026 19.45

Whitstable met SCEFL Premier Division team Faversham Strike Force in their second pre-season game. It was an away fixture, but as Strike Force share the YMS Stadium, both teams would have felt at home! There were four changes to the starting eleven with Charlie Thomson coming into the team for his first game, together with the latest new signings, Derek Asamoah and Kenny Aileru, plus another trialist. The Strike Force squad contained several players that had previously played for Whitstable, including Josh Oliver and Marshall Wratten. The entertaining game ended in a relatively comfortable 5-2 win for the Oystermen.

Dan Colmer made a good save from Oliver to deny Strike Force a 12th minute lead and Ali Wren headed a corner wide when he was first to the ball, but it was Whitstable that opened the scoring in the 26th minute, when Asamoah found the net from close range after an Alex Wall shot had rebounded off the post. Captain Tom Beere then set up Aileru for number two in the 35th minute, but Strike Force replied soon afterwards through Jude Leberl whose deflected shot went into the corner of the net following a good run down the left by Harry Alexander. A good Whitstable move led to a cross by Aileru being dummied by Wall for Henry Young to shoot, but Harry Earls made a good save. Strike Force put the ball in the Whitstable net again a few minutes later, but the effort was ruled out by an offside flag. As half time approached, a low shot by Aileru was deflected past the post and he then fired just wide after the ball was laid back to him by Asamoah, leaving the score 2-1 to Whitstable at the break.

The teams both made changes throughout the second half to give more players some valuable minutes. On 49 minutes, Harrison Pont curled in a third goal for Whitstable at the near post after Beere played a corner short to him and Wall then drove a free kick wide. Beere slid another pass through for Aileru in the 65th minute and he made it 4-1 with a good finish. One of the trialists collected a loose ball, before shooting past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box to add a fifth Whitstable goal in the 78th minute. Strike Force created a few late opportunities and were rewarded when Tom Carter beat Zach Keeble to make it 5-2 in the 82nd minute and that was how it remained.

Whitstable have another game on Friday evening when they are away to Erith & Belvedere, but please note that this game is being played at the home of Chislehurst Glebe.

Faversham Strike Force
Harry Earls, Harry Alexander, Ali Wren, Hayden Wood, Baily Sinnock, Kyron Jacks, Alfie Giles, Jude Leberl, Josh Oliver, Mefose Esumobi, Marshall Wratten.
Subs: Hadley Glock, Cian McCormack, Joe Kay, Jake McCarthy, Tristan Holden, Temi Babalola, Tom Carter, Ola Thompson.
Goals: Jude Leberl 37, Tom Carter 82.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Harrison Pont, Jeremiah Gyebi, Henry Young, Charlie Thomson, Liam Boxall, Trialist, Tom Beere (c), Derek Asamoah, Alex Wall, Kenny Aileru.
Subs: Zach Keeble, Jack Nelson, Matty Holness, Thiago Ferreira, Daniel Kushaba, Trialists.
Goals: Derek Asamoah 26, Kenny Aileru 35, 65, Harrison Pont 49, Trialist 78.

Attendance: 260
Referee: Will Watton