WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 DARTFORD 1
Pre-season friendly
Saturday July 18 2026 15.00

It was a return to the YMS Stadium for Whitstable after three wins on the road against Step 5 opponents and the visitors were Step 3 club, Dartford. The Darts finished 6th in the Isthmian Premier Division last season and will no doubt be aiming to challenge for promotion again this time. They were part of the local managerial upheaval of this summer with their previous manager Ady Pennock leaving to join Ramsgate before Ben Greenhalgh moved from Margate to replace him. Jamie Coyle then quit Whitstable to join Margate and former Ramsgate boss Lee Martin completed the circle by becoming the new manager of the Oystermen!! There was an attendance of 545 for Whitstable’s second home friendly.

It was the Darts that created the early chances, with Dan Smith and Max Fiddes having shots deflected wide. Whitstable then had to settle for a corner after a promising move. Dan Colmer was called into action with a save from Smith before the Whitstable defence stood firm with two timely blocks as Dartford threatened again. Colmer pushed away a Jordan Higgs free kick, but gradually the game became more even and Ian Gayle got his head to a Tom Beere corner, but wasn't able to divert the ball towards goal. Kweku Lucan sliced a shot wide on the half hour mark, but chances were then limited until just before the break when Whitstable lost possession and a good pass sent Fiddes clear, but Gayle did enough to pressurise him and he shot wide. Sam Odaudu curled a free kick over the bar, which was the last action of the half.

Both teams made changes throughout the second half and there was an early sight of goal for Lucan, but his shot was comfortably saved by Dartford goalkeeper Ryan Sandford. Whitstable substitute Perri Iandolo whipped in a dangerous free kick from the right and Sandford did well to save as the ball was prodded towards goal, but it was Dartford that opened the scoring soon afterwards when a Greenhalgh cross from the left was nodded in at the back post by former Fisher player Lorenzo Duncan in the 69th minute. Whitstable fought back well and when a trialist was chopped down just outside the box on the right, Beere's free kick was headed against the bar by Jack Nelson before bouncing down and being cleared away. Nelson then managed to hold off his marker and make room for a shot, but placed it across goal and past the far post. They were not to be denied though and levelled in the 80th minute as a Tom Hanfrey free kick was knocked down by Nelson and Derek Asamoah was on hand to find the net. Asamoah then had another effort deflected behind at the near post and Gayle headed the corner over as Whitstable finished strongly. There were no more goals however and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, which was a good exercise for both teams with the season now three weeks away.

There is a late change to this week’s fixtures, with the away friendly at Chislehurst Glebe being cancelled, but Whitstable will now be at home to Bridon Ropes on Thursday evening.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Matty Holness, Tom Hanfrey, Harrison Pont, Jeremiah Gyebi, Ian Gayle, Kenny Aileru, Henry Young, Tom Derry, Tom Beere, Kweku Lucan.
Subs: Perri Iandolo, Derek Asamoah, Jack Nelson, Trialist, Liam Boxall, Charlie Thomson, Trialist.
Goal: Derek Asamoah 80

Dartford
Ryan Sandford, Kai Jeffrey, Sam Odaudu, Jordan Higgs, Joe Tennent, George Whitefield, Lorenzo Duncan, Sammie McLeod, Dan Smith, Max Fiddes, Richie Atkins.
Subs: Trialist, Brandon Davey, Louie Atkins, Ben Greenhalgh, Emmanuel Oke, Gianluca Botti, Carter Sullivan, Sonny Smith, Kane Stewart, Maybin Calvert.
Goal: Lorenzo Duncan 69
Yellow card: George Whitefield 71

Attendance: 545
Referee: Ben McDonald
Assistants: Ismail Isik & Henry Newman