After four years competing in the FA Vase, including the historic Wembley win, newly promoted Whitstable returned to the FA Trophy and the draw presented them with a long away trip to play AFC Portchester. The game took place on a Friday evening at Chichester City FC. There were no goals in the first half although Whitstable probably had the better of the chances to break the deadlock. Portchester hit the bar soon after the restart, but Jack Nelson gave Whitstable the lead a few minutes later. Home goalkeeper Kieran Magee was then dismissed for his verbal protests and Derek Asamoah was on hand to double the advantage soon afterwards. Substitute Lee Wort gave Portchester some hope when he shot past Dan Colmer, but Alex Wall ensured Whitstable's safe passage to the next round when he made it 3-1 a few minutes before the end.

AFC Portchester, known as The Royals, achieved promotion to Step 4 for the first time at the end of the 2024-25 season and then finished fourth in the Isthmian South Central Division in their debut season, but lost out in the playoffs. They have three points from their first three league games this season, following draws with Westfield, Kingstonian and Bognor Regis Town. They are currently installing a 3G pitch and playing home games at Gosport Borough, but that was unavailable and this tie was eventually arranged for Friday evening at Oaklands Park, the home of Chichester City. The last time Whitstable were in the FA Trophy was during their relegation season of 2021-22 and coincidentally they crashed out 4-0 at Chichester. There were happier memories however last season when they were successful in an FA Cup replay, winning 1-0 at the same venue.

The two teams have played a lot of football recently and both played on Tuesday, Portchester winning an FA Cup replay in extra time and Whitstable collecting three points against Deal, so there were understandably some team changes. Whitstable had a number of absentees, but there was a first start for Matty Holness and Jack Hanson returned for his first game for the club since April 2022. The crowd of 121 included a number of Oyster supporters that had made the long journey to West Sussex.

Portchester tried to make a fast start and Alfie Stanley had a shot blocked on the edge of the box, but Whitstable had a couple of better opportunities, firstly when Jack Nelson ran on to a ball over the top, but under pressure could only shoot straight at Kieran Magee. Henry Young then played in Derek Asamoah who got past the advancing goalkeeper, but shot wide as defenders tried to get back to cover. Whitstable were forced into an early change when Tom Hanfrey was injured in a challenge and was replaced by Ryan Bernal in the 19th minute. Former Chichester player Josh Clack sent a threatening free kick into the box, but the Whitstable defence managed to block the attempts to force the ball over the line. In the 26th minute, Magee's attempted pass forward went straight to Bernal who couldn't find Asamoah with his cross, but then when Nelson got free on the right, his cross was controlled by Asamoah whose acrobatic effort was saved by Magee.

Ryan Pennery lifted the ball over the top when the ball bounced to him in the penalty area and Stanley then tried a long range shot that Colmer got down to save. Whitstable were now creating the better chances and Young delivered a free kick that Harrison Pont headed towards goal and Magee saved under the bar. A long ball was headed into the middle by Asamoah and Nelson turned to shoot past Magee, but wide of the left post. An Asamoah shot was blocked before the ball ran across to Bernal whose effort was deflected for a corner. Just before half time, Asamoah picked out Bernal in space to the right of the box, but he blazed his shot over the bar. Pont put an effort over the bar and the teams left the pitch with the score still 0-0.

Portchester almost scored in the 47th minute when a good Charlie Williamson cross from the right corner was headed against the bar by Pennery and the ball was cleared after bouncing down. At the other end, Bernal made a good run into the box before going down under a challenge, but the referee was unimpressed with the penalty appeals. Asamoah was fouled in the left corner and Hanson's free kick was headed out to Charlie Thomson who lifted the ball back into the middle for Nelson to shoot low past Magee from 18 yards to give Whitstable the lead in that 52nd minute. Magee felt there had been a foul off the ball, but said too much to the officials and was promptly sent off. Jack Lee went in goal as the home team reorganised.

Asamoah shot wide before Jack Hillier came on for his debut in place of Nathan Green. Hillier was soon in the action, having a shot saved when a free kick reached him at the back post. Tommy Scutt was just off target from the edge of the box as Portchester tried to respond.A good Whitstable build up brought them a second goal in the 65th minute. Hanson's low cross found Young in the middle and his shot from 20 yards was touched onto the post by the replacement keeper, but Asamoah was quickly in to put the rebound into the net. Portchester were still threatening a reply and Colmer saved a Lee Wort shot, but they did get a goal on 71 minutes when a long ball forward found another run by Wort who fired a low shot past Colmer from a tight angle on the left.

Young striker Jack Fenton came on for Asamoah before the game restarted. Stanley got his head to a high left wing cross, but it proved a simple catch for Colmer under his bar. Bernal made a long run forward to shoot wide from distance before an ambitious long range shot flew wide of the Whitstable goal. A back post header was safely held by Colmer as Portchester continued to search for an equaliser. Hanson's first game of the season ended when he was replaced by Alex Wall and it was Wall that settled the outcome in the 87th minute when he powered the ball into the net from six yards when Young's corner kick rebounded to him off a defender. The game ended with no further drama and Whitstable could enjoy the long journey home knowing they would be in Tuesday's draw for the next round.

There is little time to rest for Whitstable as the congested run of fixtures continues with the much anticipated August Bank Holiday league game at home to Margate when another large attendance is expected at the YMS Stadium.

Portchester	Data	Whitstable
5	Shots on target	8
5	Shots off target	7
4	Shots blocked	2
2	Corners	4
21	Fouls conceded	13
0	Offside	5
0	Penalties	0

AFC Portchester
Kieran Magee, Charlie Williamson, Reggie Buckland, Spencer Spurway, Archie Willcox, Jack Lee (c), Josh Clack (Jason Prior 85), Destiny Ojo (Tommy Scutt 55), Ryan Pennery (Robbie Taw 70), Connor Duffin (Lee Wort 56), Alfie Stanley.
Sub (unused): Chad Field
Goal: Lee Wort 71
Yellow cards: Lee Jack 28, Spencer Spurway 56.
Red card: Kieran Magee 53

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Matty Holness, Nathan Green (Jack Hillier 60), Charlie Thomson, Harrison Pont (c), Liam Boxall, Tom Hanfrey (Ryan Bernal 19), Henry Young, Derek Asamoah (Jack Fenton 72), Jack Hanson (Alex Wall 81), Jack Nelson.
Sub (unused): Zach Keeble
Goals: Jack Nelson 52, Derek Asamoah 65, Alex Wall 87.
Yellow card: Harrison Pont 42

Attendance: 121
Referee: Adrian Harris
Assistants: Alex Hollis & Ryan Wilkinson