WHITSTABLE TOWN 0 EGHAM TOWN 0 (after 90 minutes – no extra time)
Egham Town won 6-5 on penalties
The FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying
Saturday September 12 2026 15.00

Three consecutive cup games in eight days have resulted in three cup exits for the Oystermen. Their performances in the FA Cup and Kent Senior Cup defeats away from home were creditable, but that was not the case in this home FA Trophy tie against Egham Town. The game was ultimately decided by the lottery of a penalty shootout with the twelfth penalty being the first, and only one, missed as Egham triumphed 6-5. Whitstable though had offered very little threat during a goalless 90 minutes and it was the visitors that came closest to scoring on several occasions.

Egham Town compete in the Isthmian South Central Division where they have won one and lost two of their three games played to date. They had enjoyed good away wins at Cobham and Westfield to reach this stage of the FA Trophy. Whitstable had only played once in the competition, when a 3-1 away win at another Isthmian South Central Division team, AFC Portchester, was enough to book their place in the Second Round Qualifying. Still hampered by a long list of injuries, Whitstable included three recent additions in their team, with Mason Hunter, Mikey Berry and Koby Yeboah all starting. The attendance of 337 was Whitstable's lowest home crowd of the season, probably affected by the Oyster Festival in town.

Luke Wayborn hurled a number of long throws into the Whitstable penalty area and one of these almost led to a goal for Egham in the 11th minute when a header across goal hit the inside of the far post and Dan Colmer managed to push the ball away as it rebounded back into the middle; a scramble followed before the ball was cleared. Whitstable created possibly their best chance of the afternoon when Kweku Lucan did well on the right to get past his marker and deliver a low cross to the back post where Berry arrived a fraction too late to apply the finishing touch. On 20 minutes, Berry and Ryan Bernal combined on the right and when the cross eventually came out to Nathan Green, his shot was saved. A well worked Whitstable corner gave Perri Iandolo the chance to make a great run into the box and put in a low cross, but when the ball was cleared as far as Kenny Aileru, his shot went over the bar.

Under no pressure at the back, Whitstable conceded a needless throw in the 28th minute that led to some panic in the box. Colmer punched out the first ball into the middle, then blocked the follow up attempt, but the danger was still not cleared and after the next shot cannoned off the bar, Hunter cleared with an overhead kick, before finally a rising shot flew over the top. Connor Cullen had an opportunity to test Colmer after Whitstable had given the ball away, but his low shot was easily saved. Whitstable might have snatched a goal right on half time when Colmer's long punt reached Jack Nelson ahead of the Egham defence on the 18 yard line, but the ball got away from him and goalkeeper Aaron Watkins was able to collect. There was still time for a late Whitstable corner that was fired over the top by Liam Boxall and the teams went into the break still level at 0-0, with Whitstable a little fortunate to still be on level terms.

Whitstable made a change at the break, with Henry Young replacing Iandolo and they won an early corner when Young's shot was deflected wide. Boxall then headed a Young cross over the bar. Cullen nodded a left wing cross just wide at the other end before Whitstable brought on Alex Wall for Nelson. More substitutions followed, as did a few yellow cards. Boxall was on hand to clear the danger as Egham looked for a late winner, then Joe Barnieh bent a shot wide.

A foul just outside the box with a couple of minutes to play gave Whitstable a free kick in a dangerous position and Derek Asamoah's shot was deflected fractionally wide of the left post. Egham broke quickly from a Whitstable corner, but didn't make the most of the situation. Wall then set up a chance for Bernal whose shot was easily saved, but it was no great surprise that it was still 0-0 after the 90 minutes had been played, as it had looked likely for most of the second half that penalty kicks would be needed to decide the winner.

Egham went first and in truth neither goalkeeper looked like saving any of the first set of ten well-taken spot kicks, so it went into sudden death. Connagh Wilkes put Egham 6-5 ahead, so when Derek Asamoah's effort was saved, Whitstable were out. It was the fourth consecutive time that Whitstable had lost a penalty shootout since their success in the FA Vase at Walsham le Willows in January 2025. Over the 90 minutes though, Egham had created the better chances, and Whitstable had not really done enough to deserve a place in the next round.

Whitstable will be pleased to have no midweek game after a relentless run of fixtures that has no doubt contributed to a lengthy injury list. They return to action on Saturday with a home league game against Cray Valley PM.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ryan Bernal, Nathan Green (c), Mason Hunter, Liam Boxall, Perri Iandolo (Henry Young 46), Kenny Aileru, Koby Yeboah (Jack Hanson 90+4), Jack Nelson (Alex Wall 58), Mikey Berry (Derek Asamoah 76), Kweku Lucan (Matty Holness 83).
Subs (unused): none
Yellow card: Kweku Lucan 79

Egham Town
Aaron Watkins, Ben Peden (c), Deago Dunbar, Liam Avery (Rayan Djouadi 66), Connagh Wilks, Luke Wayborn, Ethan Brazier (Maddox McMillan 65), Oliver Benito (Joe Barnieh 75), Connor Cullen, Bradley Clayton, Sebastian Karczewski (Excellence Muhemba 66).
Sub (unused): Connor Jeanes
Yellow cards: Bradley Clayton 72, Excellence Muhemba 73.

Attendance: 337
Referee: Edward Smith
Assistants: Will Watton & Alicia May