BEARSTED 0 WHITSTABLE TOWN 2
SCEFL Premier Division
Tuesday February 18 2025 19.30

Whitstable's sequence of wins extended to four in the league and six overall at a very cold Bearsted on Tuesday evening. A few chances came and went in a relatively quiet first half, but Whitstable took control early in the second with goals from Ashdon Day and Dean Grant and that was enough to secure another three points.

Their recent run of successes had seen Whitstable climb to seventh and within six points of the play off positions with games in hand, as well as progressing in two cup competitions. Bearsted were within one converted penalty of joining Whitstable in the Kent Senior Trophy final before being edged out in the shootout by Larkfield and New Hythe on Saturday, but were also in need of league points to lift them away from the foot of the table in a very tight division. Whitstable had won 2-1 when the teams met earlier in the season. There were a few changes to the Whitstable team, with the cup tied Jayden Boulton and Bradley Schafer returning to the squad and the starting line-up was rotated a little, as the fixtures continue with increasing frequency. Liam Gillies joined VCD in the week following an approach. The Bearsted team contained a few ex-Oysters and young winger Jordan Ababio, who has recently returned having featured for numerous local clubs including Sevenoaks Town, Margate, Folkestone Invicta, Ashford United and Faversham Town. The grass pitch was in very good condition, but it was a cold evening for the 113 watching, with a good travelling support once more for the Oysters.

An early Whitstable corner was headed wide by Finn O'Mara, but then Jamie Coyle received a kick in the face by Dieko Falade and needed some treatment before he was able to continue. Fellow centre back Jake McIntyre was then hit in the head with the ball and also required some attention. Harvey Smith shot wide after Schafer had flicked the ball on, then goalkeeper Frankie Leonard cleared the ball straight to Ashdon Day, but got down to save his shot. Two Bearsted corners were cleared before Whitstable had to make a 21st minute substitution as an unwell Jerald Aboagye was replaced by Boulton who went to left back, with McIntyre moving to the middle and O'Mara became the new right back.

Whitstable almost opened the scoring immediately afterwards when Schafer and Connor Wilkins set up Fin Cotton whose left footed shot was curling towards the far corner before Leonard got down to push the ball away and Smith sliced the rebound wide. The busy Schafer then won the ball and released Smith on the left and his cross was glanced wide by Day. Smith shot over from 20 yards, then Tristan Lock made a good run from the left before testing Dan Colmer with a long range effort and the Whitstable goalkeeper was called upon again to make a simple stop when Sam Stace found Lock whose shot lacked power. In the 41st minute, Schafer hooked the ball into the Bearsted box and it rebounded off Dean Grant to Wilkins whose shot seemed destined for the far corner, but hit the back of Daniel Melvin and was deflected wide. Just before half time, Schafer carried the ball forward to create an opening for Smith who was unable to beat Leonard. So, it was a goalless first half, with little between the teams, although Whitstable had created the majority of the chances.

Shortly after play restarted, Schafer found Smith in the box, but he was unable to get a shot away and the ball travelled across to the right for Day whose shot was blocked by Danny Keyte before Schafer's follow up was deflected away for a corner. There was a two minute delay while some repairs to the net were carried out, then a low Cotton shot from distance was well saved by Leonard. A promising Bearsted move on the right gave Jordan Ababio the chance to send the ball across the area with nobody there to finish, so the ball went safely past the far post for a goal kick. Next, a poor defensive header only picked out Schafer on the edge of the box, but his shot hit a defender. Bearsted got behind the Whitstable defence on the right and the ball was pulled back for Sam Flisher in the box, but Boulton recovered well to make a timely interception. Whitstable scored in the 58th minute when Cotton picked out Smith on the left and when his effort was blocked by Flisher the ball rebounded across to Day coming in from the right and his left footed shot beat Leonard at his near post. Beersted were almost level a couple of minutes later when a free kick taken by Leonard was sent forward to Flisher on the right who passed inside to Ababio whose shot went just past the far post with Falade unable to get a touch, only injuring himself in a collision with the post. It was a lucky escape for Whitstable!

Schafer slipped the ball through for Grant whose shot was saved and as Whitstable kept the pressure on, eventually Schafer put a shot wide. The probing continued and the lead was doubled in the 69th minute when O'Mara passed the ball forward to Day who worked a shooting position and tested Leonard who couldn’t hold his shot and Grant was the quickest to react, turning at the near post and firing in his tenth Whitstable goal of the season. The home team made two further quick changes and for a brief, amusing moment had 12 players on the field until the Whitstable bench pointed out that one had not come off. Falade had a shot blocked and then a good run by Stace gave him a chance, but he was unable to beat Colmer at his near post. Some good approach play by Whitstable did not get the finish it deserved as Cotton fired high and wide. Grant collected the game's only yellow card for a collision with the goalkeeper in the 84th minute. A great ball by Schafer across the box to substitute Ronald Sithole gave him the chance to score with his first touch, but he did not connect properly and it was an easy save for Leonard. A Bearsted corner was headed out to the edge of the box from where Jack Palmby shot wide. In added time, Falade cut in from the right only to shoot tamely wide and Dennis Agbudume shot just over after a free kick was cleared to the edge of the area. With just over seven extra minutes played, the final whistle blew and Whitstable had another away win to celebrate.

The two teams with the best form over the past ten league games meet on Saturday, with sixth placed Rusthall, seeking their tenth consecutive win, hosting Whitstable who are just three points behind. There is then no midweek game for Whitstable who can begin their preparations for the big FA Vase quarter final.

Bearsted
Frankie Leonard, Sam Flisher (Elyon Marshall-Katung 90), Dennis Agbudume, Jack Palmby, Danny Keyte (c), Daniel Melvin, Tristan Lock (Jesse Darko 71), Robbie Roberts (Eniola Hassan 64), Jordan Ababio (Connor French 70), Sam Stace (Nathan Light 86), Dieko Falade.
Subs (unused): none

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye (Jayden Boulton 21), Jake McIntyre (c), Connor Wilkins (Mikey Dalton 76), Jamie Coyle, Finn O’Mara, Ashdon Day, Fin Cotton, Dean Grant (Ronald Sithole 87), Bradley Schafer, Harvey Smith.
Subs (unused): Albie O’Mara-Knapp, Robbie Rees.
Goals: Ashdon Day 58, Dean Grant 69.
Yellow card: Dean Grant 84

Attendance: 113
Referee: Chris Cannon
Assistants: Daniel Roberts & Michael Donnelly