Following a disappointing start to the season, during which Whitstable lost five of their first seven home matches, they have now won six and drawn one of their next seven, meaning they have not lost on their own ground for three months. Their response to a narrow away defeat at Faversham was an immediate return to winning ways with a 2-0 win against Stansfeld, despite suffering several injury setbacks during the afternoon. A well-worked goal scored by Liam Gillies provided an encouraging start and they probably should have added to their score before half time, although Stansfeld also failed to make the most of a couple of good opportunities. The visitors remained in the game during the second half without really testing Dan Colmer in the Whitstable goal, but the home supporters could not relax until manager Jamie Coyle smashed in a late second. Stansfeld kept trying until the end, although rarely looked likely to deny Whitstable the three points.

Stansfeld arrived for this game with just one point fewer than Whitstable although they had played five more games. They were however in poor form, having lost their last six games. Whitstable's recent record against Stansfeld though was patchy, having lost 1-0 away in September and in this corresponding fixture, played in the same week last year, Stansfeld were 3-1 winners. Whitstable made just one change from the Faversham loss, with Adem Ramadan replacing Fin Cotton who had been unwell during the week. A crowd of 373 braved the chilly weather to watch Whitstable's first game of 2025.

There was an unfortunate start to this game for Whitstable when Ashdon Day injured his ankle and had to be helped off the pitch to be replaced by Harvey Smith in the 5th minute. However, the home crowd soon had a goal to celebrate when Ramadan and Josh Oliver combined well following a throw in on the left to release Dean Grant who got to the by-line before pulling the ball back for Liam Gillies who arrived to slot the ball into the net from 12 yards in the 9th minute. Stansfeld tried to respond, but it was Whitstable who almost added a second in the 20th minute when Grant found the run of left back Jayden Boulton who hit a low shot from the edge of the box that was tipped around the far post by goalkeeper Ted McDonald. Will Thomas headed a free kick over, then Jamie Coyle rose to meet a corner but his header was deflected wide.

There was a dangerous moment for Whitstable in the 29th minute when Mikey Dalton slipped over, giving Chris Alhassan a chance to run through unchallenged, but he dragged his shot wide. A good run by Ramadan created a chance for Grant whose shot was well blocked by Ibrahim Barrie. Another Whitstable corner was met by Coyle, but this time he headed the ball over the bar from a promising position. Smith then lifted an effort well over the bar after a patient build up on the right. Just before the interval there was a good chance for Stansfeld when Zach Garcia clipped the ball forward to Reiss Skeen on the right who found himself with just Dan Colmer to beat, but the Whitstable goalkeeper stood up well to make an important save at the near post, ensuring his team took their 1-0 lead into half time. Whitstable had created plenty of chances, but Stansfeld had shown enough to suggest that the one goal might not be enough to secure three points.

There were two more home substitutions before play restarted, with Ronald Sithole and Fin Cotton replacing Ramadan and Dalton. Whitstable almost gave themselves a two goal cushion in the opening minute of the half when Sithole played a crossfield ball to Oliver on the left and he laid it back for Gillies whose shot from distance was beaten away by McDonald. The chances continued for Whitstable with Thomas heading a free kick over the bar and Grant shooting wide at the near post after meeting a low Sithole cross. Rob Hughes got past Boulton before cutting in from the right, but his shot cleared the bar, then at the other end a snap shot by Oliver was saved. In the 58th minute, a low cross by Frank McCormack was met by Hughes but Thomas did really well to slide in and block his goal bound shot. A long ball down the left by Boulton was brought down by Grant but he put his shot just wide from 20 yards.

The second goal that Whitstable had searched for finally arrived in the 82nd minute. A corner was only cleared as far as Gillies who headed the ball back into the area where Smith rose and nodded it towards the right where it bounced up for Coyle to power an unstoppable shot past McDonald from 12 yards and open his goalscoring account for the club. Both teams then made further substitutions before the Whitstable manager tried to repeat his effort only this time, he volleyed wide. Whitstable had the ball in the net once more, but it was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. The last few minutes saw a bit of pressure from Stansfeld as substitute Kameron Mendez shot wide and then a corner was headed by towards goal by Barrie but Colmer turned the ball around the post. Whitstable had to play out the last few minutes with ten men after Smith limped off in the 93rd minute. A long range effort by Garcia was comfortably saved by Colmer and Sithole controlled a long ball but shot wide. The referee blew the final whistle after nearly ten added minutes, confirming Whitstable's fifth consecutive home win.

The FA Vase returns on Saturday when Whitstable make the long trip to Suffolk to play Walsham le Willows, seeking a place in the last 16 of the competition for only the second time in their history.

Whitstable	Data	Stansfeld
5	Shots on target	3
10	Shots off target	3
3	Shots blocked	2
7	Corners	7
14	Fouls conceded	7
2	Offside	4
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Jerald Aboagye, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton (Fin Cotton 46), Jamie Coyle, Will Thomas (c) (Jake McIntyre 90+1), Josh Oliver (Nico Grierson 82), Adem Ramadan (Ronald Sithole 46), Dean Grant, Liam Gillies, Ashdon Day (Harvey Smith 5).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Liam Gillies 9, Jamie Coyle 82.
Yellow cards: Jayden Boulton 77, Dean Grant 86.

Stansfeld
Ted McDonald, Frank McCormack (c), Teddy Green, Harrison English (Kameron Mendez 63), Ibrahim Barrie, Mason Simms, Zach Garcia, Jack Beerling, Chris Alhassan (Jack Mahon 83), Reiss Skeen, Rob Hughes (Jack Calvert 83).
Subs (unused): Greg Williams, Oliver Wright.
Yellow card: Reiss Skeen 87

Attendance: 373
Referee: Reece Cahalane
Assistants: Tyler Diminieux & Christopher Middleton