PUNJAB UNITED 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 4
SCEFL Premier Division
Tuesday April 8 2025 19.45

This looked like a testing away fixture for Whitstable, just two days after they had booked their place in the FA Vase final on an emotional Sunday in Gloucestershire. In form Punjab were occupying a play-off spot, but it was Whitstable that continued their own incredible run with an ultimately comfortable 4-1 win. Harvey Smith headed in a corner to give Whitstable a narrow half time lead. Bradley Schafer doubled the advantage in the second half before Jack Barry pulled a goal back for Punjab from a set piece. Whitstable were not to be denied though, despite hitting the post or bar on three occasions. Schafer added another and substitute Joe Healy made it four with a neat finish to ensure an important three points.

This was the sixth meeting between the teams and Whitstable had yet to win, with two draws and three Punjab wins, including a 2-1 success earlier this season. Punjab had won 5-1 in their last game at Sutton Athletic and were one place and five points above Whitstable although had played four more matches. The Whitstable team showed a few changes from the eleven that started at Hartpury University in the FA Vase, as cup tied Bradley Schafer and Dean Grant returned, with Jake McIntyre and Robbie Rees also restored to the starting line-up. There were a few players carrying knocks or rested, including Jerald Aboagye, Connor Wilkins, Nathan Jeche, Jamie Coyle and Fin Cotton. There was a good attendance of 214 to watch a key game in the battle for the play-offs, which once again included a lot of travelling Oysters who had made the journey to Gravesend on a chilly evening.

The majority of a quite physical game was played at a fast pace with both teams quick to get the ball forward on a difficult surface. Dean Grant would have been clear to run through on goal in the opening exchanges, only to be pulled back by Kyden Lewin-Thomas who was afforded some leniency by the referee. Roman Campbell won a free kick 25 yards out and took the kick himself, but Dan Colmer made a comfortable save. Schafer sent in a low shot from the left that was gathered by Owen Bushell. Jack Hopkins clipped the ball over the Whitstable defence to release Will Johnson-Cole on the left and he cut inside Ricardo Thompson before trying a shot that took a big deflection off Finn O'Mara, but Colmer was able to react quickly and prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Rees swung in a free kick that Grant headed down for Ronald Sithole whose shot from a tight angle was kept out by Owen Bushell's legs. The resulting corner was sent over by Rees and Smith rose at the near post to glance a header into the far corner to put Whitstable ahead in the 26th minute. A Schafer shot was deflected wide, then in the 35th minute Rees sent Sithole away, but his shot lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper. Whitstable were getting on top and a nice Mikey Dalton pass found Schafer whose cross was headed wide by Smith. In the 40th minute, Roman Campbell headed the ball down for Anthony Andesite whose shot was well blocked by O'Mara. The game's only yellow card was shown to Ayomide Majekodunmi for pulling back Schafer just before half time. Schafer then had a long range effort saved and in added time went over in the box and although the referee waved away the penalty appeals, Whitstable had ended the half strongly, leading 1-0.

Punjab began the second half quite well with O'Mara and Dapo Olugbodi both getting in the way of shots by Hopkins and Adesite, but it was Whitstable that came close to scoring again when Grant latched onto a ball from Rees, held off his marker and shot past Owen Bushell, only to see the ball cannon off the post. Whitstable were then denied by a tight offside decision when McIntyre headed the ball forward to Grant who turned and put it into the net, but the flag was up. The second goal did arrive in the 65th minute when Colmer launched a free kick up to Grant who poked the ball back to Schafer about 22 yards out and he took a touch before finding the net with a great strike in off the left post. A third goal nearly followed as Smith released Grant again and he got past his marker and went around the goalkeeper, but his left footed shot rebounded off the bar. Roman Campbell tried a low shot from just outside the box that went straight to Colmer, but Punjab did get themselves back into the game in the 74th minute from a Stephen Ratcliff corner when Jack Barry peeled away at the back post to head past Colmer. Another corner shortly afterwards reached Adesite on the right whose shot was stopped by Colmer at the near post.

Punjab had already made two changes when Joe Healy replaced Sithole for Whitstable in the 78th minute. Olugbodi robbed Adesite on the halfway line and sprinted into the box before crashing a shot off the upright. A Rees free kick was headed behind for a corner by Wayne Bushell, but the referee mysteriously awarded a goal kick! Whitstable didn't have to wait long for another goal though when Olugbodi seized on a loose header in midfield and lifted the ball over the top for Schafer who went past the goalkeeper and fired in to restore the two goal advantage in the 84th minute. The Whitstable fans were soon celebrating again when Rees sent Grant away and his clever flick gave Healy the chance to clip the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to make it 4-1. There could have been more, and almost was with the last kick of the evening, after Ashdon Day collected Dalton's pass down the right and crossed for late substitute Will Thomas whose first time shot was well saved. Whitstable had made a seemingly difficult fixture look quite comfortable by the end and should really have won by a greater margin, but will be happy enough with the three points and extending the unbeaten run to nineteen.

There are still six league games remaining for Whitstable, as they try to earn a play-off spot. Of course, there are also two cup finals to look forward to, the first of which is the next game, on Sunday afternoon when Whitstable play Larkfield & New Hythe at Maidstone’s ground to decide the winners of the Kent Senior Trophy.

Punjab United
Owen Bushell, Jordan Campbell, Kyden Lewin-Thomas, Jack Barry, Stephen Ratcliff (C), Jack Hopkins, Anthony Adesite, Ayomide Majekodunmi (Stefan Payne 56), Roman Campbell, Wayne Bushell, William Johnson-Cole (Reece Deakin 64).
Subs (unused): Alfie Moynes, Rob Curtis, Ashley Probets.
Goal: Jack Barry 74
Yellow card: Ayomide Majekodunmi 43

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Adedapo Olugbodi, Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Jake McIntyre (c), Ronald Sithole (Joe Healy 78), Robbie Rees (Will Thomas 90+3), Dean Grant (Ashdon Day 90+5), Bradley Schafer, Harvey Smith.
Subs (unused): Jayden Boulton, Fin Cotton.
Goals: Harvey Smith 26, Bradley Schafer 65, 84, Joe Healy 86.

Attendance: 214
Referee: Mitchell Bush
Assistants: Michael Dye & Thomas Colyer