BEARSTED 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 1
SCEFL Premier Division
Tuesday August 12 2025 19.30

After ten days without a competitive fixture, Whitstable returned to league action at Bearsted on Tuesday evening. There was no lack of effort on the pitch as both teams fought hard for the points, but there were few moments of genuine quality throughout the game. Whitstable created the majority of the chances in the first half, and almost broke the deadlock when Will Thomas crashed a shot off the bar, but neither goalkeeper had to make a save. Whitstable dominated the early stages of the second half and Finn O'Mara put them ahead with a good finish following a long throw. Opportunities to extend the lead were missed and Bearsted eventually began to threaten an equaliser in the closing stages. Their efforts were rewarded in the dying moments when Billy Lewins nipped in to bundle a deep cross over the line and grab a share of the points, although Whitstable would not have been happy with the defending that cost them two points

Following a win in their league opener and a big FA Cup win at Lingfield, Whitstable travelled to early league leaders Bearsted who had gained maximum points from their first two games. Whitstable were able to welcome back Mikey Dalton who had recovered from an ankle operation. In form strikers Dean Grant and Javaun Splatt both started. There were a large number of away fans amongst the crowd of 166 on a warm evening.

There was an early attempt by the home side when a low cross from the right was lifted over the top by Sam Stace and that would be their best effort of the half. A quick break by Jayden Boulton led to an opening at the other end when Grant crossed for a stretching Splatt who was just unable to hit the target. Jake McIntyre then landed a free kick on top of the net from 25 yards. Fin Cotton was shown the only yellow card of the evening for getting in the way of a quickly taken free kick in the 15th minute. James Nurden made a good block to deny Theo Osinfolarin following another promising Whitstable attack. Goal attempts continued for Whitstable, but nothing to trouble Chris Swift in the Bearsted goal. A Boulton pass found Grant who made space, only to shoot wide, but Whitstable were then unlucky not to open the scoring in the 39th minute. Will Thomas headed a throw in towards goal and when it was cleared back to him on the edge of the box, he struck a sweet, left footed volley that cannoned off the bar with Swift beaten. More late Whitstable pressure saw another Splatt shot blocked before the goalless half came to an end.

Whitstable began the second half well, winning two early corners, and then took a deserved lead in the 50th minute. A long throw by Bradley Schafer was headed on, twice, by Splatt and Finn O'Mara hooked the ball past Swift into the net with a good finish. O'Mara then made a timely block in the other penalty area to deny Sam Flisher. James Miles and Ashdon Day were introduced as Whitstable pressed forward looking for a second goal. Miles and Schafer put shots wide and an Osinfolarin cross was headed just the wrong side of the far post by Splatt. Whitstable had a great chance to give themselves a two goal cushion in the 67th minute when the impressive Boulton won possession and found Splatt who made a great run down the left and his cross picked out Osinfolarin who couldn't find the right connection and a grateful Swift was able to collect the ball. The Bearsted goalkeeper then got down to make a routine save when Osinfolarin shot from 18 yards.

Bearsted had rarely threatened, but began to sense there might be something in the game for them as Whitstable sat deeper in the last 15 minutes or so and Billy Lewins headed a cross wide. Richard Jimoh came off the bench and asked a few questions of the Whitstable defence. Splatt had previously scored in every game, including pre-season, since joining Whitstable and cut in from the left but couldn't beat Swift. Bearsted won their only corner of the evening and Flisher got his head to the ball to divert it towards the far post where Boulton cleared, but from the resulting throw a deep cross by Nurden cleared everyone in the box except Lewins who managed to divert the ball past Dan Colmer, who has stayed on his line, to bring the scores level in the 89th minute. Neither team were able to find a winner in the time remaining, so had to settle for a point each. Whitstable will feel this was a game they should really have won, but Bearsted worked hard to stay in the game and were eventually rewarded with their late goal.

Whitstable are on the road again on Saturday with a long trip to Silver Jubilee Park Stadium in north west London to play Edgware and Kingsbury in the FA Cup.

Bearsted
Chris Swift, Sam Flisher, James Nurden, Jarred Trespaderne (Aidan Clarke 88), Ryan Blake (c), Danny Keyte, Sam Stace (Richard Jimoh 77), Adam Turton, Jake Embery, Billy Lewins, Nathan Light.
Subs (unused): Tom Green, Michael Hagan, Phil Headley.
Goal: Billy Lewins 89

Whitstable Town
Daniel Colmer, Theo Osinfolarin, Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas, Jake McIntyre (c), Fin Cotton (James Miles 54), Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Dean Grant (Ashdon Day 60).
Subs (unused): Tristan Holden, Essa Jadama, Joe Healy.
Goal: Finn O’Mara 50
Yellow card: Fin Cotton 15

Attendance: 166
Referee: Thomas Reed
Assistants: Christopher Clarke & Owen Jenner