LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE 1 WHITSTABLE TOWN 2
SCEFL Premier Division
Tuesday December 9 2025 19.45

Whitstable edged this battle between the two teams currently occupying the top two spots in the division, but had to come from behind to do so. A well worked goal headed in by Tunde Aderonmu had given Larkfield and New Hythe a half time lead that they might have added to, but for a goal line clearance by Jake McIntyre. Whitstable fought back strongly in the second half and Bradley Schafer levelled the scores directly from a corner kick; Whitstable actually won the corner count 13-0 in this game. Javaun Splatt added a late second, which proved the winner despite some late pressure from the Larks that required a couple of good saves from Dan Colmer.

This much anticipated clash between the two teams in first and second place in the table had all the makings of a closely fought battle. Larkfield and New Hythe had won their previous five league games without conceding a goal and had not lost a home league game this season. Whitstable were also in good form and last lost an away league match back in August. A large travelling following for Whitstable helped swell the crowd on a windy Tuesday evening to 201, more than double the average home league attendance at the ground. Whitstable were without the injured Dean Grant and suspended Jack Nelson, while Malachai Belboda was given a place on the bench having just returned from abroad.

Both sides created goalscoring chances in the seventh minute, although neither goalkeeper was especially troubled. Dan Colmer saved Tyler Ibe's long range shot and just afterwards Javaun Splatt collected a pass from Bradley Schafer on the left and his shot was held by Archie Simmons. A Whitstable attack on the right gave Mikey Dalton the chance to send over a dangerous low cross that rebounded off Nathan Jeche just wide of the near post. Larkfield took the lead in the 16th minute when they impressively took full advantage of Whitstable losing control of the ball going forward, which allowed Ross Ibbertson to pump it down the right where Matt Day and Montel Williams combined to release Jack Sammoutis inside the box and his perfect cross to the back post was headed in by a diving Tunde Aderonmu. They created a great opportunity to score again in the 20th minute when Sammoutis won possession and passed to Day whose shot was parried by Colmer into the path of an unmarked Ibe inside the six yard box, but his shot was too close to Jake McIntyre who did really well to get across and block the shot on the line.

Ricardo Thompson sent over a high cross from the right corner for Schafer to head towards goal from beyond the far post, but it was a straightforward catch for Simmons. Ibe was yellow carded for chopping down Schafer, but McIntyre's low free kick from distance drifted wide. The momentum was with Whitstable and sandwiched between two more corners, a great Schafer cross was about to be nodded in by Jeche, but Sam Fitzgerald just got back to intercept and head clear. The following corner was scrambled away from the back post as Will Thomas closed in. Shortly afterwards, play was allowed to continue after Schafer was knocked over and Jeche got into the box before a covering defender managed to block his shot.

The game then went through a quieter spell before Splatt got the better of Fitzgerald in the right corner and fired the ball in low towards goal, but Simmons dealt with the danger at his near post. Just before the break, Jayden Boulton, who had caused some problems for the home defence, got free on the left and his dipping cross/shot was pushed out from under the bar by Simmons. It had been a curious half with Whitstable often pushing forward, getting balls into the box and winning five corners, but the Larks defence had stood firm and they led 1-0 having scored a good goal and probably should have had another, although had otherwise rarely threatened.

Whitstable added to their corner count soon after play restarted. Schafer's delivery from the left was headed down by Finn O'Mara before bouncing towards goal and being deflected over for another corner that Thomas headed in at the back post, but the referee had spotted a push on Simmons. Boulton sent over several dangerous crosses from the left as Whitstable dominated the early stages of the half, but were unable to find an end product. The Larks made a change in the 56th minute, replacing Ibe with the experienced defender Nathan Green, recently with Folkestone Invicta. Whitstable introduced Joe Healy for Fin Cotton and continued to press forward, although a few too many passes were overhit in the windy conditions. There was a rare moment of action at the other end in the 72nd minute when Aderonmu found Day in the box, but although he made himself room, his shot was straight at Colmer. Whitstable then had three corners in quick succession, the first two from the right by McIntyre were touched behind. The next, from the left, was curled straight into the net at the back post by Schafer to give Whitstable a deserved equaliser in the 74th minute and a huge cheer went up around the ground from the large contingent of Oyster supporters.

The goal seemed to inject a bit more urgency into the home team and they almost restored their lead when an attack down their left saw the ball pulled back to Sammoutis who poked the ball past Colmer, but McIntyre was again on the line to make a crucial clearance. Play was delayed for a while when Schafer collided with the home dugout and needed attention. Boulton made another run and passed to Jeche who tried to bend the ball into the far corner and beat Simmons but Fitzgerald was on hand to head away for another corner. McIntyre swung it in and the ball eventually rebounded to Schafer whose goal bound shot was deflected wide off a defender. Schafer then hit a low shot past the far post from 25 yards. Whitstable were rewarded for their efforts in the 88th minute when Dalton chipped the ball forward and two defenders got into a muddle that allowed Jeche to slip the ball to Splatt who finished confidently into the bottom left corner from just inside the box to spark wild celebrations, although the job was not yet complete!

There was plenty of time to be added and, after an extra seven minutes had been played, almost a last gasp equaliser. A low shot through the crowd was saved by Colmer's legs with Boulton clearing the follow up header across goal, but when the ball was crossed back in, it dropped to Jay Wade on the six yard line who had pushed Healy away but was denied by another Colmer save. The final whistle soon followed, as did a red card for one of the Larkfield management team. The excellent win took Whitstable back to the top of the table, two points ahead of Larkfield and with two games in hand, but there is still plenty of football to be played and Rusthall are also well in the title chase, seven points behind from two fewer games.

Whitstable are back on the road again on Saturday when they play Chislehurst Glebe in another SCEFL Premier Division game.

Larkfield & New Hythe
Archie Simmons, Ross Ibbertson, Nathan Daly, Jay Wade, Sam Fitzgerald, Jahmahl King (c), Jack Sammoutis, Montel Williams, Tunde Aderonmu (Bryan Zepo 86), Matt Day (Steven Famose 90), Tyler Ibe (Nathan Green 56).
Subs (unused): Clark Woodcock, Antwon McKenzie.
Goal: Tunde Aderonmu 16
Yellow cards: Tyler Ibe 27, Sam Fitzgerald 68.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jake McIntyre (c), Mikey Dalton, Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas, Nathan Jeche, Fin Cotton (Joe Healy 64), Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Jayden Boulton.
Subs (unused): Brad Walledge, Josh Robson, Malachai Belboda, Dean Grant.
Goals: Bradley Schafer 74, Javaun Splatt 88.
Yellow cards: Jake McIntyre 63, Jayden Boulton 90+1.

Attendance: 201
Referee: Rhys Jeffery
Assistants: Max Doyle & John Quirke