Whitstable ended 2025 on a high with another win and for the second successive game they were watched by a four figure crowd. The somewhat unusual occurrence of playing an away game at their home ground against tenants Faversham Strike Force unsurprisingly meant a significantly larger than usual away following from the Oyster fans. Despite the difference in their respective league positions, this was a much closer game than some may have expected. Strike Force had the better chances in a goalless first half, but did take the lead when Whitstable put the ball into their own net from a corner early in the second. Eventually though, Whitstable stepped up a level and Finn O'Mara headed an equaliser. They soon added a second as top scorer Javaun Splatt rose to head in a great Isaac Currie cross and there were several good chances on the break to make sure of the points, but in the end 2-1 was enough to ensure they remained in pole position going into the new year.

This was the second league meeting between the two clubs who entered into a ground sharing arrangement when newly promoted Faversham Strike Force made the switch from playing home games at Faversham Town in the summer. Their previous meeting, Whitstable's home fixture, took place on August Bank Holiday when Joe Kay put Strike Force ahead, but Whitstable fought back with goals from Javaun Splatt and Dean Grant to win 2-1 in front of a crowd of 874. Strike Force have enjoyed a promising start to life at Step Five and were in 15th place prior to kick off, five points clear of the drop zone. For this Christmas fixture, league leaders Whitstable were without their captain Jake McIntyre who suffered a toe injury in the previous game and Nathan Jeche was away, but Splatt was able to return from a one game ban despite feeling unwell during the week. The pre-Christmas win against Corinthian had attracted an attendance of 1,084 to the Primcura Healthcare Stadium and seven days later, this local derby was watched by 1,077, a record attendance for Strike Force.

There was a very early injury for Whitstable when Ricardo Thompson needed treatment when he was fouled by Harry Taylor and although he was able to continue, he was replaced by Dean Grant at half time. Jack Nelson, playing on the left, created an opportunity for Bradley Schafer to try a shot that was well cut out by Baily Sinnock. Khayrie Harris was often a threat to the Whitstable defence and twisted and turned inside the box in the 12th minute before his attempted shot was blocked. Whitstable's first corner was taken by Schafer and Will Thomas arrived beyond the far post to test goalkeeper Harry Earls who was able to save. Schafer delivered a high, curling cross to the far post that Earls managed to push behind, then his long throw was hooked on by Joe Healy for Finn O'Mara who poked the ball wide. Whitstable struggled to clear a Strike Force attack down the left and Harris rolled the ball along the 18 yard line to Alex Willis who bent it past Dan Colmer, but also just wide of the far post. Healy sent Isaac Currie racing away and he got into the box before the Strike Force defence managed to clear the danger.

Mikey Dalton was forced off with a knee problem in the 31st minute to be replaced by Fin Cotton. Whitstable were rescued by a well-timed tackle on the edge of the box by Thompson to deny Isaiah Daniel the chance to shoot following a promising Strike Force break. Whitstable were having plenty of possession without really looking like finding the net, but had a chance when a long clearance by Colmer was helped on for Nelson who turned quickly and tried a shot, but a defender managed to get in the way. Willis flashed a shot just past the post from 18 yards after a throw in had been laid back for him. Just before half time, Currie was booked for halting another run by Harris about 35 yards from goal and Harris swung in the free kick that picked out the run of Willis who hooked the ball past the post from six yards. In added time, Jayden Boulton brought down Harris a little closer to goal and a very similar free kick routine saw Willis head the ball narrowly wide as Whitstable survived again. A very late corner at the other end was cleared, but it was probably Whitstable who were happier to hear the half time whistle and a chance to regroup.

The early action in second half revolved around corner kicks, with the first for Strike Force being flicked on by Willis and after the ball was scrambled away from the near post, Tristan Holden's shot was blocked by Thomas who was then first to a corner at the other end, but his header across goal went harmlessly wide. The next Strike Force corner though brought the opening goal in the 51st minute, although the long ball forward to Daniel appeared to hit his arm before the corner was awarded. Daniel took the corner himself, but two Whitstable players got the decisive touches as Currie's near post header rebounded into the net off Splatt. It nearly got worse for Whitstable when a long clearance wasn't dealt with and Willis fired wide from 18 yards. After Grant had collected a yellow card, Harris made another threatening run through the middle before his deflected shot was collected by Colmer. There was drama at both ends in the 60th minute when a Harris free kick led to a scramble as Ali Wren's shot struck a defender and Boulton cleared the following effort off the line. Defence quickly turned to attack as Splatt's pass sent Schafer away and he went around the last defender, only to see his shot cannon off the post before Nelson lifted the rebound over the top,

Whitstable sent on Malachai Belboda and his runs on the left became a real threat as the balance of the match started to shift. Boulton made a great run, past several challenges, before playing a one-two with Schafer and skipping around the last defender, but his shot was saved by the legs of Earls. Splatt did well to get into the box from the right, but Strike Force just managed to put the ball behind at the near post. Healy took the corner, which was headed up and away, but O'Mara reacted quickly to head the ball back over everyone into the top left corner from about eight yards to level the scores in the 69th minute. Whitstable were on top and Splatt's cross bounced into the hands of Earls off a defender. In the 74th minute, Whitstable took the lead when Currie collected the loose ball following a collision on the edge of the box and whipped in a lovely cross to the far post where Splatt rose to head in his 17th goal of the season. Grant broke free, but elected to cross and nobody was able to convert. Strike Force almost got back on terms in the 80th minute when Harry Taylor crossed from the left and a diving header by Willis hit O'Mara before rolling just wide. Whitstable had more chances as Strike Force pressed for an equaliser, but were unable to kill the game off. An attempted clearance by Sinnock went straight to Splatt whose low shot was saved and when Splatt did put the ball into the net from way out in the left corner, the offside flag had already been raised. Whitstable saw out the last few minutes for the 2-1 win and can look forward to an exciting 2026.

The 2025 calendar year was certainly a memorable one for Whitstable, with 40 league games played, producing 32 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses. There was also the amazing FA Vase win, a Kent Senior Trophy final and a play-off semi-final last season. In the current campaign. the team enjoyed a record breaking run to the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying and of course have again progressed to the latter stages of the FA Vase and Kent Senior Trophy.

Whitstable kick off the new year with a home league fixture against Sutton Athletic on Saturday.

Strike Force	Data	Whitstable
3	Shots on target	5
7	Shots off target	5
6	Shots blocked	5
3	Corners	7
1	Fouls conceded	11
0	Offside	3
0	Penalties	0

Faversham Strike Force
Harley Earls (c), Alfie Hill, Harry Alexander (Tom Carter 87), Joe Kay, Ali Wren, Baily Sinnock (Kane Taylor 89), Khayrie Harris, Tristan Holden (Mefose Esumobi 81), Harry Taylor, Alex Willis, Isaiah Daniel (Marshall Wratten 76).
Sub (unused): Essa Jadama
Goal: Javaun Splatt o.g. 51

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson (Dean Grant 46), Jayden Boulton, Mikey Dalton (Fin Cotton 31), Finn O’Mara, Will Thomas (c), Jack Nelson (Malachai Belboda 63), Isaac Currie, Javaun Splatt, Bradley Schafer, Joe Healy.
Subs (unused): Brad Walledge, Josh Robson.
Goals: Finn O’Mara 69, Javaun Splatt 74.
Yellow cards: Isaac Currie 44, Dean Grant 54.

Attendance: 1,077
Referee: Will Rough
Assistants: Will Watton & Mark Takacs