WHITSTABLE TOWN 4 TUNBRIDGE WELLS 2
SCEFL Premier Division
Tuesday February 17 2026 19.45

Over the past two seasons, Whitstable have developed a useful habit of finding a way to win games when they have been below their best and this was another example of that. After failing to take a few early chances, Tunbridge Wells were the more effective team for large parts of the first half and were rewarded with two goals just before the interval, aided in no small part by some poor defending. All of the first half goals came in added time, Regan Corke and Lewis Allan giving the Wells a 2-0 lead before Javaun Splatt, perhaps crucially, pulled one back for Whitstable. The home side improved after the break and Lewis Chambers headed in a free kick to equalise, although there was then a lucky escape when Rhys Bartlett's strike hit the inside of the post. Whitstable kept pushing though and Splatt put them in front before Jack Nelson thumped in a late fourth to settle any nerves.

Whitstable's first midweek game since early December attracted a good crowd of 520 on a cold evening for the visit of Tunbridge Wells, a team probably better than their current league position would suggest. They have suffered more than most from the wet weather and postponements, especially at home. When the teams met earlier in the season, Whitstable needed a late goal from Jake Abrahams to secure a 2-1 win on a difficult surface. Both teams were missing a few players for this match. Will Thomas, an ever present in the defence since August was replaced by Jake McIntyre who was back in the starting eleven for the first time since breaking a toe before Christmas. Malachai Belboda was also ruled out and the longer term absentee Mikey Dalton remains a few weeks away from a return. Jack Nelson's successful loan spell at VCD Athletic had ended, so he rejoined the Whitstable squad for this game.

The first opportunity came in the 4th minute after Bradley Schafer played in Javaun Splatt down the left wing and his low cross picked out Theo Osinfolarin who was free on the 18 yard line, but his heavy first touch allowed Ben Martin-Coward to get across in time to block his shot. Tunbridge Wells captain Chris Lawal made a strong run through midfield before shooting wide from 25 yards. Splatt released Osinfolarin on the right and he crossed for Schafer whose first time shot was saved by George Bentley at the near post. Ricardo Thompson was caught in possession by Kieran James who found Rhys Bartlett and his shot was blocked, as was the follow up attempt by D'Armando Lawrence, before the ball looped up for Bartlett to volley wide. An injured Lawrence was replaced by Deshon Carty in the 15th minute. Following a quiet spell, Whitstable did have a chance in the 30th minute when Ronald Sithole took a quick throw that left Splatt with just an advancing Bentley to beat, but his lob over the goalkeeper landed on top of the net. There was a delay of several minutes when Bentley called for some treatment, which was a major contributing factor to an extended period of added time that would later prove quite dramatic!

When play restarted Osinfolarin twisted and turned inside the box before firing wide. James tried his luck from distance, but Dan Colmer got down to save. A long ball almost caught out a hesitant Whitstable defence, with Colmer coming to the rescue to push the ball out for a corner before anyone in blue could get a shot at goal. Whitstable were fortunate not to concede when Colmer punched the corner out to the edge of the box where Bartlett hit a sweet volley that looked destined for the net, but the ball hit teammate Carty and deflected over the bar. Whitstable's luck ran out as the half entered the time added on, as McIntyre failed to clear a header by James and Regan Corke stole in to shoot past Colmer. Things soon got worse for the home team when Lawal's corner kick caused problems and Carty's shot was blocked, only for Lewis Allan to fire the loose ball into the net. Whitstable struck back immediately to improve the half time mood a little as Sithole sent the ball out to Osinfolarin on the right and his cross to the back post was volleyed in by Splatt. The late drama continued as Finn O'Mara got his head to a Harvey Kedwell corner, but Bentley saved to prevent a fourth, and equalising, goal in the six and a half minutes eventually added on. Whitstable still trailed 2-1 and headed for the changing room with plenty of work needed to turn things around.

The unfortunate McIntyre was unable to return for the second half, so Thompson took his place in central defence with substitute Isaac Currie moving to right back. A long throw by Sithole bounced into the middle where Splatt rose to nod towards goal, but Bentley made a good one handed save to push out. There was still a threat at the other end and Carty's shot was blocked, then Bartlett sliced wide after Whitstable failed to clear. Some sloppy play gave Lawal the chance to make a strong run forward that was ended with a foul by Thompson, earning him a yellow card and Wells a free kick 25 yards out, which Lawal fired into the defensive wall. Whitstable drew level in the 61st minute after Schafer was chopped down by Allan and Kedwell swung in the free kick from the right for Chambers to head past Bentley. They went in search of another and Sithole's long shot was saved, but Wells nearly regained the lead with Bartlett was given the space to hit a low 30 yard shot that beat Colmer before hitting the inside of the post and the unmarked Carty looked sure to tap in the rebound but somehow the ball eluded him and Whitstable were able to clear.

In the 67th minute, Whitstable took the lead for the first time and it came from another free kick after Splatt was fouled in a similar position to that which brought the previous goal. Kedwell's pin point delivery was glanced into the far corner by Splatt to make it 3-2. The next quarter of an hour passed without much action of note, until Wells struggled to clear a Whitstable corner and substitute Nelson had a shot saved. The game was settled in the third minute of added time when Jack Peters headed the ball forward from his own half and Nelson, who was played onside by Michael Samson, out muscled two defenders before thumping the ball past Bentley. Once again, Whitstable had managed to produce a second half performance to get a result and now hold a 17 point lead at the top with 11 games left to play.

Rusthall visit for the second consecutive Saturday, this time for the Kent Senior Trophy semi-final, and will be hoping to gain revenge for a 5-0 defeat in the league game last week. Both teams will be looking to book their place in the final on Sunday 19th April against either Punjab United or FC Elmstead.

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Harvey Kedwell, Finn O’Mara, Jake McIntyre (c) (Isaac Currie 46), Ronald Sithole, Lewis Chambers, Javaun Splatt (Joe Healy 86), Bradley Schafer ((Jack Peters 90+1), Theo Osinfolarin (Jack Nelson 69).
Sub (unused): Fin Cotton
Goals: Javaun Splatt 45+6, 67, Lewis Chambers 61, Jack Nelson 90+3.
Yellow card: Ricardo Thompson 55

Tunbridge Wells
George Bentley, Josh Nolan, Ben Martin-Coward (Matty Dunmall 80), Lewis Allan, Michael Samson, Muiz Alaka, D’Armando Lawrence (Deshon Carty 15, Leo Vowles 86), Chris Lawal (c), Kieran James, Rhys Bartlett (Bradley Austin 80), Regan Corke.
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Regan Corke 45+1, Lewis Allan 45+4.
Yellow card: Lewis Allan 60

Attendance: 520
Referee: Tyler Diminieux
Assistants: William Watton & James Folan-Young