Following an injury hit, winless run of five games, a trip to face their unbeaten local rivals Faversham Town was enough to make even the most optimistic Whitstable supporters a little apprehensive. They need not have worried however, as the Oystermen produced an inspired performance to deservedly take home all three points. Mason Hunter soon helped to settle the nerves when his header gave the visitors the perfect start and Faversham then struggled to break down a determined Whitstable team containing a couple of new faces. The Lilywhites were handed a way back into the game when they were awarded a rather soft penalty that was initially well saved by Dan Colmer, but the taker Tommie Fagg reacted quickly to fire in the rebound. Whitstable regained the initiative on the stroke of half time with a great debut goal by Seb Amatai. Robbie Rees gave Whitstable some breathing space when he made it 3-1 with a good finish midway through the second half. Faversham pushed forward with more purpose towards the end, but Whitstable repelled every attack until Harry Hudson headed in a corner deep into added time. The final whistle immediately followed and Whitstable could celebrate a memorable win with their large contingent of vocal supporters.

This was the first meeting between the two teams since the 2024-25 season that ended with a league championship for Faversham and an FA Vase win for Whitstable. The Lilywhites did the league double over the Oystermen although the Christmas game at Faversham was a closely fought 4-3 home win in front of nearly 1,200 fans. The teams then met again a few weeks later when Whitstable won 3-1 on their way to the Kent Senior Trophy final. Faversham manager Steve Watt has assembled a very strong squad this season and they have enjoyed an unbeaten start in their quest for promotion. In contrast, and perhaps understandably after a summer of disruption, it has been a mixed start for Whitstable. Their last five games, three cup and two in the league, all ended in defeat for a squad badly affected by injury absences. Two new signings started this match: striker Kane Rowland who played almost a hundred games for the Oystermen between 2014 and 2017 and Sebastian Amatai, an Albanian youth international who has joined from Bromley. There were plenty of Whitstable supporters in the 804 strong crowd who had made the short journey to see if their team could spring a surprise and get their season back on track.

Whitstable made a bright start and won a corner on the left that was taken by Henry Young who played a one-two with Ryan Bernal before crossing to the back post where Mason Hunter rose highest to head the ball down and past Tom Hadler into the net to give Whitstable the lead inside two minutes. For a team with just one goal from their last five matches, it was the perfect start. Neither goalkeeper was unduly troubled for the next phase of the game, but in the 18th minute, Rowland combined well with Amatai in the left corner before sending the ball right across goal with nobody there to take advantage. Whitstable continued to look the more likely to score and Rowland tried from long range, but Hadler managed to tip his dipping shot over the bar. Faversham got the ball into the box in the 29th minute and Josh Strouts laid it back for Tommie Fagg whose 25 yard shot hit Hunter before being cleared.

The hard working Rowland was winning a lot of balls and helping Whitstable get forward, but chances were limited. Strouts tried to catch Colmer off his line from his own half, but the ball sailed harmlessly wide. Faversham had failed to create much, but were given a great opportunity when Ajayi broke forward down the left and into the box where he went down after trying to get past Matty Holness and the referee, much to the surprise and disappointment of the Whitstable players, decided to award a penalty. Colmer dived to his right to save Fagg's spot kick, but could do nothing to prevent Fagg tucking in the rebound. It looked as though the teams would go in level at half time, but Whitstable regained the lead in the 46th minute. Young won possession in the left corner and Amatai collected the ball, weaved around several defenders inside the box before shooting past Hadler into the far corner from a tight angle. It was a lovely way to introduce himself to the Oyster supporters, a good time to score and take a 2-1 lead into the break.

Whitstable brought on Kenny Aileru for the start of the second half. There were several corners, but not too much of a goal threat in the next quarter of an hour. Kane Haysman headed over the top, Jack Evans had a couple of efforts blocked and more substitutions were made. It was one of the Whitstable substitutes, Robbie Rees that gave Whitstable a two goal cushion in the 67th minute, A throw on the left was headed on by Rowland to Jack Nelson in the box and he laid the ball back to Rees who took a couple of touches before shooting past Hadler at the near post.

Whitstable then defended well as Faversham tried to respond. Ibrahim Olutade chased a ball over the top, but Hunter and Nathan Green got back to clear the danger, then Holness was on hand to cut out a low cross. On 90 minutes Eniye Amgbaduba headed the ball back across goal for Olutade who was denied by Colmer who then also saved an Evans shot as the pressure grew. Hunter made another interception and Holness headed an Ajayi effort behind for a corner. Finally, Faversham found the net as Harry Hudson headed in the corner at the near post, but that was to prove the last action and Whitstable had done enough to earn a well-deserved 3-2 away win.

There is no game for Whitstable at the weekend, so their next fixture is a home game against Deal Town in the Velocity Cup on Tuesday evening.

Faversham	Data	Whitstable
4	Shots on target	5
3	Shots off target	1
8	Shots blocked	0
8	Corners	4
8	Fouls conceded	11
2	Offside	0
1	Penalties	0

Faversham Town
Tom Hadler, Josh Hare, Jack Parter, Tommie Fagg (c), Lex Allan (Eniye Amgbaduba 67), Harry Hudson, Nathan Wood, Jack Evans, Josh Strouts (Ibrahim Olutade 78), Kane Haysman, Josh Ajayi.
Subs (unused): Henry Newcombe, Lennon Diamond, Matt Newman.
Goals: Tommie Fagg 38, Harry Hudson 90+4.
Yellow card: Tommie Fagg 44

Whitstable Town
Dan Colmer, Matty Holness, Nathan Green, Mason Hunter, Sebastian Amatai (Jack Nelson 64), Ryan Bernal, Kweku Lucan (Kenny Aileru 46), Henry Young, Kane Rowland (Derek Asamoah 90+3), Tijan Jadama (c) (Robbie Rees 65), Koby Yeboah.
Sub (unused): Mikey Berry
Goals: Mason Hunter 2, Sebastian Amatai 45+1, Robbie Rees 67.
Yellow cards: Matty Holness 36, Sebastian Amatai 47.

Attendance: 804
Referee: Alex Gordon
Assistants: Tom Amber & Will Rough