Whitstable booked a place in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round with a clinical performance against their Southern Combination Football League Premier Division opponents. A great Harry Stannard hat-trick and further goals from Tom Mills and Aaron Millbank ensured there would be no cup upset at the Belmont.

Alfold arrived from Surrey at the Kent coast having won three of their opening four league matches, as well as knocking out Isthmian League East Grinstead in the previous round, so this was potentially a tricky tie for the Oystermen. Lloyd Blackman named an unchanged starting eleven, but with Ollie Gray unavailable, there were three 17 year olds on the bench.

Whitstable began positively and a ball in from the right might have led to a very early goal. The game was only in the 7th minute though when they did open the scoring. Greg Hearn played the ball back into his own half and before Clyde Jacques could bring it under control, Stannard reacted quickly to steal possession and he took the ball into the box before shooting low past Andrew Osei. Alfold passed the ball around promisingly at times, driven on by their captain Ash Mutongerwa, but rarely troubled Dan Eason in the home goal. Tom Carlton had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and Sam Lemon’s effort suffered a similar fate at the other end. Millbank turned and shot wide as Whitstable looked to double their advantage, which they eventually did in the 27th minute after Millbank was fouled around 30 yards out on the right. Danny Walder curled in a great free kick, which was met by Mills who planted a fine header past the goalkeeper into the back of the net. Lemon did test Eason with a good shot from 22 yards, but the Whitstable goalkeeper was able to make the save. Jake Mackenzie ran on to a Walder pass, but was crowded out before being able to shoot, then a Liam Gillies strike was deflected away for a corner. The Whitstable defence came under a little pressure just before the break, conceding two corners, but Alfold were unable to capitalise and the score remained 2-0 at half time.

The outcome was settled soon after the restart, despite some good football by the visitors in the first couple of minutes. Whitstable scored their third in the 48th minute following a good move from a throw on the right. Millbank sent Carlton away with a clever flick and his low cross was swept into the far corner by Stannard. Reece Jackson tried a low shot that was safely gathered by Eason, then in the 53rd minute, a foul on Millbank on the left, just outside the penalty area, presented Stannard with an opportunity for his hat-trick, which he duly took by curling a perfect free kick into the far top corner. Kieran Joseph was cautioned for a late challenge on the excellent Mills, before substitute Kofi Quartey looped a header into the hands of Eason, who then saved another Quartey effort and an awkward bouncing attempt by Lemon as Alfold kept plugging away. Stannard then left the field to the applause of the 283 crowd to be replaced by Ryan Flack, who started in lively fashion, sending a low shot just wide, then playing in Carlton, who was just denied by Osei. Mackenzie then struck the side netting after a one-two with Flack and Carlton also flashed a shot wide. It was 5-0 in the 77th minute when a long Mackenzie pass found Millbank just onside and he slid the ball past Osei. Mitch Clark was booked for a foul and Carlton’s free kick was glanced wide by Millbank. Good defensive challenges by substitute George McIlroy and Mills ensured there would be no consolation goal for Alfold. In the 84th minute, Whitstable almost scored a sixth, when Gillies, Gus Barnes and Flack all had efforts blocked in quick succession. There was a late caution for Gillies, but Whitstable were comfortably through to await Monday’s draw.

Next weekend sees a double return to league action with a visit to East Grinstead, followed by the big local derby against Herne Bay at the Belmont on Bank Holiday Monday.

Whitstable	Data	Alfold
7	Shots on target	6
7	Shots off target	1
4	Shots blocked	1
7	Corners	5
11	Fouls conceded	11
4	Offside	0
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Will Thomas, Jack Miles (Gus Barnes 74), Tom Mills, Danny Walder (George McIlroy 68), Liam Gillies, Aaron Millbank (c), Tom Carlton, Harry Stannard (Ryan Flack 62).
Subs (unused): Nico Cotton, Muhammed Cham, Ben Harding, Henry Duley.
Goals: Harry Stannard 7, 48, 53, Tom Mills 27, Aaron Millbank 77.
Yellow card: Liam Gillies 85

Alfold
Andrew Osei, Kieran Joseph, Shane Saunders, Mitch Clark, Clyde Jacques, Sebastian Morally, Renato Carvalho, Ash Mutongerwa (c), Reece Jackson (Ayden Richards 72), Sam Lemon, Greg Hearn (Kofi Quartey 53).
Subs (unused): Clive Piller, Jamie Chesworth, Alex McLean, Tom Hayden, Josh Page.
Yellow cards: Kieran Joseph 54, Mitch Clark 80.

Attendance: 283
Referee: Tolu Sangowawa
Assistants: Jacob Miller & Daniel Roberts

Brief highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XtkMApFgo