Whitstable claimed their first win in this season’s Velocity Trophy, as they beat Ashford United 3-1 at the Belmont Ground. Harry Stannard opened the scoring in the first half, finally putting the ball in the net after a couple of Whitstable efforts had been kept out in quick succession. Dan Eason saved a close range shot from Levi Gold to ensure Whitstable kept their advantage until half time. After the break, the referee awarded two penalties in the space of a few minutes, as firstly David Smith equalised for Ashford, then Stannard put the home team back in front. Despite the efforts of both teams, there were no further goals until stoppage time when Whitstable substitute Aaron Millbank fired home from a tight angle to make sure of the win.

Ashford arrived at the Belmont, having won 7 points from their 3 games previously played in this competition, whereas Whitstable had only played once, in a drawn game at Hythe in which the home team claimed an extra point in the penalty shootout at the end. Ashford made five changes to the starting eleven from their previous game, a 3-0 defeat at Sevenoaks, whilst Whitstable made three changes to the team that had won at East Grinstead, with Leo Mazzone, Freddie Parker and Harry Stannard coming in for Luke Girt, Liam Gillies and Aaron Millbank.

A presentation was made to Whitstable goalkeeper Dan Eason before the game, which was his 200th appearance in a Whitstable shirt, after making his debut in October 2015. Richard Baines, of City Awards, kindly sponsored the trophy.

Hassan Ibrahiym made a good run to win Ashford a very early corner that Levi Gold headed wide at the near post. A couple of minutes later, a long ball found its way through the Ashford defence and left Stannard through on goal, but he stabbed his shot just wide as the goalkeeper Aaron Lee-Wharton came out to meet him. On 11 minutes, Stannard had a free kicked pushed out by Lee-Wharton, who then saved the follow up attempt by Mazzone. Parker created a half chance for TJ Jadama, but his shot went wide. Ashford won a free kick in a central position and Jake McIntyre saw his shot deflected wide off the Whitstable defensive wall, before the resulting corner was again headed wide by Gold. Ashford were forced to make a substitution in the 20th minute and top scorer David Smith was introduced.

Whitstable scored the first goal in the 34th minute, when the dangerous John Ufuah crossed from the right and led to a couple of efforts on goal, with the ball coming back off the bar and Marcus Elliott playing it into the path of Stannard who fired it into the net. Ashford tried to respond and were denied by Ufuah, who raced back to made a great interception. On 40 minutes, Ashford played a free kick short, worked the ball out wide and when it came into the box Eason made a crucial save from Gold who looked certain to score from close range. The visitors finished the half pressing for the equaliser, but Whitstable defended well and almost fashioned a chance of the break following a run by Ufuah, but the score remained 1-0 at the interval.

Just after the restart, a tricky run into the box by left back Ramell Lake was eventually dealt with by the Whitstable defence. In the 57th minute Josh Spencer and Gold collided in the box as the ball was fired across the pitch and the referee awarded a penalty to Ashford, despite some home protests. Smith stepped forward to beat Eason from the spot. Just a few minutes later, Spencer made a great run from the back before passing to Elliott, who went down under a challenge and the result was another penalty, which Stannard fired past Lee-Wharton to restore Whitstable’s lead.

Both teams made substitutions, before Jadama and Parker combined to create an opening for Millbank whose shot was turned behind for a corner, which was well worked with the eventual cross finding an unmarked Spencer in the box, but he glanced his header just wide. In the 80th minute, an Ashford corner was flicked just over the top, then Ufuah made another good break, but his shot was saved and Stannard was next to try a shot that was also comfortably held by the Ashford keeper. As the game entered the time added on by the referee, Whitstable kept the ball in the corner for a couple of minutes, until Ufuah suddenly looked towards goal and crossed for Millbank, who turned and shot from a narrow angle at the near post and the ball beat Lee-Wharton and found the far corner to seal a 3-1 win.

The updated Velocity Trophy Group Seven table is summarised below. Whitstable still have Ramsgate, Herne Bay and Faversham to play, with just the group winners progressing to the knockout stages.

	P	W	D	GD	Pts*
Ashford	4	2	1	1	7
Ramsgate	3	1	2	1	7
Faversham	3	1	1	5	4
Whitstable	2	1	1	2	4
Herne Bay	2	1	0	-1	3
Hythe	4	0	1	-8	2

*Bonus points for penalty shootout wins are included

Whitstable next play VCD Athletic at home on Saturday in a BetVictor Isthmian League game.

Whitstable	Data	Ashford
8	Shots on target	4
4	Shots off target	4
1	Shots blocked	4
4	Corners	8
11	Fouls conceded	11
1	Offside	6
1	Penalties	1

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Leo Mazzone (Danny Patterson 80), Josh Spencer, Tom Bryant (c), Tijan Jadama, Freddie Parker (Liam Gillies 86), Marcus Elliott (Aaron Millbank 66), Harry Stannard, John Ufuah.
Subs (unused): Liam Dickson, Muhammed Cham.
Goals: Harry Stannard 34, pen 60, Aaron Millbank 90+1.
Yellow card: Jake Mackenzie 78

Ashford United
Aaron Lee-Wharton, Theo Osinfolarin, Ramell Lake, Josh Wisson (Jay May 78), Mo Kamara (c), Jake McIntyre (Benjamin Binder 66), Zak Henry, Hassan Ibrahiym, Tashie Kwayie (David Smith 20), Levi Gold, Lee Prescott.
Sub (unused): Lee Hook
Goal: David Smith pen 57

Attendance: 159
Referee: Jack Fagg
Assistants: Kennedy Kikulwe & Billy Woods