There was to be no cup upset at the Belmont, as an in-form Folkestone ran out comfortable winners, although only one goal separated the teams at half time. Ira Jackson, once again scored against his former club, hitting a great shot in off the post midway through the opening half. Whitstable suffered a blow, when their captain Tom Bryant limped off early in the second half and within a few minutes, the reorganised team conceded two further goals, when Jackson scored again following a mistake at the back and then substitute Johan Ter Horst put the result beyond doubt soon afterwards. Sam Hasler thumped a great fourth past Dan Eason in the closing stages, as Whitstable kept trying, but rarely looked like scoring and Folkestone deservedly booked their place in Monday’s draw for the next round.

Having beaten Newhaven in the previous round, the reward for Whitstable was a tough home draw against the BetVictor Isthmian Premier League leaders, Folkestone Invicta, which brought back memories of the same round last season, when another high flying Premier Division team, Bognor Regis Town, won 5-0 at the Belmont. The Folkestone squad contained a few familiar faces, including Scott Heard, who made 253 appearances in a Whitstable shirt. Micheal Everitt, Ira Jackson and Ronnie Dolan have also played for Whitstable and the substitute goalkeeper, Henry Newcombe, signed for Folkestone shortly after featuring for Whitstable in the pre-season game between the two clubs at the end of July. Folkestone were without Finn O’Mara and Josh Vincent through injury, so Alfie Paxman switched to play at right back. New signing James Brown started in midfield for Whitstable instead of Liam Gillies, in the only change to the team that lost at Sevenoaks.

For the second consecutive home fixture, over 500 people were in attendance at a sunny Belmont Ground. An early Folkestone corner taken by Heard was headed on to the far side of the pitch by Callum Davies, where the ball was crossed back in by Jackson and Jerson Dos Santos flicked it just wide. A minute later, Paxman cut in from the right and curled a left footed shot just past the far post. In the 6th minute, a home free kick led to a quick Folkestone break that ended with Hasler hitting a long, dipping shot over the bar. Jackson then tried a low shot following a good run, but it was easily held by Eason. Dos Santos went over when challenged on the 18 yard line, but the referee penalised him for a dive and awarded a free kick to Whitstable. The home team finally started to apply a little pressure at the other end, winning a couple of free kicks and corners, but TJ Jadama was unfortunately injured when fouled on the edge of the box and had to be replaced by Gillies a few minutes later. In the 18th minute, a good ball in by Jake Mackenzie was headed behind for a corner that was missed by goalkeeper Tim Roberts and met by the head of Bryant, but the ball went just the wrong side of the post.

The game then went through a quiet spell before Folkestone took the lead in the 25th minute, when a long cross field ball by Hasler found Jackson on the right and he cut in past three defenders before firing a left footed shot in off the far post giving Eason no chance. Whitstable won their third corner a few minutes later, but it was taken short and possession lost. Nat Blanks curled an effort over the bar, then Jackson was brought down just outside the box and got up to take the free kick, but hit it straight at Eason. In the 37th minute, Kieron McCann saw his shot well tipped over the bar by the home goalkeeper. As the interval approached Connor Sanders tried a couple of long throws into the Folkestone box and from the second, Matt Newman appeared to handle the ball, but the loud penalty appeals were dismissed by the referee. Dos Santos was replaced by Ter Horst in the 45th minute and there was a late, dangerous cross that went right through the Whitstable box, before Ter Horst had a shot closed down. Whitstable went into the break trailing by the single goal, leaving the home supporters still hopeful of a second half comeback.

Both teams started the second half brightly and Jackson sent a low cross right across goal, but Whitstable lost their captain and central defender, Bryant, with an ankle injury in the 50th minute. Alex Anderson was sent on to play on the left wing and the team reverted to a back four, which seemed to disrupt things completely and the game was effectively over a few minutes later. Liam Dickson failed to clear a Folkestone free kick and Newman slipped the ball forward to Jackson who buried his shot into the net to double the lead and then in the 54th minute it was 3-0 when Heard played a neat pass through to Ter Horst, who ran on to the ball and shot first time past Eason.

Whitstable introduced Tarik Ibrahim, who showed some promising touches, but was unable to find an end product. In the 64th minute, a Folkestone corner was met by Newman whose shot grazed the top of the bar, then Gillies was caught in possession and Jackson fired over after a quick break. Dolan came on for Heard, who received some generous applause as he departed in the 68th minute. Ter Horst then saw his shot blocked on the line by the impressive Marcus Evans, who put in a calm display at the back for the home side, before McCann curled a follow up attempt over the top. Dolan had the ball in the net, only to see the flag raised for offside. Folkestone did add a fourth in the 81st minute with another great strike, this time by Hasler, who collected a pass from the left wing and smashed a left footed shot into the top left hand corner from outside the box. Folkestone then gave their substitute goalkeeper a few minutes on the pitch. Gillies had a late shot blocked as Whitstable looked in vain for a consolation goal and the final action saw Newman shoot wide when the ball dropped to him in the box.

So Folkestone collect £4,500 and progress to the second qualifying round, whilst Whitstable pick up a further £1,500 to add to their earlier prize money. There were a few good performances on the pitch for Whitstable, but overall the management team will probably be disappointed that they went out rather tamely, albeit to a very good team. After two consecutive 4-0 defeats, they will be looking for some improvement when they start their Velocity Trophy campaign at Hythe on Tuesday evening.

Whitstable	Data	Folkestone
0	Shots on target	8
1	Shots off target	9
1	Shots blocked	1
3	Corners	3
9	Fouls conceded	9
3	Offside	8
0	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, John Walker, Liam Dickson, Marcus Evans, Tom Bryant (c) (Alex Anderson 50), James Brown, Connor Sanders, Aaron Millbank, Marcus Elliott (Tarik Ibrahim 58), Tijan Jadama (Liam Gillies 14).
Subs (unused): Josh Spencer, Luke Girt, Muhammed Cham.

Folkestone Invicta
Tim Roberts (Henry Newcombe 84), Alfie Paxman, Nat Blanks, Matt Newman, Callum Davies (c), Sam Hasler, Scott Heard (Ronnie Dolan 68), Micheal Everitt, Ira Jackson, Jerson Dos Santos (Johan Ter Horst 45), Kieron McCann.
Sub (unused): Kieran Jones.
Goals: Ira Jackson 25, 52, Johan Ter Horst 54, Sam Hasler 81.

Attendance: 503
Referee: John Pike
Assistants: Jak Hill & Daniel Barham