National League South leaders Dartford proved too strong for Whitstable at their Princes Park Stadium. A fast start led to Danny Leonard firing a great shot into the net after just a couple of minutes. Jake Robinson scored the second from the penalty spot after Tyrique Hyde was brought down and further goals by Robinson, George Porter and Hyde settled the tie before half time. Although Robinson completed his hat-trick early in the second half with another good finish, Whitstable kept battling away and were rewarded when Danny Walder powered a free kick past Dan Wilks. Goalkeeper Dan Eason made several good saves to ensure that there were no more goals and Whitstable matched their result against Welling United when they were last runners up in 2009.

This was an evening out for everyone associated with Whitstable after a difficult start to this season, although they played their first game in this competition back at the start of October 2019, with just Eason, James Brown and Jake Mackenzie surviving from those who played that evening. Stephen Okoh was unavailable, but Whitstable included new signing Rodney Eruotor on the bench. Dartford, unsurprisingly, fielded a strong team as they sought their twelfth Kent Senior Cup win.

For Whitstable to achieve a major upset, a good start was essential – and that was certainly not the case as Dartford laid siege to their goal from the first whistle and scored after just 2 minutes. Their second corner was only partially cleared and they kept the ball around the box until Keiran Murtagh’s shot rebounded off the bar to Leonard on the left and he took a couple of touches before rifling a shot into the top corner from 19 yards. Tom Carlton went close to an equaliser with a good run and dipping shot that was parried by Wilks before being cleared away for a corner. Most of the action was at the other end though and Leonard twisted and turned before shooting over, then a smart turn by Robinson brought a diving save from Eason. The lively Robinson next ran on to a chipped pass before lobbing the ball narrowly over the bar. The pressure eventually led to a second goal from a 22nd minute penalty, although Whitstable were a little unlucky as Luke Illsley slipped when he was about to clear the ball which ran to Hyde who was going away from goal when Gus Barnes also seemed to lose his footing and brought him down. Robinson made no mistake from the spot. Eason made good saves to deny Porter and Hyde before Dartford made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute, when Hyde tried a shot from the edge of the box that was going wide, but Robinson slid in to guide the ball past Eason at the back post. Michael Kedman sped down the left and fed Hyde, whose cross to the near post was headed in by Porter to extend the lead on 38 minutes. Robinson curled another attempt over the top, then Hyde played a clever one-two with him before shooting past Eason in the 43rd minute to make it 5-0. There was a rare sight of goal for Whitstable just before the break, but Carlton’s shot was saved.

Dartford replaced Ronnie Vint with Connor Essam for the second half and Whitstable took off Illsley and the injured Barnes, bringing on James Brown and Victor Aiyelabola. A near post flick by Josh Clarke was kept out by Eason, but Dartford added a sixth on 54 minutes when Hyde drove through the middle and passed to Robinson on the left who took the ball inside Will Thomas and curled a low shot into the far corner. Whitstable then had a better spell of possession that led to a foul on Aiyelabola about 25 yards out in the 59th minute. Walder struck a great free kick past a motionless Wilks into the right corner to give the Oyster fans behind the goal something to cheer about. Walder have another free kick chance shortly afterwards from a tighter angle, but Wilks saved. Both teams made further changes with Eruotor coming on for his Whitstable debut. Dartford substitute Dan Roberts had several chances, but could not find a way past Eason who made a couple of exceptional saves. Robinson did have the ball in the net again from close range, but the offside flag prevented him from recording his fourth goal in a “man of the match” performance. Kemo Darboe had a shot blocked and Aiyelabola blazed an effort wide as Whitstable continued to work hard, whilst Leonard had a couple of late opportunities for Dartford, but the score remained 6-1 when referee Stephen Finnigan blew the final whistle to confirm Dartford as the comfortable 2019-20 Kent Senior Cup winners.

Manager Keith McMahon said afterwards that his team struggled at times to cope with the movement of an exceptional Dartford side in the first half and their mistakes were ruthlessly punished, but he was pleased that after half time they kept possession better and didn’t fold. He also praised the Whitstable fans who travelled in good numbers and gave plenty of vocal support until the end. His side now return to league action and an important game at Whitehawk as they attempt to collect more points.

Dartford	Data	Whitstable
16	Shots on target	4
8	Shots off target	2
4	Shots blocked	2
9	Corners	2
6	Fouls conceded	5
4	Offside	4
1	Penalties	0

Dartford
Dan Wilks, Josh Clarke, Michael Kedman, D’sean Theobalds, Ronnie Vint (Connor Essam 46), Tom Bonner (c), Danny Leonard, Keiran Murtagh, Jake Robinson, George Porter (Dan Roberts 62), Tyrique Hyde (Noor Husin 68).
Subs (unused): Ade Azeez, Luke Wanadio.
Goals: Danny Leonard 2, Jake Robinson 22 (pen), 33, 54, George Porter 38, Tyrique Hyde 43.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Gus Barnes (James Brown 46), Jake Mackenzie, Danny Walder, Will Thomas, Tom Mills (c), Alex Gaggin, Luke Illsley (Victor Aiyelabola 46), Kemo Darboe, Tom Carlton, Muhammed Cham (Rodney Eruotor 63).
Subs (unused): Harry Goodger, George McIlroy.
Goal: Danny Walder 59
Yellow cards: Jake Mackenzie 20, Tom Carlton 33.

Attendance: 757 (unconfirmed)
Referee: Simon Finnigan
Assistants: Christopher Myatt & Kane Dempster
Fourth Official: Louise Saunders