Bradley Schafer and Javaun Splatt scored two goals each as Whitstable Town won at Holmesdale in the first round of the Go Cardless Kent Senior Trophy.

From the scoreline alone, it would appear that Jamie Coyle’s Oystermen had cruised to victory, however, the hosts were a match for them for more than the first hour. However once Whitstable scored their second goal, they were ruthless and the outcome was no longer in doubt.

In the early stages, both teams had long range shots that went wide, Joe Healy for Whitstable and both Kevin Dance and Nathan Palmer for the Dalers.

The visitors’ Jayden Boulton then went on an enterprising run down the left wing and pulled it back for Dean Grant. His close range effort was sweetly struck but Charlie Wealands made a brilliant reaction save to keep it out.

Kayden Turner-Bernard then tested Whitstable’s Daniel Colmer with a fierce drive from out wide. Although the goalkeeper was unable to hold it, he recovered quickly to smother it before Callum Keeble could pounce. 

Schafer was unable to finish from Healy’s cross before Turner-Bernard poked over after great work by Palmer. Lewis Heywood-Oriogun then had a shot that was half blocked allowing Colmer an easy save before he was almost caught out when beaten by a Grant cross and was relieved to see it come back out off the top of the bar.

Having come close to going behind, the Oystermen took the lead one minute before half time. Fin Cotton’s cross caused problems and when a defensive attempt to head it back fell short, Schafer nipped in to lift it over Wealands and into the net. 

Early in the second period, Colmer pushed away a Turner-Heywood shot and Will Thomas hooked it away before Palmer, having been unable to get his initial shot away, went for a cute clip and it went just over.

At the other end Jake McIntyre headed over from Healy’s cross before Healy shot well over.

Turner-Heywood had no right to get a shot in when surrounded by three defenders but still managed to do so, however he couldn’t keep it down. Moments later, Whitstable scored again. Colmer was closed down as he went to clear but still managed to hit it cleanly. His eighty yard strike sent Splatt through and he drew Wealands out before slotting it home.

Wealands made another save from Turner-Heywood when punching his shot over before Whitstable scored twice in three minutes. Schafer rounded Wealands and slotted home then Splatt found space in the area and turned before shooting past the Holmesdale goalkeeper.

That was harsh on Andy Constable’s team who had played so well for a large part of the game yet it could have been worse. Wealands made a good near post save from Boulton, Ashdon Day knocked it down for Mikey Dalton who didn’t get a clean strike and Wealands saved, then Schafer tried his luck for a hat-trick from twenty-five yards but fired over.

On Saturday both teams return to league action when Holmesdale visit Larkfield and New Hythe while Whitstable travel to Erith and Belvedere.  

Holmesdale: Wealands; Jeffrey (Lugboso 68), Mansaray, Murray, Musoke; McGovern (Eliiott 68), Dance (Nwitua 80); Palmer, Keeble, Turner-Bernard (Mbola 76); Heywood-Oriugun.

Sub not used: Tuley.

Goalscorers: None 

Yellow cards: None

Whitstable Town: Colmer; O’Mara (Alhassan 73), Thomas, McIntyre (Osinfolarin 63), Boulton; Dalton; Cotton, Schafer, Healy (Day 73); Splatt (Ferreira 81), Grant.

Sub not used: Robson.

Goal scorers: Schafer (44) (77), Splatt (64) (80)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Krystian Kaczala

Assistant Referees: Kenechukwu Aghaski and Richard Cooksey

Attendance: 88