Sevenoaks Town progressed to the next round of the cup, but they were made to work for it by Whitstable Town on Saturday afternoon.
The game started quickly for Sevenoaks as in the fourth minute they took the lead when Kiye Martin on the right received the ball and from 20 yards his curling shot beat Dan Colmer all ends up.
Two minutes later Sammie McLeod had his 20 yards effort saved by Colmer. Against the run of play Whitstable equalised when a long ball out to the right found Josh Oliver, he played in Jerson Dos Santos who ran into the area and shot home from 15 yards.
Sevenoaks could have gone into their shell after that but five minutes later they were back in front when Rodney Eruotar received the ball on the right in the area and from an acute angle shot past Colmer.
In the 30th minute Salim Futa ran forward from halfway and saw his 20-yard shot go just over the bar. In a rare attack Oliver on the right wing cut in and from 18 yards saw his shot go over the bar.
In the 39th minute Whitstable could or should have equalised when Jerald Aboagyeon the right ran into the area before passing into the path of Ali Fofahan but his shot from 15 yards was deflected over the bar.
In the 41st minute Martin’s free kick 20 yards out centrally was pushed over the bar by Colmer, the last chance of the half came in the 44th minute when Warren Mfula outmuscled Finn O’Mara, went into the area and went round Colmer but could not get the ball out of his feet and finish the chance.
Half time arrived and Marcel Nimani would have been delighted with the performance considering this was their first competitive match of the season while Jamie Coyle would have been disappointed and would want more out of his side.
The second half saw Whitstable come out all fired up after the half time team talk from manager Coyle as in the 56th minute Karn Miller-Neave found himself in the area on the left, his low cross was punched out by Jordan Perrin but only to Mike West and his 15-yard shot went straight into the mid rift of Perrin.
Three minutes later and Whitstable should have equalised when a free kick on the left was floated in and O’Mara running from eight yards on his own headed straight at Perrin when either side of him would have seen him score.
Whitstable were now in charge with Sevenoaks hanging on. In the 65th minute another chance came when a free kick lumped forward found Harvey Smith who brought it down and shot at the same time but lucky for Sevenoaks Perrin saved it.
Four minutes later Sevenoaks in a rare attack could have scored and sealed their progress, when Gael Kileba on halfway beat two defenders advanced forward before passing out to Albangbee who saw his curling shot go just past the post.
Whitstable huffed and puffed looking for the equaliser but in the end they did not trouble Sevenoaks and now they play Leatherhead in the next round.
Sevenoaks Town:
- J.Perrin 12. R.Sawyer 5. J.Howlett-Mundle 4. J.Bath 15. S.Futa 6. A.Majekodunmi
6. S.Mcleod 10. R.Eruotar (67) 11. K.Martin (90+1) 17. W.Efambe (52) 9 .W.Mfula
Subs Used: 18. G.Kileba (52) 7. J.Albangbee (67) 2. D.Divine (90+1)
Subs Not Used: 13. A.Norburn
Bookings: 12. R.Sawyer (58)
Whitstable Town:
- D.Colmer 2. J.Aboagye 3. K.Miller-Neave 12. M.Chapman 5. F.O’mara 19. J.Mcintyre
17. M.West 10. J.Dos Santos 7. J.Oliver (45) 9. H.Smith 14. A.Fofahan (59)
Subs Used: 11. O.Akanni (45, 75) 18. J.Boulton (59)
Subs Not Used: 12. J.Robson 6. W.Thomas 4. K.Jeffrey 8. R.Gillies
Bookings: 19. J.Mcintyre (40) 12. M.Chapman (74)
Referee: Mr. S.Hughes
Assistants: Mr S.Roots & Miss R.Rhodes
Att: 253
Images courtesy of Sevenoaks Town