Ronald Sithole scored the winning goal to clinch the FA Vase for Whitstable Town in extra-time at Wembley.
Whitstable – backed by over 7,000 fans at the national stadium – conceded first but levelled early in the second half through Harvey Smith and the entertaining match went to extra-time where Sithole hit the winner.
Sithole – a former professional with Gillingham – had struck the woodwork moments before scoring the crucial goal to settle the match in Whitstable’s favour.
Whitstable’s road to Wembley started in August – along with 596 other clubs in the lower steps (5 and 6) of the game – with a first qualifying round win over Corinthian Casuals – one of nine opponents they had to see off to make it to Sunday’s final.
The Oystermen became the first Kent side since Deal Town to win the Vase – that historic moment coming 25 years earlier as Tommy Sampson’s side beat Chippenham Town.
Jamie Coyle’s men arrived at Wembley in great form, having only lost twice in 27 games, although those defeats came in the Kent Senior Trophy final and the Southern Counties East Premier Division play-off promotion semi-finals.
Player-boss Coyle was planning to hang up his boots after the game – and what a way to finish. He had named himself in the starting line-up with assistant boss Matt Longhurst directing things from the touchline.
A lively enough start from Whitstable led to a couple of early corners and a shot wide by Nathan Jeche from the edge of the box.
Whyteleafe – who could still be crowned champions of the Combined Counties Premier Division – opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Gaspar Mico showed good footwork in the box and played in Daniel Bennett, who beat keeper Daniel Colmer with a dinked finish.
Whitstable almost conceded a second soon after and it needed Colmer to make a super one-handed stop to turn Aaron Watson’s effort wide.
Ronald Sithole’s cross almost picked out Smith as The Oysters looked to reply and Finn O’Mara headed a corner over the bar.
Whitstable reached the halfway mark a goal behind. They also lost combative midfielder Connor Wilkins to injury late in the half.
The second half was just seven minutes old when Whitstable levelled the scores, however. Jeche picked out Smith and from 20 yards the striker wrong-footed the Leafe keeper, scoring his 17th of the season.
Whitstable had their tails up but still needed their keeper Colmer to prevent Leafe from retaking the lead, with Watson breaking towards goal down the right before his shot was saved. Ryan Gondoh also forced the Town stopper into action as the game continued at a decent pace.
Sithole went close for Whitstable with a shot he dragged wide while at the other end O’Mara did well to block an effort from Mico. Bennett also went close for Leafe from the edge of the box in an all-action period of play.
Whitstable goalscorer Smith almost turned provider with 15 minutes left, beating a couple of challenges out wide before finding Robbie Rees in the box, who in turn did well to get a shot away but goalkeeper Hill made himself big to keep the ball out of the net.
Jamie Mascoll had the ball in the net for Whyteleafe but the whistle had already sounded for a foul on fellow substitute Jerald Aboagye.
In hot conditions, some of the players were feeling it, but they faced 10 minutes of additional time added-on at the end of the 90.
During that time Smith nodded an effort wide for Whitstable and Sithole was denied by the keeper when he tried to pick out the bottom corner.
The big chance before extra-time fell to Whyteleafe’s Jeche, whose curling effort from the edge of the box hit the crossbar in the 96th minute.
Both teams needed to play another 30 minutes to try and settle the match before penalties.
Within seconds of extra-time starting Whitstable were twice denied by keeper Hill, firstly from Sithole and then as Smith came in with a follow-up.
There was an even better chance for Sithole as he was flagged for offside after first turning a shot against the post and then finding the net from Smith’s ball back in, only to be denied by the officials.
Sithole looked gutted but moments later his face was a picture of delight as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net with 100 minutes played, refusing to give up on a chance following O’Mara’s clearance upfield.
Keeper Hill had at first denied Sithole, but with the ball still alive he composed himself and fired home.
Whitstable had to make several crucial clearances to keep their lead intact but Joe Healy could have added a third, shooting wide in the 120th minute. The final whistle finally came for The Oystermen to celebrate an historic achievement.
Whitstable Town: Colmer, Thompson, McIntyre (Aboagye 70mins), Coyle, O’Mara, Cotton, Dalton (Healy 105mins), Wilkins (Rees 45+1mins), Smith (Thomas 115mins), Sithole, Jeche (O’Mara Knapp 85mins).
AFC Whyteleafe: Hill, Orome (De-Melo 79mins), Bennett (Ansah 90+10mins), Holder, Mico (Mascoll 72mins), Watson (Eruotor 85mins), Leeward (Teodorescu 90+10mins), Braham-Barrett, Gondoh, Goode, Johnson-Palmer.
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
