Whitstable Town 3-0 Chislehurst Glebe - We want to make sure we finish the job off in style and we want to make sure that we're the best version of champions that we can be, says Whitstable Town coach Taylor Couldry

Whitstable Town 3 – 0 Chislehurst Glebe
Location	The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP
Kickoff	21/03/2026 15:00

WHITSTABLE TOWN  3-0  CHISLEHURST GLEBE
Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 21 March 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Belmont Road

WHITSTABLE TOWN coach Taylor Couldry says he wants his side to finish off the job in style as the champions-elect need just one point from their last six games to celebrate winning their first league title since 2007.

Jamie Coyle’s side extended their impressive unbeaten record to 25 games (Cockfosters’ penalty-shoot-out (5-4) win here in The FA Vase Fifth Round on 7 February, is classed as a draw (1-1)) to remain 21 points clear of Fisher at the summit of the ninth-tier Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table.

Frankie Sawyer’s Chislehurst Glebe arrived on the Kent coast on a five-match unbeaten run but they failed to land a punch on the Oystermen, who claimed a comfortable three-goal victory to pick up their 24^th League win of the campaign.

Striker Javaun Splatt, 25, scored a first-half brace – to take his account for the season to 32 goals, a career best goalscoring tally since scoring 17 goals in the Isthmian League South East Division for Brighton-based side Whitehawk during the 2021-22 season.

Fellow striker Jack Nelson notched his 29^th goal of the season during the second half, having also scored 18 for Rochester United (level below) and three for VCD Athletic (Isthmian League South East).

“I think that we showed that on our day we can be the most exciting team in the division,” said Couldry.

“I don’t think it was our best day today and I think that there was a lot of moments that we could’ve capitalised more on but at the end of the day it was three points closer to where we want to be.

“We only need a point now to finish the job, so we’re pleased with that ultimately.  We’re massively pleased with the clean-sheet as well.

“We’ve been setting targets for players throughout the season on their numbers and it’s another game towards improving them, so we’re delighted with the overall result.”

Sawyer sent out his assistant manager Arron Fray for post-match media duties.

“Difficult one. In a sense of I don’t think we played to the level that we know that we can play to,” admitted Fray, 38.

“Obviously, credit to them, they’re top of the League for a reason.  They’ve got a good coaching staff, we know Jamie (Coyle) really well. Matt Longhurst has got a lot of experience as well.  They’ve got experience on the pitch as well.

“Slightly disappointing for us and our boys. We turned the corner in a sense of picking up points and things like that and today should’ve been a good benchmark for us but I think we had probably one too many boys not at the races and we can’t have that many boys not at the races against a team top of the League.”

When asked what their opponents brought to the table, Couldry replied: “I think they’re a much improved side throughout the season and you’re starting to see now with their recent form and the players’ they’ve got involved, that they can be a side that troubles you and causes you real damage if you let them have time on the ball.

“I thought out of possession we were fantastic today. I think our sort of gripes with the performance is more what we did or didn’t do with the ball, shall I say, but we had to give them total respect for their ability in possession and I think that’s what we based our game plan on today and that’s why we kept a clean sheet because we stopped them from playing.”

Fray said of Coyle’s side, “Threat wise, they’re organised and it’s something that is essential in this League, to get out of this League, I say this League, you go steps higher as well. A team that’s organised, who are very front-footed as well, who have experience on the bench, have got experience on the pitch, it’s always going to be difficult to compete with something like that. It’s something that we’ve got to look at as well.”

Direct Whitstable Town created their first opening after only three minutes and 43 seconds.

Bradley Schafer – who plays on the left of a midfield central three – was inside his own half and played a first time through ball which cut open Chislehurst Glebe left-back Tom Cousins and centre-half Rolex Buiti to put Nelson through on goal but he dragged his right-footed shot across the keeper and bouncing past the far post from 20-yards.

“I think Jack is a confidence player and when you get him really confident and in the groove of good habits he can be deadly,” warned Couldry.

“He started off early doors, he looked a threat throughout the first half and I think his quality just needed cleaning up slightly and he was able to do that later on.”

Connor Wilkins – who played on the right of the midfield three – was tripped by Chislehurst Glebe’s holding midfielder Mitchell Chapman and keeper Edwards lined up a four-man wall but Splatt’s right-footed effort sailed over the crossbar.

Whitstable Town were playing at a slow tempo in the first half and Finn O’Mara (left of three central defenders) was keen to drill long ball after long ball out of defence, with the lacklustre visitors failing to press or impress underneath glorious sunshine on the Kent coast.

Whitstable Town were gifted the lead – with 22 minutes and 28 seconds on the clock – with some awful defending.

The Foxes played out from the back and the ball was played into Chapman, who was some 30-yards from his goal and he wasn’t pressed by any Whitstable player.

Chapman kicked the ball along the artificial turf straight back to an unmarked Splatt lurking on the edge of the Foxes' penalty area, who took a touch before placing a clinical right-footed drive across the keeper to find the bottom right-hand corner from 16-yards, as Chapman’s 15-yard deck back-pass was a gift.

Couldry said: “We’ve been criticised at times this season at how we play and it’s often sort of suggested that there’s a right way of playing.

“Credit to Glebe, it’s (playing out from the back) brought them some levels of success but that was part of our moment of opportunity.

“In our game plan today, we wanted them to play, so we could take the ball off them in those moments and when you play like that, under pressure within your own third, you’ve opened yourself up to that kind of risk and we capitalised.

“I mean, it’s a good pressure from our midfield into Chappo, who’s an excellent player and I think we limited them around the ball to that option for him to pass back and unfortunate for him Splatty was right in front of it to be able to tap home and he does what he does best and improves his goal record for the season.”

Fray added: “Again, disappointing because Mitch has been one of our stand-out players since he’s come in, a real strength in the middle of the park for us.

“Obviously it’s something that we do work on. We do normally do it quite well but it’s just an unfortunate situation where Mitch probably didn’t see Javaun stood there and you give someone of that quality that time, he’s always going to put it in the back of the net.”

Nelson broke down the middle before the ball was worked out to high right-wing-back Theo Osinfolarin, who got in behind Cousins before floating in a cross from within the channel towards the unmarked 24-goal Schafer, who with his back to goal sent his acrobatic, ambitious over-head kick harmlessly wide of the left-upright from 16-yards.

“I think if we’re really brutal it could be a better ball, I think, because of the quality of the delivery it means Schafer’s has to try to manoeuvre some kind of magic to get an effort on goal and it certainly got the crowd up but that’s what he’s capable of burying – he’s a real sort of flair player for us,” added Couldry.

Chislehurst Glebe were offering nothing in attack with 28-goal talisman striker Jamie Philpot not involved in the game and wingers Khavarn Williams and Jaden Coleman failing to impress, the same for attacking midfielder Jesse Rowe, who didn’t attack and behind him Thinault Abie was also a passenger.

Chislehurst Glebe did win the corner-count by 6-5 and they won the long throws into the Whitstable Town penalty area quite comfortably by 7-3. That’s as good as it got as they offered no threats during a lacklustre first half performance.

“It was, first half, it was yes, in terms of us getting forward and getting into the box,” admitted Fray.

“I don’t think we were dynamic enough in regards to how we’re normally and how we have been in previous weeks and I think that was more a case of us, rather than them because there were opportunities to do it but I don’t think we done it and we didn’t do it well enough when we did get the chance.

“Obviously we’ve got the top goalscorer in the League in terms of Jamie Philpot and we probably didn’t get around him enough when we had opportunities as well.”

Whitstable Town doubled their lead with 43 minutes and 43 seconds on the clock, following their second corner.

Schafer swung the ball in with his right-foot from the left and the ball was cleared out to an unmarked Osinfolarain.

He cracked a right-footed rasping volley through a crowd of players towards the far corner from 20-yards on the angle and Nathan Edwards dived to his right to push the ball away with both hands (43:36).

Just eight seconds later – and after pinball inside the penalty area – the ball fell to Splatt, who clinically rifled his right-footed shot into the top-left-hand corner from eight-yards.

“Set-pieces has also been another gripe of ours.  We haven’t been convicted (his words) enough to score on first contact but to flip it on its head we’ve been very alive in the box,” said Couldry.

“We’ve not let things settle this season. We’ve scored quite a few goals over the course of the season through third and fourth phase contacts.  Splaty’s scored a lot of goals from second and third phases from corners this year, so it shows his alive. It shows he’s constantly engaged in what’s going on in the box and he’s ready to tap it home for us.”

Splatt will not be around on Tuesday as he has been selected by the British Virgin Islands’ for their games against Cayman Islands and Anguilla, missing the League game that could land them the league title at Rusthall.

Splatt is the joint-leading goalscorer (four, in five appearances) in the CONCACAF Series – a friendly tournament for member nations that were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

“He will do (miss our trip to Rusthall), which is a big miss for us, being our top goalscorer,” admitted Couldry.

“It’s unbelievable for him as a person. He’s obviously worked very hard across his career to be able to get that opportunity and he seems to do really well whenever he’s out there.

“The boys are always behind him. We’re very proud as a management team and as a club and we’re just gutted that we don’t get to utilise him in one of our biggest games and I’m sure he’ll be gutted as well.

“But ultimately we’ve got a tremendous squad that have helped us win this League along the way and he’s done an incredible job of that and hopefully the other lads can do it justice and finish the job on Tuesday.”

When asked for his take on the goal, Fray replied: “Again, we just didn’t react quick enough.  They were much more alive than we were in the box.  Again, disappointing but it is something that we’ll look at on Tuesday at training.”

When asked about his thoughts going into the interval, Couldry said: “I think we showed frustrations a lot on the side and I think we needed to try and find a way to settle the group down, especially when we’ve got so many breaking moments in the final third and not being able to convert.

“I mean, at 2-0 at half-time but it could’ve been a lot more with all due respect to the opposition and I think that’s down to our work-rate, so yes, the second half we just gave them that belief and told them that their much better version of what they’re displaying in the first half and to go and finish the job.”

Fray added: “Again it was more of a case of we’re below par. We know we’re not playing how we should be playing, whether that was on the ball or off the ball and again I keep harping on about it but we’ve come to the team that’s top of the League, you can’t afford to be a few percentage below where you need to be.”

There was no surprise when Sawyer and Fray hooked a couple of players at the interval – after failing to register a single chance during a poor first half - as centre-half Cairo Duhaney-Burton and Rowe were hooked for Harry Sargent and Durciel Nathan Mampono.

Mampono – who played behind quiet striker Philpot – made an immediate impact as Chislehurst Glebe took only 50 seconds to register their first chance.

Chapman fed Mampono, who swept the ball out to high right-back Brandon Barrance, who whipped in a great cross from within the channel towards the unmarked Mampono, who sent his left-footed volley over the crossbar with his second touch of the game from 16-yards.

“We just needed a change, just try to freshen things up, try to get a foothold in the game,” came Fray’s reply when asked about the double change at the break.

“Again, we take our chance, it could be a different game but it’s always now a case of if’s, buts and maybe’s.”

Couldry added: “I think that’s probably a moment that they’re disappointed with.  Our mantra is all about clean-sheets and being really solid defensively, so it was a bit of a scarry moment and fortunately they’ve not been able to convert that.”

No Chislehurst Glebe player was keen to press O’Mara – who was the main architect of the home side drilling long balls out of defence and Rusthall will need to stick a man on the 27-year-old to stop the source.

Whitstable Town came within inches to scoring their third goal with 14:56 on the clock as Sargent opened the gate.

An unpressed O’Mara drilled a right-footed ball over the top of the Foxes’ substitute centre-half and Nelson did superbly to bring the ball down and under control before cutting into the penalty area and stroking a left-footed half-volley against the top of the near-post from 16-yards on the angle.

“We were kind of wondering whether he had a little bit more time maybe to get a touch closer to goal or to possibly slide Splatty in for a tap-in,” said Couldry.

“It’s a hell of a strike and he’s unfortunate for it to hit the bar but maybe one or two decisions could’ve gone better for him in that moment but as I keep (saying) he was such a threat throughout the game, he’s got himself in some great positions today.”

When asked about the home side’s direct approach and hitting the woodwork, Fray replied: “I wouldn’t say they were super direct. They do try to play at the right times.  I think you have to give Whitstable credit and again they’ve got a manager in Coylie, Matt Longhurst as well. They like to play football as well, so I don’t think it’s a case of being too direct. They’re direct when they need to be and they’re good at what they do but they do try to play football as well.”

Chapman was cautioned by referee Tyler Dimineux for fouling Schafer and Wilkins' last act of the game was to drill his resulting right-footed free-kick around the four-man wall past the diving keeper and just past the right-hand post from 30-yards.

Chislehurst Glebe ventured forward (24:37) when centre-half Buiti was given time to travel over the half-way line before Barrance (the away side’s most stand-out player) and Williams linked up down the right before Barrance drilled in a low cross towards the near-post.

Whitstable Town’s goalkeeper Daniel Colmer spilt the ball at his near post and Mampono had a couple of bites at the cherry to prod the ball over the line but the 24-year-old keeper stood firm to ensure he maintained his clean-sheet on his 100^th game for the club.

“At the times we potentially thought we might not have (kept a clean sheet) but Dan’s done enough today to get us a clean sheet and I think special mention to Isaac (Currie), playing slightly out of position at right-centre-half today. I think he’s helped tremendously down that side to allow us to remain goalless from conceding goals,” added Couldry.

Whitstable Town sealed the deal with a well-worked goal, with 26 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock.

Nelson and Splatt linked up well on the counter-attack but Splatt’s progress down the right flank was halted by Cousins, so the ball was played back to Osinfolarin in midfield and he switched the ball back to Finley Cotton (who looked lost in midfield with the ball often sailing over his head).

Last defender O’Mara decided not to drill the ball forward but instead swept the ball along the deck to high left-wing-back Jayden Boulton some 20-yards away.

The Foxes allowed Boulton to cut in from the wing into plenty of grass in front of him (Chislehurst Glebe couldn’t be bothered to press anybody today) and played in Nelson in behind the woeful Sargent and Nelson swept his left-footed shot across Edwards, the ball trickling into the bottom far corner.

“Really pleased with Jack. He is a player that thrives of being confident and I keep (saying) he was such a threat and he deserved a goal today,” said Couldry.

“Yes, maybe there’s a hint of offside possibly but we’ve watched it back through the iPad and I think one of their centre-halves might’ve kept him on.

“It’s good for Jayden as well. We’ve spoken to him a lot about his attacking output as a wing-back and attacking full-back. It’s nice for him to be able to create something for the team today and get his assist numbers up as well.”

Fray added: “That was just a case of us not covering our areas quick enough and against a team like them, I know you said they’re direct and when they get the ball down and play, they move the ball quickly and we didn’t move it quick enough and they punished us.”

The Foxes had picked up 13 points from their last five games but they just didn’t click into gear at Belmont Road with too many players playing poorly and thinking their season is over with nothing to play for.

“I mean, I don’t want to say it was an off-day because we haven’t had an off day for a while (since losing 5-1 at home to Faversham Strike Force on 24 January),” admitted Fray.

“It’s something that me and Frank will look at over the course of this evening, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday. We’ll try to address it. I think from now you’ve just got to five Whitstable the credit. They’ve done their homework on us.  Obviously, we’ve done our homework on them as well but they were more at it than what we were and that’s what it comes down to.”

Abie woke up from his snooze and played a square pass from inside the Whitstable half to Buiti, the unmarked centre-half drilling his right-footed shot screaming over the top of the near-post from 35-yards (30:11).

Sargent was cautioned for a foul on Nelson just outside the Chislehurst Glebe penalty area and Edwards lined up a five-man wall.

Splatt smashed his right-footed free-kick into the base of the wall and the ball came out to the returning Robbie Rees – who drilled his low left-footed shot towards the bottom right-hand corner from 35-yards, which was comfortably gathered by Edwards, stepping to his left (32:43), as Whitstable Town ran out comfortable winners.

Couldry revealed Rees has been in Thailand for work and ‘lifestyle’ - and that Coyle made five changes to the side that claimed a 1-0 win over Punjab United on Wednesday night.

“He’s going to be a massive addition to the squad on and off the pitch.  He’s been away for work and a bit of lifestyle as well. He’s been training really hard out there, so he’s kept himself fit and I think he always set his sights on returning towards the end of the season and thankfully we’re in a good position where we can in-corporate him within the squad,” explained Couldry.

“As for the other changes, I just think it’s got to be a point where we want to keep the whole squad hungry and motivated and an opportunity for them to get their stats up as well.

“The whole squad contributes to this unbelievable run that we’re on and long may it continue.”

Whitstable Town (76 points – 24 wins, four draws and two defeats) will win the league title with at least a point away to Rusthall at Jockey Farm on Tuesday.

Fisher (55 points from 29 games), Larkfield & New Hythe (50 points from 30 games), Bearsted (49 points from 30 games) and Sutton Athletic (46 points from 30 games) sit in the play-off zone tonight.

The next five will all believe they can grab a play-off place in the business end of the season.

Rusthall (45 points – 13 wins, six draws and eight defeats) suffered their first home league defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Sutton Athletic today – and Jimmy Anderson’s men have slipped down to sixth-place.

Punjab United – who play Whitstable Town in the Kent Senior Trophy Final in Maidstone on Sunday 19 April – follow on 44 points from 29 games, then it’s Hollands & Blair (44 points from 30 games), Phoenix Sports (43 points from 29 games) and Snodland Town in tenth—place with 43 points from 29 of 36 games.

“Listen, it’s an unbelievable run that we’re continuing and we’re looking ahead than just Tuesday,” said Couldry.

“Obviously that’s a big milestone in our journey but it’s not the be-all-or-end-all of the journey, certainly and we want to make sure that we’re the best version of champions that we can be and we want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can do mentally, tactically and physically pressure for the level above, so that’s what we’re going to be using these last few games.

“But we’ve got a big job on Tuesday to make sure that we finish off a huge milestone for the football club – to try to get us back to Step Four football (after a four-year absence) and then beyond that we’ve got a Cup Final that we want to desperately win and rectify the wrongs of last season (losing to Larkfield & New Hythe in last season’s Kent Senior Trophy Final) and we want to prepare ourselves on all fronts for Step Four next season.

“I mean Rusthall looked the most dangerous team out of the lot for quite a while across the season, having not played many games this year and I think maybe, listen we don’t know the ins and outs of their dressing room and on and off the pitch but they’re not in the greatest of form but they’ve got a great opportunity on Tuesday to still be within the play-off race.

“I think the results chop and change every week for those teams so their motivation is clear – they won’t want us to win the League on their pitch so that’s a great incentive.

“They’ll want to make sure that their keep their season on track and getting into the play-offs, which I think they deserve over the course of the last two seasons that we’ve been involved in the League, so it’s a huge challenge and one that were certainly hungry to do well at.

“It will be a big night for everyone involved but the objective is clear – we’re going to do our homework. We’re going to treat it like any other game and I think our players’ thrive off big games as well and those big moments, so I don’t think they’ll be fazed by the occasion.

“We want to make sure we finish the job off in style so all the travelling fans that are going to come to Tunbridge Wells, we want to put on a show for them and make sure that we finish the job and win that title convincingly and then make sure that we can use the last few games thereafter to our advantage.”

Couldry revealed that Jake McIntyre (ankle) is still probably ‘a few weeks away’ from making a return.  Ricardo Thompson (foot) has been told by the doctor to rest for another two weeks and Sinn’kaye Christie remains on the sidelines and misses the trip to Rusthall through concussion protocol after suffering against Kennington on 7 March.

With Tunbridge Wells beating bottom-side Stansfeld 2-1 at Culverden Stadium, Chislehurst Glebe have slipped down a place into the bottom four with 34 points (nine wins, seven draws and 15 points).

Tunbridge Wells (34 points from 27 games), Chislehurst Glebe and Faversham Strike Force (29 points from as many games) are outside the drop zone, which still contains Hythe Town (20 points from 29 games) and Stansfeld (16 points from 28 games).

With Chislehurst Glebe 14 points clear of the relegation zone, Fray replied: “Until we’re mathematically safe, every point is going to be vital. Every game is going to be vital so we’ll lick our wounds and we’ll go again.”

Erith & Belvedere, meanwhile, hold home advantage next Saturday with Gary Alexander coming up against a former club, sitting in eleventh-place in the pecking order with 43 points (12 points, seven draws and 12 defeats).

“Should be a good game.  Myself and Frankie know Gaz Alexander very well. He will set up his teams the right way, so it’s a case of us doing our homework again in the week and putting the wrongs right,” said Fray, who was asked what his aspirations are for their final five games.

“Just get back on a run where we have been. There’s no reason why we can’t do it because we have shown that we can do it, so it’s that old age saying and I’ll say it again, of licking our wounds and going again but we will do and then we’ll address what we need to address and go again Saturday.”

Whitstable Town: Daniel Colmer, Theo Osinfolarin, Jayden Boulton, William Thomas, Isaac Currie, Finn O’Mara, Bradley Schafer, Finley Cotton (Mikey Dalton 90), Javaun Splatt (Dean Grant 90), Jack Nelson (Joe Healy 87), Connor Wilkins (Robbie Rees 63).
Sub: Lewis Chambers

Goals: Javaun Splatt 23, 44, Jack Nelson 72

Booked: Bradley Schafer 90

Chislehurst Glebe: Nathan Edwards, Brandon Barrance (Frankie Sawyer 82), Tom Cousins, Mitchell Chapman, Cairo Duhaney-Burton (Harry Sargent 46), Rolex Buiti, Khavarn Williams, Thibault Abie, Jamie Philpot, Jesse Rowe (Durciel Nathan Mampono 46), Jaden Coleman (Yanick Kissi 69).
Sub: Nadean Sesay

Booked: Mitchell Chapman 61, Harry Sargent 77, Thibault Abie 90

Attendance: 860
Referee: Mr Tyler Diminieux
Assistants: Mr Mark Takacs & Mr Simon Jackson