Harpenden Town 1-4 Whitstable Town - We're in a really good place and it just allows you to forget about the League a little bit and just concentrate on your cup games, says treble-chasing Whitstable Town boss Jamie Coyle

Harpenden Town 1 – 4 Whitstable Town
Location	Rothamsted Park, Amenbury Lane, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2EF
Kickoff	17/01/2026 15:00

HARPENDEN TOWN  1-4  WHITSTABLE TOWN
The Isuzu FA Vase Fourth Round
Saturday 17 January 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Rothamsted Park

WHITSTABLE TOWN manager Jamie Coyle says his side are in a really good place after the FA Vase holders comfortably sealed their passage into the last 16 with victory over Harpenden Town.

Threatening Whitstable Town striker, Javaun Splatt, 24, gave the Oystermen a first half lead with an emphatic volley following a set-piece, before the British Virgin Islands international headed in his 22^nd goal of the season just past the hour-mark.

Harpenden Town scored from only their second and last shot on target, with a sublime hooked volley from centre-half Conor Clarke – following a long-throw – with 17 minutes remaining.

However, direct Whitstable Town added two more in the final 10 minutes through substitute striker Nathan Jeche stabbing in his fifth goal for the club before  attacker Bradley Schafer capped off another impressive performance of his by scoring from 30-yards.

“Really, really good professional display. I thought we were outstanding in large parts of the game today,” said Coyle, 42.

“They had one shot on target that’s gone in the top corner. It was a great finish, outside of that, I thought defensively as a whole collectively today we were brilliant and we should’ve scored a lot more goals than we did in the final third.

“I felt we’ve created enough chances really to win two or three games today, which is really pleasing.”

Harpenden Town created two shots on target, while Whitstable Town scored from four of their nine on target.

When asked what kind of side Harpenden Town were, Coyle replied: “They’re a good footballing side. They’ve got some really good young players and I thought they done us a favour a little bit when their number 10 (Codling) getting injured early on.  He was a good player, who we’ve seen on recent videos and I think in the final third their nine (Jones) caused us some problems today.

“They’ve got some good individual players. They can cause you some problems but today I thought in terms of battles all over the pitch, I thought we were on top all over.”

Lee Hawkes’ side were playing in the Fourth Round for the very first time – after exiting in the Third Round last season – while Whitstable Town claimed the silverware with a 2-1 extra time win over AFC Whyteleafe at Wembley Stadium last May.

Harpenden Town have beaten Wisbech Town (6-1), Little Oakley (1-0) and Haringey Borough (3-2) in The FA Vase this season.

They went into this tie sitting in tenth-place in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division table, having picked up 29 points (eight wins, five draws and nine defeats) from their 22 (of 38) games.

Whitstable Town have got their defence of the silverware off with a couple of victories over Sussex sides, Infinity (2-1) and Eastbourne United (3-0) and they extended their unbeaten run to 14 games with this comfortable win in Hertfordshire, which was watched by a very large away following in the crowd of 743 at Rothamsted Park, the home club's second largest crowd in their history.

Whitstable Town’s holding midfielder, Lewis Chambers, a recent arrival from Isthmian League Premier Division side Chatham Town, launched six long throws into the Harpenden Town penalty area, while Daniel Heald came up from centre-half to launch six long throws into the Whitstable Town box.

Chambers’ second long throw was flicked on at the near-post by striker Dean Grant and William Thomas came up from the back to send his free towering header over the crossbar, after only 130 seconds on the clock.

“We’ve signed him for that (launching long throws into the penalty area).  He’s got a real weapon of a long throw. The only frustration again today, I thought we could’ve got a lot more first contacts from his long throw,” said Coyle.

“He’s only been in the building for a week, so we’ve not had loads of time to work on it but like I said he will be a major asset for us moving forward.”

Whitstable Town played out from the back, with both centre-halves Finn O’Mara and Thomas involved, while long ball after long ball was often launched over the top of their midfield of Chambers and Jack Peters and Harpenden Town bossed midfield during the first half when the ball ventured there.

Whitstable Town’s right-back Ricardo Thompson travelled over the half-way line before a sloppy inside pass was interacted by attacking midfielder Joshua Codling, who fed their 21-goal lone central striker Henry Jones.

Jones’ best work was outside the penalty area as he often lacked composure inside the box.  He drove towards the edge of the Whitstable Town penalty area before drilling a low right-footed drive flashing past the left-hand post from 25-yards, with seven minutes and 43 seconds on the clock.

“Like you said, I thought he kind of worked the front line really well with his back to goal. He was really good on his own but ultimately, I can’t remember having a shot on target, so that’s really pleasing for our defenders today,” added Coyle.

Whitstable Town went route one (15:29) when Thomas launched a long ball out of defence, the ball was controlled by striker Grant inside the final third before his cross was controlled by Splatt’s chest before cracking a right-footed volley towards the roof of the net from 12-yards, which was pushed over by debutant goalkeeper Alfie Bonfield’s outstretched right-hand.

“It was a great save but I think he’s got to score. I think even he was frustrated with that,” admitted Coyle.

“I think 15 yards out on the volley, you expect him to score but it was a great save in the end but it’s another really good opportunity that we’ve created that we should’ve done better with.”

Whitstable Town scored following the resulting corner, with 16 minutes and 13 seconds on the clock.

Schafer swung the ball in from the left towards the near-post and Chambers’ flicked header was clawed out underneath the crossbar by Bonfield and the Kent side kept the ball alive from within a crowded goalmouth before Splatt emphatically hooked his left-footed volley into the roof of the net from six-yards.

“We’ve been working really hard recently on set-pieces and that was really good on the second phase of one that’s worked,” said Coyle.

“We’ve knocked on the door from a lot of set-pieces today and caused trouble.”

Bonfield’s big kick was controlled inside the Whitstable defensive third by Jones, who cut inside and his weak right-footed shot from 25-yards was comfortably saved by an untroubled Daniel Colmer, low to his right (19:59).

Harpenden Town lost attacking midfielder Joshua Codling to injury and despite briefly reappearing after treatment, his race was run in the 36^th minute.

Hawkes brought on Joshua Dooley, to partner Heald at centre-half and Clarke moved across to left-back, with Isaiah Hilaire staying at right-back.

Harpenden Town switched to a midfield diamond with left-back Ryan Plowright switching to attacking midfield behind Jones.

“They were decent. We’ve seen in a lot of games recently when they play like a 4-4-2 almost, so it was a slightly different shape to what we’re used to recently but you’ve got to give them a lot of credit,” added Coyle.

“I think they’re a good side with a lot of young players who have a bright future in the game.”

Both sides had cancelled each other out – played on an narrow artificial pitch – and Whitstable’s next opening came inside the final five minutes of the half.

Dooley was penalised by referee Joe Wright for a foul on Grant and Schafer floated the resulting free-kick into the box, as Chambers got in around the back and steered his header past the near-post from a tight angle, as Hilaire tracked his run.

O’Mara hoofed the ball forward and Harpenden winger George Devine – who linked up well in attack during the second half – headed the ball forward and Jones cut into the box but lacked composure by drilling his awful right-footed shot high and wide and out of the ground when only faced with Colmer in goal (45:01).

Coyle revealed he had to raise his troops morale during the half-time interval.

“I thought we looked really despondent and frustrated at half-time with the body language of the players.

“I just said ‘look, it’s a difficult game, we’re away from home and you’re 1-0 up’.

“Just be a little bit more patient and the chances will come and that’s what they done in the second half.  I thought we were much, much better in the second half.”

Whitstable Town put in a vastly-improved second half performance as Splatt was a huge threat up front with their direct approaching creating numerous chances.

Colmer’s big kick was knocked down by Grant and Splatt cut inside and onto his right-footed before unleashing a 25-yard angled drive, which flashed across the keeper and just past the far post after 184 seconds.

Whitstable Town needed a second goal to seemingly kill the game and it finally arrived on the counter-attack, with 16 minutes and 19 seconds on the clock.

Grant swept the ball out to ever-so-quiet right-winger Theodore Osinfolarin, who reached the by-line and floated in a cross towards the back post which was met by Splatt’s towering header from inside the six-yard box, which looped over the keeper into the far corner of the net.

“Like you say, Splatt’s unplayable at times today.  Yes, you can look at Splatty but I thought Bradley Schafer was the best player on the pitch by a million miles today,” added Coyle.

“It was a really good ball, really, really good ball. I said to Theo, he’s done really well to hang that up at the far post and Splatty headed it back from where it came from, really text book header and like I say, he could’ve had five or six today, I thought, with the chances that we created.”

Dominant Whitstable Town should have increased their lead (18:34) when Schafer’s through ball played Splatt in behind last defender Heald but his left-footed poked shot was tipped around the post by Bonfield, diving low to his right to make a fine save.

Coyle said: “He was frustrated with two goals today, I think, when he came off. He's had so many good opportunities. I think he was getting frustrated in the first half with the quality into him.

“But I think as he’s shown all season really, if he’s patient, he’s going to get loads of chances, like he did today.”

Assistant referee Thomas Fogden raised his offside flag on eight occasions today, with Splatt caught offside the most (four occasions) – all in the first half.

Bonfield’s clearance was hit first time by O’Mara from inside his own half inside the centre-circle, which only just cleared the crossbar, landing on top of the roof of the net, as the centre-half aimed for the top right-hand corner.

Whitstable Town won the corner-count four-to-two and Harpenden’s right-back Hilaire swung in a quality delivery from the left flag towards the back post where Devine steered his free header across Colmer and past the far post, as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

Harpenden Town pulled a goal back with 28 minutes and 14 seconds on the clock, with a sublime finish following a set-piece.

Heald launched his third long throw into the penalty area, from the right, the ball was headed away by Whitstable Town’s left-back Jayden Boulton and Clarke hooked his right-footed volley screaming across Colmer into the top far corner from 15-yards to score his second goal of the season.

“It was a great finish! A great finish! Like I say, it was their only shot on target really that’s caused us any trouble and it’s gone in the top corner, so sometimes you’ve got to hold your hands up and say it was a great goal,” added Coyle.

“A little bit frustrated when you break it down. Could the clearance be a little bit better and wider? Could we be tighter on the edge of the box? But no, it was a great finish from the lad!”

When asked whether he was feeling worried at that stage of the game, Coyle replied: “No. I felt we were comfortable. I felt we were on top. I thought that our defensive shape was really good and by that time we’ve missed so many clear-cut chances, I’m thinking we’re surely going to get a few more.”

With Jones being less of a threat after the interval, Harpenden Town lacked quality to give the holders a bloody nose, although Devine linked up well in midfield.

Boulton’s overhit cross from the left was retrieved by Schafer – who should be playing in the Isthmian League South East Division at least – who dinked a great cross from within the right-channel towards the edge of the six-yard box where Jeche steered his free header past the left-hand post.

Referee Joe Wright went over to assistant referee Adam Fox and the pair adjudged no foul in the build-up to Whitstable Town’s third goal, timed at 34 minutes and 50 seconds.

Osinfolarin played the ball forward along the deck to release Schafer, whose pace took him past Joyce, before feeding Splatt, who was denied by Bonfield, smothering the shot low down, before Jeche stabbed his first time right-footed shot into the bottom far corner from inside the six-yard box.

“That’s what Nathan’s there to do, it was just instinct,” said Coyle.

“He’s really, really bright in and around the six-yard box and he showed that there. He was on his toes and he got his rewards with just nicking it in and getting his goal.”

Heald’s penultimate long throw was cleared away and the ball dropped to Devine, who placed his first-time right-footed shot across a crowd of players and past the far post from 22-yards.

The outstanding Schafer played the ball out to Boulton, who played the ball back to Schafer, whose first time lay-off fed Splatt, who cut in from the left and drilled his right-footed angled drive from outside the corner of the box and his stinging shot was gathered by Bonfield at the second attempt at his near post.

Whitstable Town notched their fourth goal, timed at 43 minutes and 46 seconds on the clock.

O’Mara’s quickly taken free-kick played the ball down the line along the deck to Schafer, who capped off an outstanding performance, by cutting inside and curling his right-footed 30-yard angled shot around the goalkeeper, in off the top of the far post, the ball nestling into the opposite corner of the goal-net to score his 18^th goal of the season.

“I thought that finish summed his whole performance today. Like I say, I thought he was unplayable at times,” Coyle said of Schafer.

“He was getting frustrated because I think he was creating so many more chances that we weren’t quite converting but I’ve just said to him in there, my big message as a manager and as a coach is to just get out there and try to be the best player on the pitch every game and he’s delivering that time and time again this season.”

The versatile Clarke – who had been pushed into the centre of midfield – actually found himself in the right-channel when he put in a cross towards the back post which Devine guided his free header over the top of the near-post (47:33).

The Oystermen were without Isaac Currie (cup-tied), Jack Nelson (cup-tied), Mikey Dalton (knee medial ligaments) and Jake McIntyre (broken toe) today.

“You’ve got Joe Healy, who’s still recovering from quite a serious illness over Christmas, so we’ve got players who aren’t really available to us as well, so that keeps everyone on their toes and we’ve got real healthy competition in the final third,” said Coyle.

“Dalton is long-term. He’s seen a surgeon on Friday which is not good news. He’s done his medial ligament in his knee.

“Jake McIntyre, he’s got a broken toe, so our captain is still not available, so we’ve still got some really influential important players that are out at the moment, so the fact that we’re delivering that kind of performance shows the strength-in-depth that we’ve got.

“It was a really tough away day today, it really was.  I know you look at the league table but we’ve looked at their recent games and they’re a good side. They’re well-organised, they score a lot of goals (49 League) but they concede a lot of goals (41 League) as well – we knew that.

“I’ve got to give them a lot of credit. I know it wasn’t, maybe the scoreline, I know we’ve missed a lot of chances but I thought they were a good side and I’m sure they’ll build themselves up from the position they are in the League right now.”

Coyle was delighted with the travelling numbers that made the 184-mile round trip to attend the game.

“Honestly, the noise, it’s just unbelievable, it really was. I’ve just said to the boys, if you look at that, they’ve come a long, long way today and they’ve took over (an away ground) again and turned it into a home game. They’ve done it with us last year throughout the whole journey to Wembley and we’re going to need it again this year if we’re going to have a chance of getting back there.”

Chipie Sian’s Punjab United reached the Last 16 of The FA Vase for the very first time, thanks to first-half goals from Jack Hopkins and William Johnson-Cole to come away from Essex side Benfleet with a 2-0 win.

Fisher’s trip to Windsor & Eton failed an eleven o’clock pitch inspection, which deemed the playing surface at Stag Meadow to be waterlogged and Ajay Ashanike’s men travel to Berkshire next Saturday.

That will mean Whitstable’s home Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final tie against Fisher next Saturday will be postponed and put back to Saturday 31 January and the League home game will have to be re-arranged.

“I think I’m going to talk to the secretary now. We’ve got Phoenix (at home) next week now, so there’s a few re-arranged games.   We’re going to catch up with Fran after this (interview) and just look at the diary and a few games are going to change around,” explained Coyle.

Jake Goodman’s Phoenix Sports sit in eleventh-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having picked up 31 points (eight wins, seven draws and eight defeats).

Phoenix Sports thrashed Stansfeld 4-1 at home today, a result that puts Billy Shinners’ side back at the foot of the table (13 points from 21 games).

Hythe Town are now second-from-bottom on goal-difference (13 points from 22 games), after losing a relegation six-pointer 2-0 at home to Chislehurst Glebe (21 points from 24 games), while Faversham Strike Force have slipped down into the bottom three with 19 points from 21 games.

Whitstable Town are 10 points clear at the top of the table, having picked up 56 points (18 wins, two draws and two defeats) from their 22 of 36 games.

Larkfield & New Hythe, Bearsted and Sutton Athletic were all held to 2-2 draws – while Rusthall had YET ANOTHER blank Saturday.

Larkfield & New Hythe (46 points from 23 games), Rusthall (40 points from 19 games), Bearsted (38 points from 21 games) and Sutton Athletic (34 points from 23 games) are in the play-off zone tonight.

Coyle said: “We wanted to go into this Vase game with 11 points clear and we’ve won every game since we reset at Christmas.

“We’ve scrapped the first half of the season and patted everyone on the back and we’re now going again. Since then we’ve won four out of four in the league.

“We’ve given ourselves a little bit of a buffer because we’ve not got so many League games coming up in the next month or so, even more so now we’re through (to the last 16 on Saturday 7 February, which postpones the home tie against Tunbridge Wells), so we’re in a really good place and it just allows you to forget about the League a little bit and just concentrate on your cup games.

“Everyone wants to play in every game and I think when you’ve got really top, top games coming up and the importance of the end result of playing at Wembley, or playing in a Cup Final in the Kent Senior Trophy and trying to win a League, it keeps real competition for places. It keeps everyone on their toes and you can’t afford to not deliver a top performance because you can find yourself out of the team for five or six weeks, so that’s really, really positive for us.

“Everyone’s pushing each other. The management team (Matt Longhurst, Taylor Couldry) are, the players are and that’s what you need to get any success in this game.

“We always want to be at home (in the next round). Even when it’s good for the fans today, they’ve got an away day, we go to a new ground and they take it over like it’s a home game.

“But it will be great to be at home and get another two or three thousand, like we did last year.”

Harpenden Town: Alfie Bonfield, Isaiah Hilaire, Ryan Plowright, Benjamin Spaul, Conor Clarke, Daniel Heald, Ollie Salami (George Wilde 90), Dylan Joyce, Henry Jones, Joshua Codling (Joshua Dooley 36), George Devine.
Subs: Shay Kelly, Josh Agambar, Edward Clement

Goal: Conor Clarke 73

Booked: Henry Jones 55

Whitstable Town: Daniel Colmer, Ricardo Thompson, Jayden Boulton, Lewis Chambers, Finn O’Mara, William Thomas, Bradley Schafer (Jack Fenton 90), Jack Peters (Finley Cotton 82), Javaun Splatt (Joe Healy 90), Dean Grant (Nathan Jeche 63), Theodore Osinfolarin.
Sub: Joshua Robson

Goals: Javaun Splatt 17, 62, Nathan Jeche 80, Bradley Schafer 89

Attendance:  743
Referee: Mr Joe Wright
Assistants: Mr Thomas Fogden & Mr Adam Fox
Fourth Official: Mr Matthew Rendell