The FA Carlsberg Trophy
First Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 18 October 2008
Winning clubs will receive £2,300 from The FA
Two seasons ago Whitstable Town won the Kent League and were playing in The FA Vase. This season, in the Preliminary Round of The FA Trophy, they toppled Kingstonian - the 1999 and 2000 winners - away from home.
Kingstonian may have endured a series of tribulations since the heady days when they won The FA Trophy for two consecutive seasons, but the odds were still stacked against the Oystermen - Whitstable had made a shaky start to their second season in Ryman League Division One South, whereas Kingstonian were unbeaten and sitting on top of the table.
At half-time at Kingsmeadow, Whitstable trailed 2-1 and had lost two players to injury, but substitute Ian Pulman, turned the match on its head barely five minutes after the interval.
Pulman lobbed Luke Garrard in the Kingstonian goal and then won a penalty which was taken by Jack Tanner. His kick was saved but Jake Gess followed up to slot home the rebound. Whitstable bravely held on to secure a famous 3-2 victory.
"To beat a side with so much history in this competition is a fantastic achievement," said Marc Seager, the proud Whitstable manager.
Whitstable Town have been drawn at home to Brackley Town in the First Round Qualifying on 18 October.