Southern Counties East League Premier Division weekend round-up: Leaders Whitstable Town, Larkfield & New Hythe, Rusthall and Hollands & Blair all win

Resilient Southern Counties East League Premier Division leaders Whitstable ended an unforgettable 2025 with a win over Faversham Strike Force on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Stuart Benfield’s side struck at The Belmont in front of a crowd of 1,000 through an own goal, only for defender Finn O’Mara to equalise for Jamie Coyle’s men.

Top scorer Javaun Splatt came up with the game’s all-important third goal to ensure the reigning FA Vase victors ended the year with a 2-1 triumph - their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions.

Second-placed Larkfield & New Hythe kept up the pace with a 5-2 home win over Snodland, who had keeper Justin Lee red-carded.

Matt Day and Tyler Ibe bagged braces - the latter’s second a penalty - while substitute Kesna Clarke also netted for the hosts to leave first-half goals by Emmanuel Shoderu and Harry Hudson in vain.

Third-placed Rusthall triumphed 2-0 at home against Tunbridge Wells through efforts from Yassin Fares and Jack Kirby before half-time.

Billy Lewins put fellow play-off occupants Bearsted ahead but Kennington substitute Rajan Sahni equalised in a 1-1 stalemate.

It was a similar story at Corinthian where Phoenix Sports substitute Anduel Shquti thought he had won it with seven minutes to go.

But Caleb Afoke came up with Corinthian’s injury-time equaliser as it ended 1-1 at Gay Dawn Farm.

Vastly-experienced Duane Ofori-Acheampong got the game’s only goal for Hollands & Blair, who piled more misery on basement boys Hythe as it ended 1-0 at Reachfields.