Whitstable Town matchwinner Ronald Sithole’s plan to play long game reaped rewards in historic extra-time FA Vase 2-1 final victory at Wembley

Scorer Ronald Sithole’s plan to play the long game reaped rewards during Whitstable’s historic Wembley win on Sunday.

Striker Sithole came up with the extra-time winning goal as the FA Vase final ended 2-1 to the Oystermen after top scorer Harvey Smith had cancelled out a first-half AFC Whyteleafe goal by Daniel Bennett in normal time.

As many players started to struggle on the big pitch at the national stadium, Sithole’s fitness levels paid off, and so it was fitting that he got the all-important goal.

On how he dealt with the huge occasion on a warm day, he said: “I just had lots of fluids the day before. But it was tough.

“It’s hard when the sun is beating down so I think it’s important to not overwork yourself early on. Obviously, it’s a big pitch so you can’t really go out all guns blazing at the start.

“You need to make sure you keep going to the end.”

Sithole’s big moment came in the first 15 of the extra 30 played as he finally found a way past young AFC Whyteleafe goalkeeper George Hill.

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He recalled: “The ball came over the top, I touched it and shot, but their keeper saved it. Then, I managed to get the ball back.

“In the second half, I’d touched it past him and shot so I thought ‘Let’s just take my time this time.’. I did a fake shot, which is when he dived.

“Then, I knew I had a clear chance - and I just smashed it!”

Earlier, he could only watch on as Bennett put Combined Counties League Premier Division South side AFC Whyteleafe ahead in the 17th minute.

But Sithole - the younger brother of former Bolton and Gillingham forward Gerald Sithole - revealed player-manager Jamie