Whites made it into the Kent Senior Cup Final for the first time since 2001 after a dramatic defeat of Gravesend on penalties. The game finished goalless after 90 minutes, and after Matata had given Whites the lead in extra time, Luke Moore equalised to force the game into a penalty shoot out. All five Whites penalties were expertly taken, so it was left to Paul Hyde to save from Moussa Sidibe for a 5-4 win.

The side showed two changes from the one that had beaten Cheshunt on Saturday. Victor Renner and Narada Barnard were not played, with Tom Hickman and James Rogers given their chance to impress. Arguably the most important change came with the inclusion of Craig Wilkins amongst the substitutes, with the Easter Monday derby with Folkestone in mind.

The first half of normal time was arguably the best period of the match for the Whites. The closest they came to breaking the deadlock came with 19 minutes gone. Craig Cloke hit a speculative effort from wide, 35-yards out, and it cannoned off of the post to safety.

Chris Wright also had a couple of half-chances, but it was Carruthers who came closest to scoring. After good work down the wing from Wright, his cross found Carruthers in the centre. His shot was well saved by Gravesend keeper Paul Wilkerson, even though he didn’t know much about it.

Whites did manage to find the back of the net shortly before halftime. A Carruthers in-swinging free kick was prodded home by Chris Wright, but unfortunately was disallowed for offside. Although Sidibe and Groombridge had half-chances for the visitors before the interval, it remained goalless.

The second half was slow to get started. There was a shout for handball after Carruthers had volleyed towards goal, but it looked like it was probably ball-to-hand. Then on the hour mark, the game livened up, with the introduction of the speedy Walid Matata for Chris Wright. Whites continued to look the better side, without creating many clear chances.

The visitors went close when Yinka Salaam was left free down the right, but his header across the face of goal couldn’t find anyone to the delight of the Whites.

Whites could have taken the lead when a Carruthers free kick was headed just over his own bar from Number 17, but their attacking threat was increased with the introduction of Craig Wilkins for his first appearance since early December.

It was him that helped engineer the best chance of the second half, with only ten minutes of normal time remaining. Matata broke down the right, got to the by-line and crossed. Wilkins ran to the near post, dragging the defender with him, leaving Rogers on his own at the back post. He shot first time, but saw his shot cleared off of the line.

Whites were controlling the game by now, and hit the woodwork with seven minutes to go. Braithwaite broke down the left, and crossed to Carruthers who was free in the centre. He hit it first time, but the ball cannoned off of the bar and away to safety.

However, the best chance fell to Matata in injury time. Hamshare had a strong run through the centre, fed the ball through, but Walid shot early and it went wide – it was beginning to not look like Whites’ night, after all these chances had gone begging.

Matata and Rogers both had half-chances before the end of regulation time, but it remained goalless. Extra time began in the same fashion though, as Hamshare went close after a superb 25-yard volley, but it was tipped over by Wilkerson.

Whites seemed to be tiring, though Gravesend were still not creating much up front, and the first period of extra time ended with three successive corners for the Whites. The second period started in the same fashion, without many chances for either side, before the vital first goal.

A hopeful ball forward by Skelton found Matata, who stripped the Gravesend defenders for pace, and he took his time to slot the ball through Wilkerson’s legs.

But just as Whites were looking to their first cup final for four years, the visitors equalised. Luke Moore was left free and lobbed Hyde from 20-yards.

And so it went to penalties. Whites won the toss, and elected to take the first penalty in front of the River End. Cloke, and Carruthers both scored, and then Hyde had saved Lovell’s, but it squirmed out of is hands and rolled over the line. But Matata, Rogers and Braithwaite all slotted home excellent penalties, putting the pressure on Gravesend’s final taker, Moussa Sidibe.

He took a very short run up, and hit his penalty at head height to Hyde’s left, but the veteran keeper stretched his hand up and tipped it over the bar. Cue scenes to unbridled joy for the players on the pitch and those massed on the River End. Whites now go into the final against either Folkestone or Margate, but this should also have given the side extra confidence in preparation for Monday’s must-win game. A great night all-in-all for Whites fans.