History-making Whitstable Town moved into the FA Vase semi-final for the first time ever as they came from behind to beat Whitchurch Alport on Saturday.

A club-record crowd saw the play-off chasing Southern Counties East League Premier Division Oystermen trail to goals from Callum Knowles and Harry Bower - later sent off in injury time - only for striker Ronald Sithole to reduce the visitors’ lead.

And as Whitstable took control in the second period, debutant Nathan Jeche equalised before substitute Harvey Smith sealed their 3-2 victory at the death, converting after his penalty had been saved.

Away midfielder Adam Hailes was cautioned within the first two minutes for a late challenge in front of a packed-out attendance of 2,656 at The Belmont.

But it was Whitchurch who broke the deadlock on nine minutes. Slight confusion surrounded the goal, with most players seemingly expecting the offside flag to be raised, but forward Knowles played on and found the bottom corner after the ball had come across from the left flank.

Two minutes later, player-manager Jamie Coyle headed over a first Fin Cotton corner of the afternoon for the Oystermen.

But it was an unusual mistake by centre-back Coyle which proved costly as the clinical Midland League Premier Division club doubled their tally in the 18th minute.

The 41-year-old’s header was short of goalkeeper Dan Colmer, leaving birthday-boy Bower to excellently find the net with a stooping header from a right-wing delivery.

The home team quickly reduced the deficit, though, in a blistering first 20 minutes. Sithole beat the offside trap and blasted beyond keeper Jack Sheward to make it 2-1 with his seventh goal this season.

Just after the half-hour mark, new Whitstable forward Jeche held off centre-back Freddie Bishton, only for Connor Wilkins to see his shot crash against the crossbar after he had picked up the loose ball.

Midfielder Wilkins then again went close, but he was thwarted by Sheward.

Both home defender Jerald Aboagye and Whitchurch winger Bower were booked for an off-the-ball incident on 42 minutes.

Three minutes after the restart, Colmer got down sharply to make a near-post save from a snapshot.

Keeping counterpart Sheward had to be alert at the other end to parry Sithole’s 55th-minute effort, with the Oystermen continuing to dominate most of the statistics at this stage - except the most important one.

Midway through the second period, Whitstable made their first change, which saw Smith come on for Dartford loanee Ashdon Day as they kept pushing for an equaliser.

That leveller came with 18 minutes to go. Jeche caught Sheward, who had regularly been off his line, far too far out once more. And Jeche kept his cool to round the on-rushing goalkeeper and stroke into the empty net to spark wild home scenes.

Moments later, talented youngster Jeche again broke through and felt Bishton had handled in the box, only for his appeals for a penalty from the Oystermen to be waved away by referee Ayrton Hursey.

Home substitute Smith struggled to get a full connection on his strike with 12 minutes to go.

As Alport rung the changes late on, it appeared they were trying to take the tie to a shoot-out.

But Whitstable won a penalty in the final minute of normal time for a foul by substitute Harry Farnsworth on captain Jake McIntyre.

Initially, Jeche appeared like he would take - only to pass the ball to Smith, with player-boss Coyle left unable to watch.

While Smith’s spot-kick was saved well by Sheward, he kept calm and slotted home to send the home support into raptures and in touching distance of an FA Vase final at Wembley.

Things went from bad to worse for Whitchurch in the fifth minute of stoppage time as referee Mr Hursey handed Bower a second yellow card.

More than eight minutes of injury time was played - but Whitstable held on for a memorable win.

Jeche instantly came into the hosts’ starting line-up for his debut, having previously been at Isthmian Premier club Cray Wanderers.

He replaced Smith, on the substitutes’ bench, while midfielder Mickey Dalton and Sithole replaced the cup-tied duo Bradley Schafer and Dean Grant.

The Oystermen had seen off Corinthian-Casuals (4-1), Hollands & Blair (1-0), Virginia Water (1-0), Lydd (2-1), Jersey Bulls (2-1), Walsham-le-Willows (4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw) and Fleet Town (2-1) to reach this stage of the competition.

Whitstable’s record attendance had previously stood at 2,500 from an FA Cup fixture against Gravesend & Northfleet in October 1987.

They return to league action with a trip to leaders VCD on Tuesday.

Whitstable Town: Colmer, Aboagye, McIntyre, Dalton, Coyle, O’Mara, Sithole, Cotton (Rees 98mins), Day (Smith 68mins), Wilkins, Jeche. Subs not used: Boulton, Thomas, O’Mara-Knapp.

Whitchurch Alport: Sheward, Brown, Carpenter (Flory 83mins), Hailes (West 55mins), Allen, Bishton (Holden 90mins), Bower, Turner (Farnsworth 80mins), Knowles, Loughran, Whitney. Sub not used: Downward.

Referee: Ayrton Hursey.

Attendance: 2,656.