Whitstable Town returned to the top of the SCEFL Premier Division on Tuesday night with a 2-1 at previous leaders Larkfield & New Hythe and manager Jamie Coyle wants them to stay there this weekend.

They are again on the road this weekend – travelling to face Chislehurst Glebe. 

In midweek, in a game spoiled by a strong wind, the Oystermen were a goal down at the break to Tunde Aderonmu’s stunning flying header before Bradley Schaffer scored straight from a corner before Javaun Splatt hammered home his ninth goal of the season two minutes from time.  

Speaking to KSN, Whitstable boss Jamie Coyle admitted, “It was a little bit of a non-event for a football match which was down to the conditions, which were really tough for both sides.”

“It was a very similar message to what we had at Wembley when we beat Whyteleafe to win the Vase. I was happy on Tuesday to go in at 1-0 as I always knew we should score with the quality that we had on the pitch and I did think that because they had some older legs than us in their team, they may tire a little and without really threatening the keeper thought we were on top for large periods of the second half.”

“I knew that with the quality we were going to get the chances and hopefully score the goals and that thankfully is what happened.” 

“Ultimately, it didn’t matter how it came about on Tuesday, that’s a big three points for us – I don’t believe in a six-point game but if there is one, Tuesday at Larkfield was definitely it!”

“That was their first home defeat of the season and the first time they have conceded in a month, so it was a great night.”  

A great night that followed a good weekend for Coyle’s side as they continued their FA Vase defence with a 3-0 win over Eastbourne United – goals from Splatt again, Nathan Jeche and Hayden Boulton – which eased them into Round Four; reflecting Coyle said, “We were a little bit slow out of the traps on Saturday – as we were Tuesday, and the game before that, so it’s something that we are going to have to address – and were a bit off in the first half, but the second half performance just blew Eastbourne away and it could have been more.” 

“We are on a really good run at the moment, and Tuesday was another really good result. We will recover and go again – there was no jumping around celebrating in the dressing room on Saturday or on Tuesday – we weren’t going to win anything this week.”

“We are going to have to show the same level of commitment and desire against Glebe at the weekend as we have done in the last two games – we cannot lower that level as they are a good side who had a brilliant result at the weekend beating Kennington 5-1 and we know that we are going to have to be at our very best to get a positive result.” 

“I know that this time of year games do come thick and fast, but we do have to celebrate nights like Tuesday – I was delighted and proud of the level of performance…”