Jamie Coyle has set his side the target of three wins this week to secure our Isuzu FA Vase finalists Whitstable Town their SCEFL play-off place. 

Win number one came in the hard fought 2-1 win over Lydd Town at the Belmont on Tuesday and the Oystermen will be looking for win number two at relegation haunted Lordswood at Martyn Grove on Thursday evening, with the home side knowing that defeat will relegate them from the Premier Division. 

Speaking to KSN after the win over Lydd, Coyle told us, “There was no point analysing the performance on Tuesday as its just about getting the three points at this stage. Ultimately, we have put ourselves in an unbelievable position in the League with three games in hand – the individual performances now are pretty much a bi-product as we must make sure that we get the three points on the table and then move on!” 

“Lydd, just like Lordswood on Thursday, need to win all their games to stay in the division and were tough opposition as I am sure Lordswood will be. We knew that they would come to the Belmont and be a tough nut to crack and they showed that.

“They kept going bombarding balls forward into our box which I really didn’t think we defended very well at all,” admitted the Whitstable boss.

“There were a few that bounced around the six-yard box that was so untidy – a bit like their goal – it was frustrating goal to concede, but three points were brilliant and that’s exactly what we needed on the night. And now we move on in another forty-eight hours to go again at Lordswood!” 

“I think we rode our luck at times on Tuesday but then again, we had opportunities to kill the game off completely – we had a great late chance as well as two good ones first half too. I don’t think it was a very pretty game to watch for anyone as you had a team fighting for their lives and us that just needed to win the game and didn’t matter how it happened!” 

“Thursday night is going to be worse on a tough pitch for both teams which at this stage of the season will be bobbly and difficult to deal with. We have been good in those scenarios all season picking up a lot of good points away from home on difficult pitches and that will have to be done again on Thursday!” 

“We want to win three games this week to guarantee our Play Off place on Saturday at Rusthall and that meant winning Tuesday, winning Thursday and then Saturday and then we can concentrate on trying to finish as high as we can to get a home game in the Semi-Final.

“It’s one game at a time at the moment and were some disappointed individuals over their own performances but there’s not enough time to analyse. Forty-eight hours’ time we will go again, refresh the team and we need to get another three points!” 

“I’d like to also congratulate Faversham on winning the League on Tuesday. Full testament to them – the League table doesn’t lie, they have been up there all season and they deserve it and congratulations to Tommy (Warrilow) and OB (Alex O’Brien), they deserve it; they are good friends of mine and I have known them a long time.

“I played for many years with OB at Dartford where he was my skipper, and I’m always on the phone with Tommy and he helped us out with (Bradley) Schaeffer earlier in the season – they deserve it, they have been the best team and congratulations to both of them!”