Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Mcmahon brings in Baker
Keith Mcmahon has brought another one of his former players to Whitstable.
Centre-back Junior Baker joins after recent injuries to defenders Ollie Gray and Jack Miles left Mcmahon short on options at the back.
Baker worked alongside Mcmahon at Thamesmead.
“He is getting on a bit but he is very experienced,” admitted Whitstable manager Mcmahon.
“With Jack Miles and Ollie Gray out, we are light on numbers at the back. Junior is someone I know that I can trust.”
Baker arrives as the Oystermen’s injury list lengthened during their 1-0 win at Whitehawk on Saturday.
Winger Alex Gaggin came off with a hamstring problem and may be sidelined for a few weeks.
Fellow midfielder Tom Carlton twisted his knee, although he could return for this weekend’s home match against Haywards Heath.
Luke Griffiths had a scan last week on his knee injury but the diagnosis is better than first feared while Stephen Okoh, unavailable at Whitehawk, will also be at Mcmahon’s disposal.
Haywards Heath are three points off the summit, ahead of their trip to the Belmont.
But Mcmahon sees no reason why Whitstable can’t take something from the game.
He said: “They come to us off the back of a really good win against Hastings and they are third, so we know it will be tough.
“But we are at home and our supporters are the best in the league. They showed that on Wednesday (in Whitstable’s 6-1 Kent Senior Cup final loss to Dartford).
“I have never seen anything like it. They didn’t stop until 20 minutes after the game!
“They then travelled to Whitehawk and were brilliant there. So it will be tough for Haywards Heath to come to us.
“If the crowd get behind us, we have got a chance on Saturday.”
At Princes Park, Whitstable were blown away in the first half before competing well with the National League South side after the restart.
Mcmahon said: “I got a little bit of stick on social media for saying Wednesday didn’t hurt us too much and, maybe, it helped us. It’s all right saying ‘we’ve got a chance’ before the game but Dartford were a super side.
“Even afterwards, some of them (Dartford’s players) said it’s the best they’ve played this season and they play two leagues above. I know the horse has bolted second half, but I thought we did all right and competed well with them in the second half.
“It was a learning curve for some people. Going into Saturday, I think it gave us a little lift.
“When we actually played on Saturday at our level - it was by no means a show piece and it was a shocking game of football (due to the conditions) - but we showed a lot of heart and character.”
The Oystermen’s win at Whitehawk came courtesy of striker Kemo Darboe’s first goal for the club.
Mcmahon said: “It was the one piece of quality in the game.
“He is a target man but he can score goals, as well, and he came up trumps for us on Saturday.”
There was also a Whitstable debut for midfielder Rodney Eruotor, most recently with Kent Football United.
Whitstable visit Ashford in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.