Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Derby will be a good yardstick
Keith Mcmahon thinks Whitstable’s much-anticipated Isthmian South East derby at Herne Bay on Monday will be a good barometer of how far his team have come since he took charge.
The Oystermen came from 2-0 behind at half-time last weekend to draw 2-2 against East Grinstead.
Like most sides, they are dealing with Covid-19 cases in their camp but secondhalf strikes from Sam Itauma and Kemo Darboe extended Whitstable’s unbeaten league run to five matches.
Boss Mcmahon said: “It will be great to see how we get on against a side like Herne Bay, especially away as well.
“We did well against Haywards Heath the other week (winning 3-2). We should have got something against Ashford a few weeks back (they lost 2-0) so we know we have got the quality.
“It’s just a case of, obviously, putting it all together.
“It’s a game I’m looking forward to. I do like the derbies and I know how important it is for the supporters. Let’s hope we can go there and put on a decent performance for them.”
Mcmahon’s men are 15th in the table, while Ben Smith’s Herne Bay are just outside the play-offs in sixth.
“It’s a big, big game,” he added. “There’s a lot of rivalry between the two clubs.
“The fans know what a big game it is. We are expecting a big crowd as well.
“If we can play like we have been, I’m sure we will give Herne Bay a good game.”
Mcmahon spoke about how their preparations for their match against East Grinstead at the Belmont had been affected as the Omicron Covid variant cases rise.
He said: “We had three (positive tests). We thought it was four on Saturday but it was three. We haven’t met up since.
“Christmas is important at our level for the players’ families. I have got a few that - if we do meet - they don’t really want to take the risk of missing Christmas Day. I think it’s something we will look at.
“Maybe we are expecting a little lockdown from December 28 but we will wait and see.”
On the East Grinstead game, he reflected: “We didn’t play well first half, if I’m honest, and they deserved to be in front.
“But our second-half performance was really good and I actually thought we could have gone on and won the game.”
Frontman Stephen Okoh passed a fitness test before the match, while midfielder Tom Carlton and winger Alex Gaggin returned from injury.
There was also a debut for midfielder Callum Watts, signed from Grays Athletic.
Mcmahon admitted: “He came on and did really well, to be honest. He gave us a bit of a lift.
“He’s a young lad, he had a lot of energy and he’s got a lot of quality as well. I was pleased with what Callum did.
“He is very keen to play and is one of the reasons we got back into the game if I’m honest.”