Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Crunch time for Whitstable
Andy Drury knows Whitstable’s Easter derby double header will define their Isthmian South East survival bid.
Player-manager Drury took charge at The Belmont less than a month ago.
Seven points from four games, including a 1-1 draw at Corinthian last weekend, have moved Whitstable level on points with second-bottom Phoenix Sports.
They are just three points behind third-bottom Lancing - who occupy a potential relegation play-off place - and five away from safety.
Whitstable host Faversham this Saturday (kick-off 1pm) before visiting Ramsgate on Easter Monday (kick-off 3pm).
“There are, obviously, four or five teams in that mix who could go down and six points to play for this weekend,” Drury said.
“It’s definitely defining, there’s no two ways about that.
“But we are on a good run and I’m confident we can get a couple more results.”
Faversham are mid-table and appear to have little left to play for this term but Drury expects they’ll still be up for the derby.
He explained: “In some ways, normally, maybe I would say that (favours Whitstable) but it’s a local derby.
“They will be up for it. Maybe if we had been playing someone 60 miles away, that would have been the case, but not for a local derby.”
Drury has a points total from the last three games in mind in their bid for survival.
He suggested: “I think seven will be enough.
“We will be aiming for nine but, if we get seven, I think we will be unlucky to go down.”
Whitstable extended their unbeaten run to three matches at Corinthian as midfielder George Monger netted an equaliser following a free-kick even though he was not meant to be in the box!
Drury explained: “George did well but he had to come off with a hamstring injury. He is not normally meant to be in the box but he was!
“There was a bit of a goalmouth scramble and I think the last touch came off him.
“It was a difficult place to go. I would have taken a point before the game but I was a bit gutted not to take all three in the end. We limited them to not much, really.”
Monger is one of many players due to have knocks assessed.
Drury stated: “We will have a body count on Thursday at training.
“We have a couple of bumps and bruises to look at.”
Defender Tom Mills returned from suspension at Corinthian but was an unused substitute while midfielders Jack Hanson and Montrell Deslandes recovered from knocks in last Tuesday’s win over Chichester to feature.