Manager Richard Styles was gutted Whitstable lost on their big return to The Belmont - but says the defeat will not define their season.

Whitstable played their first match on their new 3G pitch last weekend as they were beaten 3-1 by Welling Town.

Nevertheless, Styles’ side are fifth in the Southern Counties East Premier Division and they have games in hand on everyone above them in the early stages of the season.

Styles said: “The start has been good, it’s been competitive.

“Before Saturday, we had three tough away games, won all three of them and didn’t concede a goal.

“Saturday could have gone differently but Saturday will not define our season.

"It’s a case of progressing and getting back to work.”

Things started well when striker Matt Gething broke the deadlock in the eighth minute. But their lead lasted only three minutes and two further first-half Welling Town goals consigned the Oystermen to a first league defeat this campaign.

Styles reflected: “We started the game so well and we scored. I thought ‘Right, brilliant, that will settle us down nicely’.

“But then, you are most susceptible to conceding just after you’ve scored. That’s a fact of football.

“Then they got two more goals from our mistakes. Second half, we literally did everything other than score. I would have been interested in the end score had we got a second.

“But fair play to them. Their new goalkeeper was excellent and the defenders put their bodies on the line.

“But from our side of things, we know we could have been a bit better with the goals we conceded and scored more than we did.”

There were 489 spectators at The Belmont and Styles says the long-term future for the club is looking bright.

He said: “It was amazing to return back to our ground and our home.

"It was well-anticipated, we have been counting down the days pretty much since I took over!

“It’s tremendous and looks really, really impressive, it’s got everything there. The future, for the youth players coming up - as well as the current players - looks really good.

“The future is certainly very exciting for Whitstable. The supporters on Saturday were brilliant. The only thing I’m unhappy about is the fact that we lost the game.

“Nobody associated with the club wasn’t disappointed to lose and with the fact we could not give the fans the return home they wanted.

"But it was not all negative news in terms of the performance.”

Whitstable, who beat Canterbury City 3-0 through goals from Gething, Harry O’Donnell and James Huggins last Wednesday, visit Holmesdale this Saturday.

“It’s always a tough game against Holmesdale, they’re never an easy team to come up against,” Styles said.

“They fight for everything. It’s always a tough place to go.

“We know what to expect from them so it’s a case of making sure the team is right.”

Whitstable welcome frontman Harry Stannard back from suspension.

Styles said: “Harry is back available and in contention, that’s a positive.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him back on the pitch and getting him going again.”

Whitstable host Bearsted on Tuesday.