Whitstable Town manager Nicky Southall hopes his side’s record-breaking Trophy form can spark a winning run which prevents them needing to “look over their shoulder” in Ryman League Division 1 South.

Town came from behind to draw 2-2 at Hythe in the FA Trophy second qualifying round on Saturday with Craig Thompson’s double against his former club setting up a replay at The Belmont on Wednesday night.

Whitstable then reached the third qualifying round for the first time in their history as goals from James Morrish and Ashley Baverstock overcame a Taser Hassan free-kick for Hythe, who saw Lee Winfield and Jamie Callado dismissed and keeper Dan Eason save two Whitstable penalties.

The prize for Town is a trip to Ryman League, Premier Division strugglers Carshalton Athletic on November 16 and Southall said: “It was a nice carrot, a good tough tie away from home at a higher-division team.”

First-up for the Oystermen is the visit of Worthing on Saturday in Division 1 South with Maidstone United next in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.

But a run of four games without a win in the league, with just one goal in that six-week spell, has seen Southall's side slide to 21st in the table, a point and a place outside the relegation zone.

Southall said: “It’s good to be playing Cup and Trophy games but it creates havoc with the fixture list.

“We already have a backlog of fixtures in the league and other teams have taken advantage of the fact we’ve not been playing to pick up points and places on us.

“Look at Herne Bay who have won back-to-back games and are up to 12th.

“The way it’s gone, we’ve been left there looking over our shoulder a little bit and that’s not what we want.”

He added: “Hopefully, winning cup games can give you the kickstart you need to go on a run and carry that into the league.

“It’s massively important to take advantage of your home games.

“We have three in six days and if we were to win them all, then it gives you a lot of momentum to take going forward.”

Southall has vowed to pick his strongest team when Maidstone United visit in the third round of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

He said: “It’s an important game and we will be full-strength.

“It should be a good Cup game, a Kent derby, a decent crowd, and I’d love to be able to get to the final which will be at my old stomping ground Gillingham.”