Boss Tommy Warrilow has praised Faversham’s defence as they close in on the league title.

The Lilywhites are firmly in the box-seat in the race to be crowned this season's Southern Counties East League Premier Division champions.

While Faversham enjoyed a free weekend, second-placed VCD drew for the fourth time in five games as they were held to a goalless stalemate at Tunbridge Wells. It means Town are three points clear with a match in hand.

Warrilow’s side are nine games unbeaten and have only failed to keep a clean sheet once in that run, having battled to last Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Sutton Athletic.

“The defence has been brilliant for us all season,” said Warrilow. “As an ex-defender, that’s pleasing.

"Clean sheets do win you leagues. There’s no point scoring nine and then conceding 10!

“There’s games where we have had chances to put the game to bed but we have kept clean sheets and that’s got us a point. As I’ve said before, you just never know how important those draws will be.

“Hopefully with five games to go, we can just keep doing what we’re doing.

"But we cannot take anything for granted.

“We have got our blinkers on and we’re respecting everyone, whether they’re near the top or the bottom. There’s no overreaction.

"Hopefully, we can continue doing what we have been doing.”

Town No.1 Jacob Russell has led his backline excellently since he returned from a broken nose and other facial injuries sustained in January’s 8-1 home win over Lydd.

“We had to do the right thing by Jacob,” said Warrilow. “It was a horrendous injury.

“Jacob was fortunate because, a couple of millimetres either way, it could have been a lot worse. It was a very bad injury but, thankfully, he was only out for three or four weeks. He was a big miss.

“Unfortunately at the time, Lewis Briggs, our No.2, was ill, so we had to bring Archie Burford in and he did well.

“Jacob will be the first to say it’s not about him and it’s been about the defensive unit.”

The Lilywhites had to be patient at Sutton before in-form Danny Parish broke the deadlock in the 75th minute and midfielder Tommie Fagg was eventually adjudged to have bundled in a late second.

Warrilow reflected: “It was a tough game.

"It wasn’t exactly free-flowing. They were just trying to kill the game but, to be fair to them, they did hit us on the counter-attack a few times.

“The first half was much of a muchness and we got involved in things we didn’t need to.

“You did start to think ‘It might be one of those nights’ but, in the 75th minute, we got that goal. Once we had the goal, it changed everything.

“Everyone wants to ruin the party at the moment. We’re battling where we want to get out of the league and some are fighting to stay in the league.

“This is a league, which is so unforgiving, so we cannot take anything for granted.”

Parish’s goal at Sutton was a 10th in Faversham’s past 15 games while Fagg was handed his first club goal - despite the goal initially having been given to captain Callum Davies.

Warrilow said: “It’s good for Danny.

"He has been working hard. There’s been a little bit of luck involved, but he has been working his socks off.

“For the second one, we have got bodies in the box and Faggie got his first goal for us - not that he knew a lot about it! I’m pleased for him.

“He has been out for a while, but he did well at Sutton.”

There’s a first return to Homelands for ex-Ashford manager Warrilow as the Lilywhites visit Kennington this weekend before Tuesday’s trip to Larkfield & New Hythe.

The match at Tunbridge Wells has been rearranged for Tuesday, April 15.