Craig Coles understands just how important Whitstable’s derby against frontrunners Faversham will be for the fans - and thinks the players do, too.

Both clubs are eyeing promotion from the Southern Counties East Premier Division this season with only four points separating them - although Marcel Nimani’s Oystermen have suffered back-to-back losses ahead of Saturday’s game.

Faversham won 2-1 when the teams met at Salters Lane in August despite winger Josh Williams’ goal.

While the ambitious Lilywhites have since signed hitman Stefan Payne, alongside midfielders Billy Bingham and Nathan Wood, Coles thinks - bar lacking a clinical edge - there wasn’t too much wrong with their display on that occasion.

Nimani’s No.2 Coles, a former Whitstable youth-team player, said: “It’s a big opportunity for us to right the wrongs of games in previous weeks.

“For me, the boys know how big the game is on Saturday - not just from a football perspective – but for the fanbase as well.

“When we went to their place and we were walking around after the game, we must have had about 200 there.

“To be fair, Faversham will probably bring a few. We just want to give something back to the fans.

“I think the best thing for us is to not try changing too much from when we played them last time. They have brought in Stefan Payne, Billy Bingham and Nathan Wood.

“But in terms of how we go about things, that shouldn’t change just because of what they have brought in.

“We had some success against them last time. The only thing that let us down was not putting the ball in the back of the net.”

Faversham are the division’s top scorers with 57 but the third-placed Oystermen’s goals-for column is only bettered by two other SCEFL sides.

That looks like a recipe for an exciting affair with the Whitstable rearguard having played together for much longer.

But Coles said: “It’s tough.

“They have Josh Vincent and Connor Essam - players that have played Step 3 and Step 2 football. We have got experienced players but maybe their players have got better exposure.

“At the end of the day, it’s going to be an entertaining game for both sets of fans.

“I’m sure there will be plenty of goals. Hopefully, there will be more for us!

“It’s exciting for the town and both clubs. Faversham are doing really well and that was never in question.

“But we know, if we perform like we did last time, we have got more than enough to give them a really huge game.”

The Oystermen, knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Kennington last Tuesday as they named a much-changed side, were beaten again in the league at the weekend. They went down 4-2 at Punjab United despite goals from midfielder Josh Oliver and striker Steadman Callendar.

“There were some really avoidable goals we conceded - two from set-pieces and one from a cross,” reflected Coles, with frontman Emmanuel Oloyede substituted at half-time with a knock.

“But me and Marcel were looking at the Veo (highlights) after the game.

“It might have not had much of an impact on the game but Eman (Oloyede) went through at 0-0 and the linesman flagged. We weren’t sure and were thinking ‘Is that right?’ It turned out he was a good 10 yards onside!

“But Punjab were better than us on the day.

“From our point of view, that’s disappointing because, if we wanted it as much as they did, the result could have been very different.

“But it is what it is. You win some games and lose some.

“It’s about getting back on track.”

Oloyede was replaced by debutant Eniyelayefa Amgbaduba at Punjab, the target man joining from Fisher.

Coles, who will finish 2023 with Whitstable at Lydd on Saturday, December 30, noted: “He did all right.

“Eman had a bit of a knock so we replaced him at half-time.

“I actually thought he did have a decent impact on the game.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the ball to him often enough.”

Oloyede and midfielder Mikey Dalton were due to have injuries assessed this week.