Player-manager Jamie Coyle believes the amount of higher-division quality now within Whitstable’s squad has helped them find their groove in the league.

The play-off chasing Oystermen had endured a mixed Southern Counties East League Premier Division season until recently despite positive runs in the FA Vase and Kent Senior Trophy.

But they have won three straight matches in the league and now sit sixth, with games in hand.

Coyle said: “It’s simply down to personnel, to be honest.

“We knew we weren’t where we wanted to be at the start of the season. Ultimately, to get into the play-offs or win a league, you need players that are better than the level.

“We just didn’t have enough at the start of the season. But now we have got players starting, and on the bench, that are.

“We were always consistent, by the end of the season, we would have a strong squad.

"We were just hoping that we didn’t leave it too late.”

Midfielder Connor Wilkins has arrived from Isthmian South East leaders Ramsgate for Whitstable’s last two matches while defender Finn O’Mara has rejoined the club.

“Connor is one we tried to sign in the summer but he wanted to play at a higher league,” explained Coyle. “He got an unfortunate injury and hasn’t featured that much for Ramsgate.

“He’s a marquee signing with the quality he can bring to the team.

“The referee booked him ridiculously on Tuesday and he put in another tackle shortly after so we had to take him off, which was a shame because we want to give him as many minutes as possible.

“We need that strength-in-depth. With the amount of games in hand we have got, we cannot play players every week, especially people like Fin Cotton.

“It’s his first full season in senior football and he has already played 30-odd games.

"Will Thomas has been injured and, ultimately, I don’t want to play myself every game because I’d end up getting injured!

“Getting Finn back was a bit of a no-brainer. We don’t need to explain how we work as a group to him. I didn’t play myself last Tuesday or this Tuesday.

“We don’t want to look too far ahead but, if we were to go up to the league above, we know we probably now wouldn’t need to change too much because of the quality we have got.”

Whitstable’s recent upturn in league form continued with a 3-1 home win against Snodland Town on Tuesday as defender Jake McIntyre added to midfielder Bradley Schafer’s first-half brace.

Coyle said: “Brad has been outstanding. I still don’t think he is fully up to speed.

"But in three starts for us, he has got three goals and three or four assists so he’s really impacted the team.

“I spoke to him in the summer and we were really interested in getting him in but, unfortunately, we couldn’t get it over the line then.

“Now, he’s come in, seen what we’re about and how we play. He will be so important between now and the end of the season.”

The success against Snodland came after hat-trick hero Ronald Sithole shone during last weekend’s 4-0 home win over Tunbridge Wells.

“He’s a really good lad,” said Coyle, who was also on target. “He wants to learn.

"He was a bit raw when he came in, he needed some time to get used to how we play.

“To be fair to him, his attitude, not only at football, but away from football, as well, has been outstanding. He’s still acting like a pro.

“He has still got a lot to learn and needs coaching.

"But he has got the right mentality and he’s been great.”

Whitstable will aim to book their place in the Kent Senior Trophy final when they visit Stansfeld on Saturday, having been beaten 1-0 by them in September.

“They beat us earlier on in the season at their place,” said Coyle. “It’s a really tough place to go.

“It lacks a lot of atmosphere, you kind of have to spark your own atmosphere.

"That’s why we need as many fans as possible to come because we need to turn it into a home game.

“They have got a good management team that we know well so we will need to be at our best to get a positive result.

“We want to get into a final and put that one to bed before focusing on the Vase and climbing the league.”

The Oystermen will visit Bearsted in the league on Tuesday.