by Alex Hoad

Justin Luchford wants his squad to be mentally tough enough to see off fellow strugglers Whyteleafe in Ryman League, Division 1 South on Saturday.

Town have lost three of the four games under Luchford (pictured) but have shown improvements in the past two games.

Whitstable went down 3-2 to title-chasing Worthing on Tuesday night.

Stuart Vahid put the hosts ahead on 16 minutes but the Rebels rallied with a long-range strike and a controversial penalty two minutes before the break.

Damian Abel equalised in the final 10 minutes but with Town pressing, the visitors broke and netted a 90th-minute winner.

Luchford said: "I was devastated for the lads. They’d played well and deserved to win."

Town allowed a 2-0 lead to slip on Saturday to draw 2-2 with play-off-chasing Corinthian Casuals. They are now three points and two places clear of the drop-zone before the visit of Whyteleafe, level on points with them.

Luchford added: "Saturday will be harder than Tuesday. Nobody expected anything of us against Worthing but Whyteleafe will be desperate for the points.

"We need to be mentally right."

Luchford refused to be drawn on comments from his former skipper at Faversham, Tom Hickman – who has rejected a move to Whitstable – who said under his management players "were like robots with the direct style of play."

Luchford, who has signed Lee Shearer and Abel from the Lilywhites, said: "Faversham means a lot to me but I’m going to concentrate on doing my job for Whitstable, a club where I am wanted and where the support has been fantastic."

Shearer is unavailable while Ant Bodle is suspended but Dane Luchford (groin) could make the bench.