by Alex Hoad

Nicky Southall expects a “big performance” from his Whitstable side when promotion-chasing Leatherhead visit The Belmont on Saturday.

Town slipped back into the bottom three in Ryman League, Division 1 South after a 5-1 humbling at fellow strugglers Corinthian Casuals on Saturday and stayed there with a 2-0 reverse at title-chasing Maidstone on Tuesday.

Southall (pictured) said: “I’ve got a feeling we’re in for a big performance from the lads and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get one.”

The Town boss revealed the players would be “putting their hands in their pockets” after the disappointing defeat at Corinthian.

Town allowed a 1-0 lead to slip and the Whitstable fans who made the trip to support their side are being offered free entry to the Leatherhead game.

Southall said: “It’s the least we could do. We are better than that and I wasn’t happy. I can’t ask people to travel around the country to watch us play like that.”

The Town boss was, however, encouraged by the response at Maidstone on Tuesday night, saying: “Hopefully we can build on that in the games to come against Leatherhead, Faversham and the other top teams in the weeks to come.”

He added: “We have got a massive 12 games coming up and we need four or five wins as soon as possible. We are capable of getting those points to get us away from the foot of the table, because it’s not nice to be down there."