Assistant manager Richard Langley believes Whitstable’s last two results typify their "stop-start" season so far.

The Oystermen went to Worthing on Saturday and came home with a 2-0 win but then undid the good work by losing 2-1 at home to Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night.

Langley (pictured) said: "Such is the nature of the league this season that any team that puts together a run of seven or eight games is going to establish themselves at the top of the table but at the moment it’s something we can’t seem to do.

"We win one, then lose one or draw and it’s preventing us from becoming a top-six side instead of a middle-of-the-table team."

Whitstable are at home to Leatherhead in the FA Carlsberg Trophy second qualifying round on Saturday.

Although the Tanners have struggled so far this season, they produced the performance of the night on Tuesday with a 3-0 victory at leaders Crawley Down and also beat Whitstable 1-0 on the opening day.

Shane Hamshare will again be missing because of his knee problem while Luchford and Southall, who are both carrying hamstring injuries, have a "50-50 chance of making the bench," according to Langley. Guest, meanwhile, is ruled out by suspension.

Langley added: "We can’t fault the players but at the moment we are giving some soft goals away and we are not as clinical as we need to be in the opposing penalty area."