Joint-boss John Embery is thrilled with the defensive options Faversham now have.

The Lilywhites earned a first clean sheet on Monday on the way to their first points of the campaign as they beat Ashford 1-0.

Dan Carrington recently re-joined the club from Isthmian Premier Herne Bay, making his first start since his return against the Nuts & Bolts at Salters Lane, while experienced centre-back Jono Richardson also went back in the squad over the Bank Holiday weekend.

“Jono came on, on Saturday,” said Embery, whose team were beaten 2-1 at Sittingbourne on Saturday despite midfielder Nathan Wood’s second goal of the season before their success over Tommy Warrilow’s men.

“Because of his work, he has been away but he’s a good footballer.

“He’s as fit as I’ve seen him! If you are good at the back and dangerous going forward, you will score goals and win games.

“We have Jono, Bourney [long-serving centre-back Matt Bourne] and Danny Rumbol as well as Troy Cooney. They have done well back there.

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“All of a sudden, we look strong in that area.”

Versatile defender Carrington made 175 appearances for the club during his first spell and came off the bench at Woodstock before he started at right-back against Ashford.

Embery says Carrington is a player he has always admired.

He said: “Me and Jermaine [Darlington, Town's other joint-manager] liked him when we were at Herne Bay. We tried to sign him when we were at Herne Bay and he was at Faversham.

“I saw he was not playing through pre-season. He’s a good size but a good footballer as well.

“I think he’s 26 but he’s been around a while. I spoke to Ben [Smith, Herne Bay’s boss] to see if he was available and Ben said ‘Yeah’ so we took the bull by the horns.

“He was brilliant on Monday. What I liked about him is he’s not a right-back by trade but he didn’t moan, did a job for the team and dealt with a really good left winger.”

Isaac Adebayo scored the only goal as Town beat Ashford, Adebayo having only appeared in one match-day squad this term prior to the weekend.

Embery said: “He has come in, put his head down and kept working.

“He’s still not the finished article by a long way but he’s quick and has a great strike on him.

“To be fair, we thought we would start him on Monday and give him an opportunity. He didn’t start the best but he grew into the game.

“He scored the goal and you could see how much confidence that gave him. He did well.”

Embery also explained midfielders Sam Bewick and Jacob Gilbert have left Faversham, Bewick now having signed for Southern Counties East Premier Division Hollands & Blair.

“There will probably be a couple more [departures], as we are trying to bring one or two in. But we will see how that goes,” he said.

Recently-signed striker Junior Aikhionbare is due to return to training this week, with the Lilywhites not back in action until next weekend.