John Embery believes the chance to play alongside friends - and not the opportunity to work with his old man once again - was what attracted son Jake to sign for Faversham.

Striker Jake has joined from Isthmian Premier Carshalton and scored the only goal on his debut in their FA Trophy victory against Isthmian South East rivals Chichester on Tuesday.

He worked alongside father John and joint-boss Jermaine Darlington at Herne Bay before he earned opportunities with Maidstone and Tonbridge.

The trio are back together at the Salters Lane club now, though, and the striker is already off the mark for his new side.

“It’s been quite drawn-out,” said joint-manager Embery. “He took his time but we have got it across the line.

“The main thing for Jake coming in was not me and Jermaine, it was more the boys being on at him. I think he felt the love from mates he has played with before.

“He just wants to be enjoying playing football. With his mates wanting him to come, I would say it’s more that than me and Jermaine [which has attracted him to join].

“It didn’t take him long to get off the mark! We always knew he was going to score goals.

“If he gets in the right areas, he will finish. He almost had two as well, their keeper made a great save, but coming in he had a really good game, to be fair.

"It was good to have him.”

The FA Trophy First Qualifying Round match was due to be played last weekend but it was rearranged with all football postponed last Saturday as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

That left the Lilywhites without the likes of Danny Rumbol, Jono Richardson and James O’Halloran, due to work commitments, which made their win at Chichester, who had Adam Biss sent off late on, even sweeter as they set up an encounter at FC Romania.

Embery reflected: “We played really well. Chichester are a good side as well, they are quite an intricate little side.

“They play in little pockets so we are delighted to get the win over them. We deserved to win as well. We were not lucky, it just builds confidence.

“Everyone worked for each other. I feel we are gelling as a team. With the quality we have in the side, and the goal threat, we will be all right.”

Gillingham youngsters Freddie Carter and Ronald Sithole - the younger brother of recently-departed striker Gerald - have joined Faversham on loan. They came off the bench in midweek.

Embery said: “We were a patched-up side. We had players missing that couldn’t get time off work.

“Freddie and Ronald came off the bench and worked hard. Dan Carrington did well and Connor Wilkins worked his socks off.

“At the back, we were solid. Nobody had a bad game.”

Town will now prepare for back-to-back home league matches against VCD this Saturday and Ramsgate on Tuesday.

Influential defender Matt Bourne misses the VCD game but Embery said: “We have other players available. That’s the good thing at the moment - we have depth and quality in depth. We have other players that could come in and do well.

“It’s a good position to be in. We are looking forward to the games, they are both going to be big games. Ramsgate have got a good reputation in this league and VCD always put out battle-hardened teams.

“So we will train on Thursday and prepare again.”