Darren Hare doesn’t think there will be a clear favourite in either of frontrunners Faversham’s final two league matches of the year.

The Lilywhites, who earned a 2-2 draw in their top-of-the-table game at Glebe last weekend, visit Whitstable this Saturday and end 2023 at home to another team in the Southern Counties East Premier Division play-offs in Deal on Saturday, December 30.

Faversham coach Hare said: “As I said to them (the players) before Saturday, if I’m being honest – and not being big-headed – we have been the team to beat.

“It’s a bit like the other sides’ cup final and some teams, like Lordswood’s youngsters and Erith Town, have done very well. We have had to expect that.

“But against Glebe, Whitstable and Deal, it feels a little bit different. There’s no favourites going into these games.

“Looking at the form, one could argue we’re not favourites - although people probably will still say that.

“But both are very good teams. I think both would cope very well in the division above.”

Faversham are on 42 points - one clear of second-placed Glebe and four ahead of Whitstable, who are third.

Sammy Moore’s men came out on top 2-1 when the two sides met at Salters Lane in August as midfielder Sam Hasler bagged a brilliant brace.

“There’s an old adage in football that you don’t win anything before Christmas,” noted former Faversham school teacher Hare.

“But it’ll be nice to get near 50 points over the Christmas period.

“We will be going to win those games - we won’t go not to lose them. Whitstable are a very good passing team.

“They play a very good passing game from the back, play through the thirds and play some good football.

“It will be a tough game. But they will be just as concerned about us.”

Winger Kieron Campbell gave Faversham the lead at Glebe, only for the hosts to fight back. Substitute Warren Mfula came up with a last-gasp leveller.

Hare reflected: “I went and watched them last Tuesday against Fisher so we knew it was going to be a very tough game.

“First half, as expected, they came at us, created one or two chances, and Finn (O’Mara) cleared one off the line. At the other end, it was a great finish from Kieron Campbell.

“We went in at half-time, probably feeling a little bit fortunate that we were 1-0 up. The first 15 or 20 minutes, we were in control of the second half.

“They certainly didn’t cause the same problems as they did in the first half.

“But we lost a little bit of concentration - as can happen in games - and one of their lads finished well. We then started to think it’s 1-1 and probably fair, if I’m being brutally honest.

“I still felt we had enough to go on and win the game. But momentum shifted a little bit and they gained 10 or 15% and were bullish. We struggled a little bit at that point.

“When you concede a goal, especially away from home, you have to go back to what was working before we conceded. Mentally, we just struggled a little bit for a little spell and conceded the second.

“I felt we probably might not get back in it. But fair play to the boys, they kept plugging away and Warren got the equaliser.

“If someone had said ‘Would you take a point before the game?’ All day long.

“After 60 minutes, we did feel we could win the game but what we need to get better at is responding after conceding.”

Mfula has ended up largely playing second-fiddle to 20-goal hitman Stefan Payne since the latter’s arrival.

But Hare sees no reason why they can’t form a formidable partnership.

“Warren has had an injury,” explained Hare. “He will be honest enough to admit that, before that, he was having a lot of chances but the goals were not going in for him. That’s not something he is used to because he’s a good finisher.

“But for somebody maybe who has been a bit down in the dumps and feeling he should have started a few more games, he actually looked very lively. Having someone like Warren on the bench for that particular game was huge for us. Warren will get back in the team.

“I see no reason why he cannot restart that partnership up there with Stefan. Warren is a very valued member of the squad. He needs to know that and understand that.

“When he’s in the right frame of mind, there’s no better finisher.”

Hasler returned from a lengthy ban at Glebe while fit-again midfielder Billy Bingham and experienced defender Josh Vincent started, although wideman Ashley Miller has still not recovered from his injury.

Their Challenge Cup Quarter-Final clash at Corinthian will be played on Tuesday, January 16.