Ray Turner hopes Faversham’s dramatic derby win over Sittingbourne will prove a catalyst for their season.

Lilywhites completed the double over high-flying Bourne on Tuesday night when Luke Griffiths scored a last-minute winner in a 2-1 victory at Woodstock Park.

The home side had only lost one league game there all season so boss Turner was understandably thrilled.

He said: “You know what these derbies are like and I’m pleased I saw a team that won the battle.

“It is our main derby and Sittingbourne’s a big town. I was brought up with them being a big club and people have short memories. We’ve done really well over the years against them in terms of our final league placing.

“They’ve started particularly well but it changes very quickly in football and just as you can have a team very low on confidence, results like that can turn your season around.

“My job is to get the team away from any problems and then look at what’s above us. It’s surprising what you can do in this league.

“We’ve got on with it quietly and on Tuesday I saw a side that was really together.

“Irrespective of their reports of the two games, Simon Overland saved a relatively weak penalty and other than that, he had very little to do.”

Faversham are 19th in Bostik South but they’ve won three of their last four games and could climb four places with a win at home to East Grinstead on Saturday.

They’ll have to do it without Sam Bewick, who’s waiting for a knee operation and has left the club, while George Monger (calf) is only rated 50/50.

Liam King returns after missing the Sittingbourne game with food poisoning while Matt Bourne, who’s racked up five bookings, won’t serve his one-match suspension until Tuesday when the Lilywhites host Hythe.

Turner said: “When you have problems, they seem to be exacerbated quite a lot but it’s important you don’t let it consume you and move on with the players you do have available.

“That’s the satisfying thing about going to places and realising that all the hard work is worthwhile and the boys deserve that victory. When you go away to a team that’s a lot higher and win, it breeds a special atmosphere in the changing room afterwards.”