Ray Turner is confident his Faversham Town side can upset Chipstead’s flying start to the Ryman League, Division 1 South season on Saturday.

The Surrey club have won all four of their opening matches but Faversham’s start has been almost as good, with three wins out of four.

Turner said: “We have got a good record up there, including a 1-0 win last season and I’m not too unhappy that they won again on Tuesday (2-0 against East Grinstead) because it means they are due to lose sooner or later and it’s a place where we can get something.”

Faversham also won on Tuesday, beating Ramsgate 3-1 at home in a match where Turner felt his squad’s greater depth this season proved decisive.

He said: “We lost control of the midfield after Ramsgate equalised in the second half but I was able to bring Darren Marsden off the bench and he made the difference.”

Marsden and Josh Stanford both scored in the closing stages to leave Faversham comfortable winners and Turner was also pleased with the contribution of Jack Harris in what was his first appearance of a second loan spell from Maidstone United.

The striker was at Salters Lane in the spring and Turner said: “Jack’s again here for another month initially, although I hope it will be for a bit longer this time.
“He’s 20 and needs to be playing matches and Jay Saunders (the Maidstone manager) recognises that.

“When Jack returned to Maidstone last season after being with us he scored a few goals for them and we are hoping that we can again help each other out.”

Turner’s greater squad depth might come in useful again this weekend, with Faversham also in action on Bank Holiday Monday at home to Herne Bay
(3pm).

He said: “It’s not easy for non-league players to maintain their performance levels when they have to play two matches in 48 hours and so I’m glad I’ve got a bigger squad to call upon this season.”

Turner is hoping that John Scarborough will be available for the Herne Bay game after recovering from a calf strain but fellow defender Jordan Miller is probably another week or so away because of his groin injury.