Manager Sammy Moore thinks in-form leaders Faversham have become a different animal - as they aim to avenge their early-season defeat at Lydd.

The ambitious Southern Counties East Premier Division teams will lock horns at Salters Lane tomorrow night after a free weekend for the Lilywhites.

Town sit top after a nine-game winning run. That came after they were dealt successive blows with away league losses to Corinthian and Lydd in August.

Since then, they have signed prolific frontman Stefan Payne and ex-Gillingham midfielder Billy Bingham. Captain Connor Essam and fellow experienced defender Josh Vincent missed that 4-1 defeat at The Lindsey Field, too.

Moore said: “We didn’t have Connor Essam and JV (Vincent) that night.

“We have also added Stefan Payne and Billy Bingham to the fold. I think we’re a bit of a different animal now.

“We have started to gel together. Nine wins on the spin is an amazing achievement for any team.

“Confidence is high and we’re at home, and we want three points and to stay top.

“We need to make sure we do the basics. We didn’t do the basics well enough the night we played down there. We learnt from that - and we have put it right.

“We’re looking forward to the game because we feel like we didn’t show them our best form.

“I think it’ll be a totally different game considering their pitch wasn’t great, whereas they’ll be coming to our place where we can pass the ball.

“But we know it’ll be a tough game. They’re throwing a bit of money around, as well, and have signed some good players.

“There will be two good teams going at it.”

Winger Ashley Miller will be suspended against the Lydders after he was sent off for a last-man challenge in their 4-1 Kent Senior Trophy triumph at home to Kent County League Kent United last time out.

Ironically, it’s the second time this term he has been given his marching orders. He was also dismissed in the defeat at Lydd.

On Miller’s latest red card, Moore said: “It’s disappointing.

“He’s been one of our best players. He’s a great lad and a real outlet.

“Unfortunately, he made a challenge that you can’t do when you’re the last man. He’ll learn from it. He was gutted.

“He’ll miss the Lydd game but we have got a squad. It’s an opportunity now for someone to stake a claim and stay in the team.”

Others on the scoresheet as Town rotated their pack for the Trophy tie were Payne, with a penalty, two-goal Warren Mfula and Vincent.

Moore reflected: “It was a good win. I’m delighted that we got through to the next round.

“They put men behind the ball and made it difficult for us, so we had to be patient. But once we got the first goal, it was a matter of time before we got the next one.

“It was good to get a few goals ahead.

“I said to our boys that we had to use it as a sort of training-ground exercise. It’s a good way to practise against 10 men behind the ball, making it difficult for us.

“Obviously, when Miller gets sent off, it’s another challenge and another thing we might come up against again in the season.

“There were more minutes for players that haven’t started as many games as they would have liked.

“It was a good exercise and another win.”

Faversham are due to hold their AGM in their clubhouse on Wednesday, November 8.