Boss Jamie Coyle hopes Ramsgate’s generous defending is a blip after successive 3-3 draws for his title-chasing team.

The Rams came from behind with 10 men to draw at Isthmian South East promotion rivals Sheppey on Saturday.

That came after they squandered a 3-0 lead at home to relegation-threatened Faversham last Wednesday.

While it may be entertaining to watch, new manager Coyle - a defender himself - has not been thrilled with what he’s seen.

“Being a centre-half myself, I know we’ve had one of the best goals against all season,” said Coyle.

“The last two games have been really disappointing with the way we’ve defended.

“But the flipside is the character we showed on Saturday is something we can be really proud of. Moving forward, we need to go back to being hard to break down.

“We shouldn’t have to score four goals to win a game.”

Recently-signed Taofiq Olomowewe put them ahead at Holm Park, only for things to quickly turn sour with the Ites leading 3-1 at half-time while Lee Prescott was sent off for violent conduct.

But second-half strikes from Jahmal Howlett-Mundle and frontman Rowan Liburd ensured they remain unbeaten under Coyle.

“It was frustrating,” he reflected.

“Going 1-0 up early in the game, you’re then thinking you can go on and win the game. But we have made some really bad individual errors lately.

“They were a constant threat down the right and Danny Leonard gave us real problems. At half-time, 3-1 down and with 10 men, the team-talk completely changed.

“But Tom Carlse and Denzelle Olopade came on at half-time and really changed the game.

“They allowed us to play through the thirds, even with one man less.”

On Prescott’s red card, Coyle said: “He has allowed the referee to make a decision. He got up and put his head into his stomach.

“He was disappointed and apologetic at the end of the game to the players and the staff. It’s frustrating because he was probably our best player until he got sent off.”

Olomowewe has started twice since he signed from Welling, scoring his first Ramsgate goal at Sheppey.

“He will only get better,” enthused Coyle. “He will add leadership.

"He took his goal really well on Saturday and didn’t deserve to be in a team that conceded three.

“He’s only going to get fitter, stronger and more confident.”

TJ Jadama, Jack Paxman and Ashley Miller had seemingly put them in control against Faversham, who roared back to earn a point.

Coyle admitted: “If the league was to start now, Faversham would at least be in the play-offs.

“On reflection, at 3-0 up, you expect to win the game. But I never felt comfortable - even at 3-0.

“They have some really good individual players.

"If they stay together and keep doing what they’re doing, they will give themselves a chance.”

It’s been a hectic start in the hotseat for Coyle, but they’ll now try to improve things on the training pitch.

“I know we have got things to work on,” he said.

“We have had three training sessions and five games.

"You can only do a certain amount on the tactics board but the boys are giving me everything.”

Weekend visitors VCD sit mid-table and drew 2-2 with Ramsgate in October.

Grant Basey stood down as their manager at the weekend but Coyle thinks, no matter who’s in charge, it won’t be an easy match.

He said: “They caused us a lot of problems at their place.

"I know their manager has left now but, mentally, their players will want to work hard to impress the new manager - or whoever’s in charge.

“We need to match that and try to do everything possible to get a result we can build on.”

Defender Ben Fitchett is close to coming back.

“I’m probably a week away,” Coyle revealed.

“Ben Fitchett is a week or two away, which is really good news.

“Prescott will be a huge miss. Where we don’t have midweek games, that’s near enough a whole month out of football.”