Striker Harry Goodger has earned high praise from Whitstable manager Keith McMahon.

Goodger played a key defensive role in their 2-1 victory at Faversham on Monday, helping the side deal with the threat caused by Lewis Chambers’ long throws.

Goals from Stephen Okoh and Kemo Darboe left Whitstable 16th in the Isthmian South East table, five points ahead of second-bottom Lancing, as they returned to winning ways.

On Goodger’s performance at Salters Lane, McMahon said: “When we had the Covid issue and had no centre-halves, Harry was texting me, saying ‘Gaffer, I can play centre-half.’ I said ‘I know that’.

“We’ve seen him in training. He’s good in the air and does the right things.

“With their throw, Lewis Chambers can get it under your crossbar from the halfway line and you need somebody to attack it - and he did that.

“Since I’ve been here, his attitude has been off the charts. In training, he speaks his mind but tries to help the youngsters and gives his all for the club.

"At his age, he knows what his role is and what job he can do, but this was his sort of game.”

McMahon had come in for some criticism after defeats against Herne Bay and Ramsgate over the festive period.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s home match against 11th-placed Corinthian, McMahon commented: “Someone tell me where the crisis is when you have lost two games in eight (in the league) against two very good opponents?

“Corinthian have had a fantastic season. Michael (Golding, their manager) has done brilliantly and I’m expecting a hard game.

“They’re a young side but well-knitted together - a lot of Dartford’s Academy from last year are there, so they'll all know each other.

“We want to give our home crowd something to really get behind.

"What makes our run even better is most of our wins have come away from home.

“At home, if we can show the same commitment, we will be fine.”