Whitstable assistant manager Steve Nolan says the Oystermen have relieved the pressure with two crucial victories in four days.

Saturday’s 1-0 win over Burgess Hill on Saturday was followed by a come-from-behind victory against basement club Eastbourne Town on Tuesday night, lifting Nicky Southall’s side to 18th in Ryman League, Division 1 South table.

Nolan said: “We needed those two wins because it’s created a bit of a gap between us and the bottom three.

“We are still looking over our shoulders, though, because the other results didn’t go for us with teams like Crawley Down Gatwick winning.”

And the double win was also important for the fact that Whitstable’s next two matches couldn’t be any tougher, at home to second-placed Leatherhead (Thursday) before a trip to champions-elect Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday.

Whitstable will also be in action on Tuesday at Walton Casuals and Nolan added: “It’s not easy to contend with such a busy schedule but we are trying to keep the players as fresh as possible.”

The Oystermen will be without John Guest against Leatherhead with the centre-half starting a four-match suspension while Jack Parter is also ruled out by a hamstring injury.

Laurence Harvey will fill the gap at centre-half against Leatherhead while midfielder Dan Wells should be fit to return to the squad on Saturday.