There’s a crucial period ahead for Whitstable as they decide what their priorities will be for the rest of the season.

The Oystermen were one of the pre-season title favourites but, after their 2-0 Southern Counties East Premier Division home derby defeat to Deal last Saturday, sit 25 points adrift of leaders Erith & Belvedere.

Just six points separate second-placed Stansfeld and Glebe in 10th, though, albeit only two other teams have played as many league fixtures as Whitstable.

“We’re not sure yet,” said head coach Craig Coles on whether it was time for Whitstable, still in the Challenge Cup, to write-off their chances of finishing in the upper echelons of the league and aim for cup success as well as league consolidation instead.

“We’ve said we’ll take the next four games and, after the next four games, we’ll see where we are.

“We have got Lordswood away, Canterbury at home, Punjab away and then Bearsted at home. Obviously Bearsted is a cup game.

“We’ll look after those four games and see where we are in the league and where we are in regards to the cup competition. I think we’ll probably decide after that what our intentions are for the remainder of the season.

“The big thing for us when we first came was that we wanted to do as well as we could, given what we had and what we came into.

“We made a lot of changes. We have added players, players have also left, we have changed the playing style and the philosophy, so it’s going to take time.

“Personally, I think we have had time now.

"It’s just a case of the boys now being able to produce what we have done in training.”

Goals from away striker Riley Alford and midfielder Billy Munday at The Belmont consigned Marcel Nimani’s men to defeat against Deal.

Coles reflected: “It was a frustrating afternoon, I won’t lie.

“We created enough chances to get a result in the game. Whether that would have been a win or a draw, I’m not too sure, but we certainly created enough chances.

“We just didn’t have enough quality in the final third to make them count and, unfortunately for us, they had a few chances and put them away.

“It’s just one of those things at the moment for us.”

Since their new 3G pitch went down in the summer, Whitstable have won just once in 10 competitive matches.

But Coles praised the support he and manager Nimani have received.

He said: “For me, ever since we have gone in, and even now, the majority of the fan-base has always been really positive.

“They’ve been really respectful to us and the players. We’ve always tried to play in the right way since we were appointed so, yes, it’s been frustrating.

“I think we just need something to click in the final third, especially at home, and then we’ll be on our way.”

Whitstable lost substitute Jordan Wells to a straight red card in stoppage time for a lunge on Deal’s Jack Penny.

Coles bemoaned: “We’ve all looked at the video footage of it. It’s never a red card!

“Other people may say otherwise. I know someone that spoke to the opposition manager [Steve King] after the game, as well, and even he said he didn’t think it was a red.

“I know the [Deal] lad who went into the tackle with Jordan - and he said after it, it wasn’t a red card.”

It means a suspension for Wells which Whitstable are considering appealing against.

Coles added: “Ultimately, he gave the red card which was unfair on Jordan.

“I thought, when he came on, he looked quite bright.

"Obviously he’s been out injured for quite some time so it’s frustrating from our point of view and his point of view. We wanted to utilise him in the games that we have coming up.

“Potentially, we are looking at appealing it so we’ll see what happens.”

This Saturday, Whitstable are due to visit Lordswood (kick-off 2pm).

Coles said: “From looking at the form table and the league table, they have been really good this season.

“The majority of games you’ll get in this league are going to be tough. Pretty much anyone can beat anyone.

“You only need to look at some of the results like Fisher drawing 3-3 with Erith & Belvedere, who have been running away with it this season. It doesn’t matter who you are - you can win, lose or draw to anyone.

“But we’re hoping for a positive result on Saturday.”

Midfielder Josh Oliver and defender Will Thomas are back from suspension.

Coles added: “There’s some positive news there. We’ll see how we get on.

“We have Victor [Aiyelabola] coming back from injury as well and Joe Nelder should, hopefully, be back. He’s been absent for a week or two.”

Winger Kyron Lightfoot has left.

Whitstable are scheduled to play a home friendly against Faversham next Thursday.