Skipper Tom Mills sees no reason why Whitstable cannot contend for the Southern Counties East Premier Division title this season.

The play-off occupants came from 2-0 down at half-time to draw their eagerly-awaited derby 2-2 with Faversham last weekend, as the gap between the sides remained at four points.

A second-half strike by Josh Williams and a stoppage-time own goal from Emmanuel Oloyede’s cross ensured Whitstable bounced back from successive losses in front of a massive crowd at The Belmont, having won six out of their seven fixtures in all competitions before those defeats.

It looks set to be a close title race with fifth-placed Deal having games in hand on the sides above them.

While former Maidstone and Margate defender Mills knows there will be plenty of twists and turns to come in the second half of the campaign, he believes Marcel Nimani’s fourth-placed troops should not solely be aiming for a top-five finish in the league, which would earn them a shot at promotion through the play-offs.

He said: “We have quality players who can push on and contend for the title, to be honest - not just the play-offs.

“It’s still a bit early to be talking about winning the title because it’s only December and [there’s] a long way to go. But we’re definitely getting there.”

Report: Whitstable 2-2 Faversham

A Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final at home to Division 1 Faversham Strike Force also awaits the Oystermen in the new year.

Mills recalled: “Compared to last season, that’s good - we went out of the cup competitions quite early last season. But we’re still in the Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Finals and challenging for the play-offs - or maybe even the title - in the league this season.

“Marcel always said we would be competing for silverware once we had a settled squad and I feel like we are pretty much there now.”

An attendance of 1,112 for the Faversham game was a club record crowd for Whitstable at this level.

“They’re incredible,” Mills said. “Sometimes, we go away to places and they, basically, just take over.

“Playing in front of them and a crowd of more than 1,100 was a fantastic experience. Hopefully, our crowds keep on building.”

Winger Williams started Whitstable’s comeback against Faversham with his 12th goal of the season - and now sits two behind midfielder Josh Oliver.

“Our goals this season have come from a variety of different players,” noted Mills. “We have got Josh Oliver who can play anywhere - on the wing or as a No.10.

“Eman (Oloyede) and Harvey Smith who are more up top and then Josh Williams is another dangerous player.

“It’s good that we have a few goal threats, rather than just one main one.”

Whitstable will finish 2023 at Lydd this Saturday. They drew 1-1 when they met last month, a match that Mills missed through illness.

“Lydd away will be a difficult game,” admitted Mills. “I haven’t faced them yet but I know they’re good and they have got a lot of good players.

“It’ll be a completely different surface to our pitch so we’re just preparing for that now. Hopefully, we can end the year on a high.”