Danny Ward has dedicated the three points Whitstable Town won against Redhill to the volunteers who enabled the game to go ahead.

With last Saturday’s match in serious danger of being called off, a group of committee members and supporters turned up at The Belmont in the morning to help make the waterlogged pitch playable and were rewarded for their efforts with a 3-1 victory.

Joint manager Ward said: “What the staff and supporters did to get the game on was fantastic and the three points we picked up are dedicated to them.”

The win also enabled Whitstable to round off a perfect festive period with their third successive victory, which has lifted them back to seventh in the Ryman League, Division 1 South table – their highest position since early October.

The Oystermen had lost their three previous matches and Ward said: “After we lost to South Park (on December 20), we had a meeting with the players and told them in no uncertain terms that the results weren’t acceptable, even though we were playing pretty well and that if they wanted to stay at the club, they had to do better.

“They were told that if they didn’t come to training, then don’t bother staying at the club. It was a bit harsh probably but that’s the way it was.

“I gave them a target of nine points from the three Christmas matches and it’s been magnificent the way the players have responded.”

But Ward knows that his side will have to maintain that improvement in their next three matches, which are all against sides in the top five – Folkestone Invicta away on Saturday, followed by a home fixture against Whyteleafe, a week later, and then a trip to Faversham.

“Our next three games are massive,” said Ward, who is hoping that he will again be able to name an unchanged side.

He added: “I’ve been able to pick the same team for the last three games and, although I feel sorry for the substitutes, none of them can come to me and say they should be playing because some of the football we’ve been producing has been excellent.”