Whitstable defender George Sheminant has loved his first full season of playing senior football - now he’s set his sights on playing in the Isthmian League one day.

Sheminant has got plenty of minutes for the Oystermen this term in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

He has enjoyed the experience, having helped Chatham to promotion last season after he came through the youth ranks at Gillingham.

“This probably has been my first full season,” said the versatile left-back. “I’m only 22.

“Since I’ve come in, I’ve played pretty much every week. Last season, where I was at Chatham, there was me and Danny Smith there as well.

“So this is the first time I feel I’ve really established myself in that position.

"Hopefully, I can stay injury-free and can keep on going.”

He joined Ramsgate amid the Covid pandemic but only played once - in an FA Cup win - before he returned to Chatham.

Sheminant said: “I’ve not played a game in the Isthmian League.

“With Whitstable coming down last year, hopefully, I can help them back up.

"Then, I can play a game at that level.”

They visit frontrunners Erith & Belvedere this weekend and they are way behind second-placed Deal, too.

“It’s just about getting as many points as we can,” said the bricklayer.

“I think we have left ourselves way too much to do.

“We have got Erith & Belvedere, Phoenix, Erith, Rusthall and Deal all above us, and they’re good sides.

"Don’t get me wrong, we will still try and finish as high as we can.

"But I think we have left ourselves too much to do.”

The clash between Whitstable and Erith & Belvedere at The Belmont came early in manager Marcel Nimani’s tenure.

The match finished in an 2-2 draw and Sheminant expects more of the same on Saturday.

He said: “I think they’re well clear and they’ve been top of the league all year for a reason.

“They’re a really good side. I know a few of the boys there.

"We played them at our place in October and it was a really good game.

“Hopefully, we can apply ourselves and do well there.”

There has, however, been a recent change in the dug-out for the Deres which has seen interim manager Andy Constable depart.

But Sheminant said: “I don’t read too much into it with the players they have.

“They have some really good players and I know they will be right up for it.”

The Oystermen come into the match after a 2-2 home draw against lowly Lordswood last weekend, with their goals coming through an own goal by former under-18s skipper Archie Risdon and a late leveller by striker James Jeffrey.

“It was a bit of a weird game to be honest,” Sheminant reflected.

“The first 45 minutes, I thought we were better and I would say we had two good chances and we missed them.

“We scored fairly early in the second half. I put a corner in and one of their lads headed it in.

“Then they had a 25-minute spell. They scored their first and then their second - both quite lucky goals.

"It was a game where we wasted a few chances but, to be fair to them, they set-up quite well.

“Lils [director of football Jason Lillis] is experienced at what he does, I know him from my time at Gills.”

A crowd of 426 watched the game.

Sheminant noted: “They [Whitstable's fans] have been absolutely brilliant, especially with the results being up and down.

“Marcel has always said he wants to give the fans something to be proud of, as well as the community in the town.

“Hopefully, we can start getting some slightly better results.”

Sheminant has also enjoyed playing under Nimani since he replaced Richard Styles.

“Since Marcel has come in - I think it was mid-October - I’ve absolutely loved it,” he added.

“We know that the results have not been great. But as a bloke, he has been outstanding.

“This is my first season at Whitstable and they’ve had a few managers before.

"But he’s such a genuine, nice person.”