Defender Will Thomas believes Whitstable’s squad always felt they had another gear in them - and they seemed to find it emphatically in their weekend FA Cup win!

Marcel Nimani’s Oystermen thrashed Southern Combination League Haywards Heath 5-0 in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Whitstable arrived having beaten Erith Town in their only Southern Counties East Premier Division game so far this term, but were even more ruthless in Sussex on their way to winning £1,125.

“It was good,” said centre-back Thomas.

“We felt after the Erith game, although we won 2-0, we probably had another gear in us. I think Saturday was almost the perfect performance.

“We’re not going to win the FA Cup, we want to mainly focus on the league, but we had a lot of supporters come and we showed them what we’re all about.

“I think, last season, we always felt we were good defensively but we just lacked that killer instinct in games.

“We feel this year, with the players we’ve got, we will get goals from all over the pitch.

“That will be a massive asset.”

Striker Steadman Callender bagged a second-half hat-trick after goals by Josh Williams and Tyler Anderson had put Whitstable in control.

Thomas, 25, said: “We played against him before. You could see with the type of goals he scored last season he’s a real poacher.

“His goals on Saturday were real poacher’s finishes.

“But his link-up play was good, he got two assists so he brings a lot in terms of linking with other players as well.”

All five Town goals came from summer recruits who have settled in swiftly with their new team-mates.

Thomas stated: “I think it’s one thing the gaffer has done very well. He has not just got the player, he has signed the character.

“All the new lads have been great. They’re playing with smiles on their faces.

“It’s added really good competition to the squad.

“Sometimes, you need players to come on and win you games.

“That’s going to be a part of what we’re trying to do this season.”

There was also a debut for midfielder Ben Cheklit, who has joined on a dual-registration basis from Sevenoaks.

Thomas said: “He was excellent, just sitting in front of the back four.

“He suits the way we want to play. He has come in full of confidence.”

Another added to their squad is Rodney Eruotor, who has rejoined after he made 12 appearances last season.

The Haywards Heath win saw another clean sheet, too, for goalkeeper Dan Eason and his regular defence of club stalwart Jake Mackenzie, George Sheminant, skipper Tom Mills and Thomas - a player who once attracted interest from Stoke while in Maidstone’s Academy.

“It’s almost like telepathy,” he said.

“I played with Jake Mackenzie and Tom Mills when we were at Step 4 together. We’ve been playing together for three or four years now.

“George Sheminant has been a great addition at full-back. We get on as good mates off the pitch as well.”

It’s now back to league action for promotion-chasing Whitstable, who visit Glebe this Saturday.

They then host Lordswood on Tuesday before an FA Cup Preliminary Round trip to VCD on August 19.

On their return to league action, Thomas admitted: “That’s our main priority.

“Glebe is always going to be a tough game, they’re always a very decent side.

“Lordswood were probably our bogey side last season. They managed to take four points against us.

“They had a young side, who were energetic, but we have a big squad so we can rotate our players around.”