Whitstable joint-boss Danny Ward says his side can’t afford any further slip-ups if they are to fulfil their aim of a play-off place in Ryman League, Division 1 South.

After momentous wins against Worthing and Hythe in the previous seven days put them on the brink of the top-five, the Oystermen lost 1-0 defeat against Tooting & Mitcham at The Belmont on Saturday to lose ground.

Ward admitted: “We were disappointed. We didn’t live up to the standard we have set.

“We’ve had two massive games that we’ve put everything into and performed well – this one was too much.

“The pitch was a mess and didn’t suit us. They were decent, though, they caused us problems although if Tom Loynes’ shot had gone in, rather than hit the bar, I think we would have gone on and won it.”

Herne Bay’s fourth win in five at South Park took them into fifth, four points ahead of Town, although having played a game more and two more than sixth-placed Whyteleafe and Worthing in seventh.

Ward said: “We have still got eight games to go. We can’t afford any more slip-ups. 75 points is still the target, which would be six more wins but the problem we have is that the other teams just seem to keep on winning.

“The biggest challenge for us is going to be in terms of the size of our squad.”

Town visit basement-boys Horsham on Saturday (3pm) and Ward said: “It’s not an easy place to go. They brought in a new manager a little while back and picked up a couple of results and I thought they’d go on and finish well clear of trouble, although they’ve been pulled back into it.

“If we go there and do what we are capable of, then I have no doubt that we can get the points.”

Town came out on top in a friendly against their under-21 side on Tuesday night although Ian Pulman didn’t feature after stepping on a nail.

The Town striker also faces a three-match ban, starting after the trip to Horsham after seeing his appeal against a red-card at Hythe dismissed, despite video evidence being supplied.

Ward added: “I still can’t believe it and neither can he.”