Josh Oliver struck twice to get Whitstable Town off to a winning start - and thanked the management for getting the best out of him.

An early penalty from the 23-year-old and a second with the last kick of the game led the Oystermen to a 2-0 win over Erith Town as they got their Southern Counties East Premier Division campaign under way.

Oliver, starting his second season with the club, said: “The manager (Marcel Nimani) has brought in a lot of good players, done a great job.

“He has given me confidence in playing, made me feel very comfortable at the club and playing under him, which always brings the best out of you. He has done a great job for me personally and for the team.

“He is great to everyone, a very honest person, he will tell you when it is going good and when it’s bad, what you need to change and there’s a lot of respect.

“His knowledge of the game is outstanding and it feels good to be playing under a manager that knows a lot about the game and the way he wants to play football. He wants a passing team, that is what I want to be involved in.”

It was a tough first game for Whitstable but they’ve three points in the bag against a side that finished one place above them last season, in fourth.

Oliver converted an 18th-minute penalty to put Whitstable ahead after Tyler Anderson was fouled in the box.

Erith had rarely troubled the Whitstable keeper Dan Eason but twice went close late on with one effort off the bar and another headed wide. Nerves were calmed when Oliver struck a second with a shot in off the upright after good work from debutant winger Eri Akintimehin.

“It was a dream start for me, absolutely,” said former Margate and Sittingbourne player Oliver.

“But the important thing was we got three points on the board.

“It’s always good to start the season off that way against a good Erith side who finished above us last season.”

Up next for Nimani’s side is an away game against Haywards Heath in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Their opponents were relegated from Isthmian South East last season after losing their inter-step play-off game and now play in the Southern Combination Football League.

“We are excited for it,” said the weekend goal hero. “I think it is important to have a run in these cups, the FA Cup and the Vase, which we didn’t do last season, unfortunately.

“It would be nice to have a bit of a run, financially for the club and for the fans to have something else to look forward to. It’s important to enjoy it but also to take it seriously and get the best results we can.”

The winners of Saturday’s tie face either Sandhurst or VCD Athletic away in the next round.