Winger Josh Williams believes Whitstable’s squad have grown stronger than ever.

Marcel Nimani’s Oystermen have delivered in their latest two Southern Counties East Premier Division matches, winning 3-0 at Hollands & Blair on Tuesday and 2-1 on an emotional Saturday evening at home to Bearsted.

The Bearsted game was the first-team’s first since the death of popular club volunteer Matt Milne - the husband of secretary Fran - aged 43.

“It was a sad time for the club, losing Matt,” said Williams, with the match also starting later than usual as it was part of this year’s groundhop weekend.

“A few of the senior boys - myself, Gilly (Liam Gillies) and Millsy (Tom Mills) - had a conversation about changing the culture in the dressing room with just a few match rituals.

“They might not look like much from the outside - but just things like doing a huddle in the changing room.

“Because Saturday was a late kick-off, we had some downtime. We played charades - except you could speak, you just couldn’t say the word.

“Obviously, going hard for Matt was the main priority. I think everyone is together now and the group is stronger.

“The 6.30pm kick-off was a bit strange. It felt like my day was done already!

“We had a minute’s applause for Matt and there was a bit of a weird feel. It’s definitely something that affects different people in different ways. You can shut off or it can galvanise you.

“There was a great reaction from everyone.”

Summer signing Williams hadn’t known Milne for long but paid tribute, revealing they spoke after last month’s 2-1 FA Vase defeat to Lingfield.

He said: “Our last conversation being about how we needed to improve as a side upsets me. But I’m sure, as a club, we will do our best to remember him.

“Matt was a great guy. He was always happy and smiling.

“Obviously his wife, Fran, is excellent as well and we’ve shown a lot of love to her.”

On the pitch, Whitstable appear to have found rhythm after a stop-start opening to the campaign.

Williams said: “It was a mixed start of the season. We have got a lot of players with a lot of ability.

“It was a case of ‘He likes going this way’ and ‘He likes it there’. We were still learning how each other plays. I think we have had our tricky period, 100%. There’s a lot more communication in the changing room now.

“What we lacked in the first six or seven games was that there wasn’t a lot of talking and not a lot of communication whereas, now, everyone is saying ‘Man on’ and ‘Give it to me here’.”

Williams claimed a goal and an assist in their triumph at Hollands & Blair.

“I think that’s five goals and two assists,” he stated. “I think I’m ready to keep cracking on.

“My aim is to get 20 goals - whether I’m getting assists or goals, I don’t mind. For example, I was actually happier with my assist on Tuesday than I was with my goal.”

Josh Oliver got Whitstable’s other two goals in Medway, having also struck against Bearsted. Striker Harvey Smith got the other goal at The Belmont.

“Josh has kicked on,” Williams enthused. “He’s one of those players you can always trust to get a goal.”

Williams is loving life under boss Nimani, alongside coaches Craig Coles and Tom Holmes.

He added: “Marcel is a very good man manager, a very good manager.

“With Marcel, you find that he always communicates. That’s what a lot of non-league players look for. They look for managers that can be open.

“Craig is such a good person as well. He will pull you to the side and Tom is the same. They’re so open and honest.

“They allow me to express myself. It’s a very open changing room whereas other managers will say ‘You can’t talk’. That’s one thing that has been really good for me.”

The Oystermen host Tunbridge Wells in the Kent Senior Trophy First Round this Saturday. They have already met in the league at Culverden, the hosts winning 3-0.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday,” noted Williams. “Tunbridge Wells got the better of us not that long ago. But the team wasn’t where we are now.

“Like Marcel said after Tuesday’s game, there’s no reason why we cannot win this competition.

“There’s Step Five and Step Six sides in the competition. We would like to think we’re one of the best Step Five sides.

“I don’t see why we can’t get to the Final.”