We're going in right direction

SATURDAY'S 0-0 draw at home to Crawley Down made it two consecutive games unbeaten for Whitstable and two clean sheets to go with them.

But although it was the first time since the opening week of the season that the Oystermen have gone two games without losing, manager Justin Luchford isn't getting too carried away just yet.

"It's perhaps a bit early to talk about turning the corner," he said, after his side had held Division One South form side Crawley Down. "But we're going in the right direction.

"The position we're in at the moment we were happy to take a point from Saturday, but we also know that we could have taken all three.

"We started ever so well and for the first 20 minutes we pressed them and forced them into mistakes.

"But we couldn't get the goal when it might have counted most."

Ahead of this Saturday's home game against play-off hopefuls Godalming Town, Luchford was also keen to praise his defence.

He said: "We seem to have stopped conceding goals, which is good, although ironically we've stopped scoring them too.

"I've always maintained that a decent back line is the foundation of any good team, especially as we have players at the other end who will always score goals.

"Godalming got a bit of a smash and grab win at Dulwich at the weekend and so will come to our place in good spirit.

"But we've now got something to build on ourselves. We have a good squad and we have strength on the bench.

"The Crawley game was only the second time some of these lads have played together and slowly the team morale is coming together.

"There was a real buzz around the place after Saturday, and while we know that every game is tough at this level we'll be up for the Godalming game."

Next up for Town: Feb 4 - Godalming Town (H); Feb 11 - Corinthian Casuals (A); Feb 18 - Whitehawk (H).

Whitstable have confirmed a fundraising quiz night, which will take place in the Belmont ground clubhouse on February 17 at 8pm. The cost is £5 per person with teams limited to a maximum size of six.

Week 36 SuperDraw: £1,000 - P Goddard (L8115), £150 – B Galdwin (E8316), £100 – O Clifton (N6520), £75 – Smee (R7839), £50 – R Evason (U7439), £50 – J Tennant (Z5346).