James Jeffrey has been described by boss Marcel Nimani - one of his former teachers - as Whitstable’s version of Manchester United great Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Former St Simon Stock School pupil Jeffrey bagged another goal off the bench for the Oystermen in their 3-2 victory over promotion-chasing Phoenix Sports last Saturday at The Belmont.

The supersub striker came up with a last-gasp winner in Whitstable’s last home match of the season after winger Jefferson Aibangbee had earlier scored twice.

Nimani said: “It’s not just Jefferson, Josh Oliver came back after two games and got player-of-the-match.

“It was James Jeffrey’s sixth goal off the bench.

“He was a student of mine and has become our Ole Gunnar Solskjær from the Sir Alex Ferguson era.”

Jeffrey’s late contribution showed the strength-in-depth Whitstable have.

Nimani also praised Phoenix boss Steve O’Boyle and his management team for how they responded after the dramatic defeat. It effectively ended their outside title hopes.

On his team selections, Nimani said: “They’re positive headaches.

“You know the side is growing when you look at the 11 and you’re looking for reasons to drop a player, rather than reasons to pick a player.

“Then, you start looking at little things - whether ‘he’ plays better as a No.10 ‘or he’ plays better as a No.10. It’s difficult to give some players a justifiable reason, sometimes.

“It showed on Saturday when we had the full team back.

“Phoenix are not a side to mess around with. They have a fantastic front three.

“They’re very drilled in their patterns of play and I thought their management team showed their experience and class. I was taken aback, particularly by their manager. Credit to them.”

Jeffrey’s goal wasn’t the first time Whitstable have scored late to either claim a win or a point in Southern Counties East Premier Division this season.

“If you look at our track record, we have picked up a lot of points in the last 10 minutes of the game - against Erith & Belvedere and Hollands & Blair among others,” Nimani noted.

“We train hard so we’re very fit. Teams come and try to press us, but that gives us space to exploit. It’s no fluke. It helps build camaraderie when you get these late winners.”

The Oystermen end their season at strugglers Welling Town on Saturday. They are not yet assured of survival but won’t be given any favours.

“We honour the competition,” explained Nimani.

“The result might not have an impact on us - but it does matter. We will go there, doing our utmost against a side that has a high ceiling. If you catch them on their day, they can be a very dangerous team.”

It’s been an up-and-down season for fifth-placed Whitstable, but they do now look well-placed for a crack at promotion next time around.

Nimani said: “If there’s one thing our supporters deserve, it’s a side which competes for them. Our supporters have been unbelievable - in good times and bad times. There’s no difference, in my opinion.

“The least we can do is give them a performance to be proud of.

“That’s what we did on Saturday and will try to do again.”