Manager Jamie Coyle has warned Whitstable’s squad that they cannot afford a repeat of their performance during the midweek defeat before the end of the season.

Coyle's side lost 4-1 at home to Larkfield & New Hythe in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division on Tuesday.

“It’s a game that we have got to get three points from,” said Coyle as his team now look to respond at Stansfeld on Saturday.

“There’s no shying away from the fact that, after Tuesday night, we need to get three points and perform better than we did.

“If we perform anywhere near our capabilities, I’m confident we can deliver three points on Saturday.

“It’s good that performance (on Tuesday) has happened early in the season but it definitely cannot happen again between now and the end of the season.”

Whitstable had taken 10 points from their previous five league games but were brought back down to earth with a bump against Larkfield.

Having quickly responded through forward Fin Dent after the visitors had gone ahead early on, the Oystermen went behind shortly after the half-hour mark when a controversial penalty was awarded.

Larkfield doubled their lead midway through the second period and captain Mike West was sent-off for Whitstable, who also failed to convert a penalty, which was taken by striker Harvey Smith.

Coyle reflected: “I think that everything that could go wrong in a football match went wrong.

“We got a penalty given against us at 1-1 that was never a penalty. We then had a player sent-off as we were trying to get back into the game.

“In all my years of management, I have never had so many under-par performances in one game.

"We probably - without exaggerating - had seven or eight players that delivered their worst performance of the season.

“It does happen where you get one or two who don’t turn up for a game. But to have seven or eight who, by their own admission were poor, you’re going to struggle to pick up any points.

“We have missed a penalty, two one-on-ones and two open goals from five or six yards out and, at the other end, we’re shipping in goals left, right and centre.

“In both boxes, it’s not been good enough.

"That’s why we are where we are at the moment."

West’s second booking in quick succession came in the 69th minute albeit the experienced midfielder, who had netted the only goal in last Saturday’s 1-0 FA Vase win over Hollands & Blair, will be available to face Stansfeld before he serves his ban.

Coyle said: “It was never a red card but, unfortunately, we have just come unstuck with the officiating with one or two decisions on the evening.

“But we prepared the players at the start of the season. At this level, there’s a lot of officials that are at the start of their journeys and they’re going to make mistakes.

“It’s tough when you get back into the game and that happens, but we didn’t lose the game because of the man in the middle.

"All over the pitch, we were not good enough.”

A first club goal for recently-signed Dent, 19, was one of few positives for the Oystermen on the night in front of a crowd of 216 at The Belmont.

“He has been a breath of fresh air since he came in,” said Coyle. “He has something we have not really got in our squad.

“He went through one-on-one twice and their keeper has made two great saves. He missed a header from five yards out, as well.

“When you look at it, you think ‘He’s not going to keep missing those opportunities if he gets into the right area.’ If he keeps running in behind, he’s going to score goals.

“It’s great that he has got his first goal for the club.

“I know that he would have left the ground gutted that he didn’t get a hat-trick.

"But you have got to keep reminding yourself he’s only 19.”

Overall, 11 of Whitstable’s 14 league points to date have come on the road - a record they will aim to improve at Stansfeld.

Coyle said: “When we went to Holmesdale, the only people in the ground were our fans. That’s testament to the football club.

"That’s why we’re so eager to deliver for the good people at the football club - and that includes the fans.

“It’s good our away form has been good, which is surprising because, at home, we have been poor - apart from when we played Bearsted and 45 minutes against VCD.

"But as a player, that stuff is irrelevant.

“You still know your roles and responsibilities and, if we deliver on our responsibilities, we should get a positive result.”

Whitstable have been drawn at home to Virginia Water in the first round of the FA Vase on Saturday, October 19.