Teenager Cameron Chamberlain shone for Whitstable on his full league debut after a last-minute change.

Chamberlain was drafted into Saturday’s starting line-up to face Sutton Athletic to replace skipper Tom Mills.

And the 18-year-old defender took his chance, putting in an assured display in their 3-0 home Southern Counties East Premier Division win.

Head coach Craig Coles said: “Tom Mills was meant to start.

“Unfortunately, he felt something in his back in the warm-up and he was struggling to breathe a little bit.

“We didn’t want to take any risks so we moved Tom to the bench and started Chambo.

“Full credit to the lad, he was absolutely fantastic. He produced some really good decision-making on the ball.

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“He played a little bit beyond his years, I suppose.

"Hopefully, he can continue to do that.”

Midfielder Josh Oliver also put in a fine display which saw him score twice for Marcel Nimani’s men.

Coles said: “His contributions in the last five or six games have been absolutely superb.

“He’s a young lad. He probably works as hard - if not harder - than everyone in the team.

"I think he just has something about him.

“He’s someone we definitely want to keep at the club moving forwards as well.

“We were a little bit unsure of what he was capable of when we came in.

“But ever since Harry Gamble got injured in the warm-up before a game, Josh was not meant to start that game, but we chucked him in the starting 11 and he has played well since.”

Oliver will, however, begin a two-match ban this Saturday when the sixth-placed Oystermen visit fellow high-fliers Phoenix Sports, having collected 10 cautions this season.

Coles conceded: “It’s frustrating, but it is what it is.

“It’s just a case of it being done and out the way.”

In-form winger Jefferson Aibangbee got Whitstable’s other goal against Sutton Athletic after Lordswood had ended their six-match unbeaten streak last time out.

Coles reflected: “It was a good win. It was very much-needed after the result against Lordswood.

“It was a positive result and, hopefully, it’s something we can build on.”

Young winger Sammi Takaloo has moved to K Sports after he found regular first-team football hard to come by at The Belmont.

“He was playing a little bit with us but I don’t think it was enough for him,” Coles explained.

“It’s completely understandable.

“He’s a young lad with a lot of ability but, when we have Jefferson and Rodney [Adamon-Eruotor], with their quality, it’s difficult to drop them.”

Whitstable appear to be in the pack chasing a second-placed finish, although their chances are perhaps slimmer than they may seem.

Nobody has played more league fixtures than them.

Coles said: “It’s a little bit tough for us to understand where we’re at.

“We’re amongst it but some of them [the sides around Whitstable] have a lot of games in hand. Part of the good thing is some of those games in hand are against one another so someone will drop points against someone else.

“We know Saturday will be a really tough game. Both clubs were relegated last season. We know they’re going to have a lot of quality, but we probably need to win 90% of those games.

“So we’ll just try to hit it game-by-game and go from there.”

It’s hoped Mills and midfielder Jordan Wells, whose partner recently had a baby, will be back in contention while experienced goalkeeper Dan Eason should return after he was away for the Sutton Athletic encounter.

Roman Hall deputised on a short-term loan from Isthmian Premier Lewes.