Keith McMahon thinks Whitstable’s much-anticipated Isthmian South East derby at Herne Bay on Monday will be a good barometer of how far his team have come since he took charge.

The Oystermen came from 2-0 behind at half-time last weekend to draw 2-2 against East Grinstead.

Like most sides, they are dealing with Covid-19 cases in their camp but second-half strikes from Sam Itauma and Kemo Darboe extended Whitstable’s unbeaten league run to five matches.

Boss McMahon said: “It will be great to see how we get on against a side like Herne Bay, especially away as well.

“We did well against Haywards Heath the other week (winning 3-2). We should have got something against Ashford a few weeks back (as they lost 2-0) so we know we have got the quality.

“It’s just a case of, obviously, putting it all together.

“It’s a game I’m looking forward to. I do like the derbies and I know how important it is for the supporters.

"Let’s hope we can go there and put on a decent performance for them.”

McMahon’s men are 15th in the table, having been second-bottom when McMahon took charge, while Ben Smith’s Herne Bay are just outside the play-offs in sixth.

“It’s a big, big game,” he added. “There’s a lot of rivalry between the two clubs.

“The fans know what a big game it is. We are expecting a big crowd as well.

“If we can play like we have been, I’m sure we will give Herne Bay a good game.”

McMahon spoke about how their preparations for their match against East Grinstead at the Belmont had been affected as the Omicron Covid variant cases rise.

He said: “We had three (positive tests). We thought it was four on Saturday but it was three. We haven’t met up since.

“Christmas is important at our level for the players’ families.

"I have got a few that - if we do meet - they don’t really want to take the risk of missing Christmas Day. I think it’s something we will look at.

“Maybe we are expecting a little lockdown from December 28 but we will wait and see.”

• Oysterman makes team-of-the-week

On the East Grinstead game, he reflected: “We didn’t play well first half, if I’m honest, and they deserved to be in front.

“But our second-half performance was really good and I actually thought we could have gone on and won the game.”

Frontman Stephen Okoh passed a fitness test before the match, while midfielder Tom Carlton and winger Alex Gaggin returned from injury.

There was also a debut for midfielder Callum Watts, who has signed from Grays Athletic.

McMahon admitted: “He came on and did really well, to be honest. He gave us a bit of a lift.

“He’s a young lad, he had a lot of energy and he’s got a lot of quality as well.

"I was pleased with what Callum did.

“He is very keen to play and is one of the reasons we got back into the game if I’m honest.”