Manager Jamie Coyle saw a different side to Whitstable in their victory at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

Coyle’s Oystermen secured a 2-0 Southern Counties East Premier Division win courtesy of Harvey Smith’s penalty and midfielder Josh Oliver.

Coyle reflected: “It was a great result but a really good performance, as well.

“We saw a different side to us. Like I’ve said before, it’s one of the most difficult pitches to play on in the league.

“It wasn’t a pretty game to watch. Obviously, you just cannot really play on it.

“Our preparations were just about getting it forward as quickly as we can, and the boys took the instructions on board.

“It was a good away performance.”

Remarkably, 14 of mid-table Whitstable’s 17 league points have come on the road this term.

Coyle admitted: “Our away form has been a lot better than our home form.

“We did well at Lydd and against Sutton Athletic. It was a similar game on Saturday in terms of changing the way we play.

“The players showed the ugly side of the game and we won our battles all over the pitch. It was another clean sheet, as well, which is three in a row.

“We looked at the statistics after the game and they didn’t have a shot on target. Again, they were another team that had a long throw but we stood up to that and defended brilliantly.

"There were loads of positives to take.

“I think we have turned a corner a little bit and that’s shown in our last three performances where we have kept clean sheets.

"That’s a good sign, moving forward.”

The deadlock wasn’t broken until the 54th minute at Tunbridge Wells, striker Smith keeping his cool, before midfielder Oliver struck for the second successive match.

Coyle added: “We missed two one-on-one chances, just through the ball bobbling on a muddy pitch.

“But the boys stuck with it. Dean Grant got taken down for the penalty and Harvey Smith converted it.

“Josh Oliver scored a brilliant goal. He took it really well.

“We were patient on Saturday, which was great. Recently, we have been patient and waited for more opportunities, and the positive is we’re creating so many chances.

“If you’re patient and continue to defend well, you will be in a good place.

“The confidence is growing and you can see that in the performances.”

Whitstable’s upturn in fortunes has come despite a slight lack of fit and available first-team players, with young forward Archie Hatcher and defender Finn O’Mara having recently left.

Coyle, whose side are at home to rivals Lydd in the FA Vase second round next weekend, admitted: “It’s always going to be difficult, especially in the Vase.

“We still have one eye on that for next week because three or four starters from Saturday cannot play in that. So, we’re a bit light on numbers at the moment - and even more so for the Vase - but we have still got strength-in-depth.

“We have got two styles of football that we can play, which is important.

"Psychologically, we’re in a good place because we’re on a good run. We just need to make sure that continues.

“After the Corinthian game this Saturday, hopefully we will be in a good position to have a couple of weeks off from the league to concentrate on the cups.

“We can see the way we want to play and there’s been some really good individual performances.

"This is why, at the start of the season, it was important that we weren’t too down. We just stuck with it.

“As I’ve always said, I’m sure we will be in the right place, come the end of the season.”

The Oystermen face a fellow promotion-chasing team in Corinthian on Saturday.

Coyle said: “We have got a good idea of how they will play.

“Their management team always does a brilliant job.

“They always lose a few players each season but they always replace them and do really well. They have had another good start to the season this year.

“I’m sure they will be in and around the play-offs this season so it will be a good test.”