Boss Richard Styles is thrilled to see Whitstable sharing the goalscoring burden around.

Striker James Jeffrey, midfielder Josh Oliver and defender Will Thomas were on target last Saturday as the Oystermen beat Rusthall 3-2 in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

Styles said: “The way we try and set up, we are not reliant on one person scoring all the goals. You want to share the goals around and we have done that, which is good.

“We allow other players to get into areas to score goals. It’s important it’s shared around.

“I’m pleased James Jeffrey got off the mark, I know it’s something that he’s really wanted to do.

“Will Thomas is a fans’ favourite. I know his first [this season] meant a lot to him.

“Josh Oliver wants to add goals to his game, as well, and he’s starting to do that.”

The result leaves Styles’ side fourth in the table, with a game in hand on two of the three teams above them.

But the Whitstable manager confessed: “I have not spent too much time looking at the league table. It puts us up there and that’s all you can do at this stage.

“Everyone other than Erith & Belvedere has dropped points, and I’m sure they will have their tests. All we can do is put points on the board and we will reassess towards the latter stages of the season.

“We are where we are, it’s a case of just keep going.”

The encounter against Rusthall saw Whitstable claim a first victory on their new 3G pitch at The Belmont at the third attempt.

Styles said: “The longer that goes on, the more frustrating it gets. It’s the same in the league at the start of the season - you want that first win on the board.

“The funny thing is Rusthall are probably the best team we have played at home but we have beaten them! That’s how football goes. We are just over the moon to get the three points.

“It was a much-needed and deserved win. Performance-wise, we improved. We got back to our principles and what we are about.

“The reaction I got from the boys was a very good one and to score three goals is very pleasing. The scoreline probably doesn’t reflect the whole game.

“We let them back in it with the second and even their first - but the reaction [to conceding the first goal] was superb. There were a lot of positives.”

Whitstable are without a match this weekend but visit fellow high-fliers Deal, who are third, three points better off but having played one league fixture more, on Tuesday.

“It’s a game we are looking forward to,” Styles said.

“I know Kingy [Deal boss Steve King] well, I have known him since I started managing. Deal, as a club, is a good club. I know their chair and committee.

“They are one of the closest teams to us. They have a good set-up and a good pitch, as we do.

“Going there this time of year is a good time to be going there. You don’t want to go there when it’s cold and wet.

“They’re another team around us but they will say the same so we want to get in the right shape to go and win the game.”

Captain Freeman Rogers missed the Rusthall match due to concussion but should return against Deal, while promising attacking player Muhammed Cham (hamstring) was only substituted as a precaution.