Two players have returned to Whitstable to strengthen their squad at both ends of the pitch.

Defender Ollie Gray shone on his Belmont comeback in the 1-1 Southern Counties East Premier Division draw with Punjab United last Saturday while striker James Jeffrey came off the substitutes’ bench after he also rejoined the club.

Boss Marcel Nimani said: “It was a calculated move, going in for Ollie and JJ (Jeffrey).

“It’s quite late in the season to make too many changes with players that don’t know our culture.

“That’s why we have gone with players that we felt could slot in straight away.

“Ollie has felt at home from the moment he came in and JJ played for us last year, so they’re two players that have settled into our dressing room straight away.

“Ollie got a better opportunity to showcase his ability. His addition to the starting XI was exceptional. I felt he had a great debut.

“He was so solid defensively, very experienced and dealt with the Punjab front three very well.”

Meanwhile Jeffrey, someone Nimani taught at school, only left Whitstable for more regular first-team football last summer. He netted an impressive 16 league goals for Lordswood but is now back with the Oystermen following a change in management at the Medway club.

Nimani, talking on Monday, said: “He’s had a great season.

“He made the right choice, leaving us in the summer. I had an honest conversation with him. He’s taken his opportunity and has gone away, and proved a lot of people wrong.

“I always knew that he was a good player. I’ve worked with him for a long time. He needed someone to take an opportunity on him - and Lordswood did.

“Now he’s back - whereas at Lordswood he was their main (attacking) player - for us, he’s got to learn that the opportunities will come to him in different manners and different patterns.

“He needs to adapt to our way and show he can do it in our system.”

Nimani thought Whitstable were the better team against Punjab United in the first half, despite falling behind before forward Emmanuel Oloyede got them level.

But they were unable to find an all-important third goal of the game after the restart.

The manager reflected: “We had a really encouraging first-half performance. I thought we started well - despite conceding against the run of play.

“I felt we were outstanding in the first 45 minutes. We were good in possession, good on the ball and very productive. It’s just the same problem over and over again.

“It’s ridiculous the amount of chances we missed! We missed four - and you could argue five - clear-cut chances.

“But we went in 1-1 at half-time and I felt we were the better side. In the second half, the opposition came out stronger and put a bit more pressure on us, so the second half was a bit more even.

“It wasn’t as encouraging as the first half. You could argue 1-1 was a fair result.

“But, from our perspective, it’s a missed opportunity down to the fact that we missed too many chances.”

The Oystermen are again on the road for the second successive match this Saturday to another play-off chasing team, Bearsted, and then visit VCD next Saturday.

“It’s a tough run,” admitted Nimani. “We have three away games in a row now.

“It’s probably the hardest run that we’ve faced up to this point in the season. We need to adapt and adjust, making the most of this opportunity.

“Then, we can go into the last part of the season with more home games coming up to build momentum.”

Player-goalkeeping coach Dan Eason returned to the substitutes’ bench against Punjab United, although recently-signed Jordan Perrin kept his spot in goal.

Nimani said: “Dan has become fully part of our management team now.

“The No.1 role has gone to Jordan and Dan is there to offer support if it’s needed.”

Nimani also called for action to be taken to support the improvement of officials’ standards in the division after Oloyede was denied the opportunity to run through one-on-one against Punjab United on 82 minutes for offside - despite being onside by several yards.

“The SCEFL and Kent non-league football in general is blossoming,” he said. “The success we have had in national competitions this year is proving that.

“It’s such a competitive area, with the quality of non-league football. I would say it’s one of the best regions in the country in terms of non-league football.

“There’s so much resources and so much effort that goes into preparing games.

“I don’t want to be critical - I understand the officials are trying their best - but I just think the Kent FA needs to help raise the game in that sense, just like the quality of the leagues have risen.”

Whitstable completed a double over play-off rivals Snodland on Wednesday night with a 1-0 away win, striker Harvey Smith getting the only goal in the second half.