Faversham Town coach Darren Hare thinks there is no clear favourites for games away to promotion rivals Whitstable Town and at home to in-form Deal Town

Darren Hare doesn’t think there will be a clear favourite in either of frontrunners Faversham’s final two league matches of the year.

The Lilywhites, who earned a 2-2 draw in their top-of-the-table game at Glebe last weekend, visit Whitstable this Saturday and end 2023 at home to another team in the Southern Counties East Premier Division play-offs in Deal on Saturday, December 30.

Faversham coach Hare said: “As I said to them (the players) before Saturday, if I’m being honest – and not being big-headed – we have been the team to beat.

“It’s a bit like the other sides’ cup final and some teams, like Lordswood’s youngsters and Erith Town, have done very well. We have had to expect that.

“But against Glebe, Whitstable and Deal, it feels a little bit different. There’s no favourites going into these games.

“Looking at the form, one could argue we’re not favourites - although people probably will still say that.

“But both are very good teams. I think both would cope very well in the division above.”

Faversham are on 42 points - one clear of second-placed Glebe and four ahead of Whitstable, who are third.

Sammy Moore’s men came out on top 2-1 when the two sides met at Salters Lane in August as midfielder Sam Hasler bagged a brilliant brace.

“There’s an old adage in football that you don’t win anything before Christmas,” noted former Faversham school teacher Hare.

“But it’ll be nice to get near 50 points over the Christmas period.

“We will be going to win those games - we won’t go not to lose them. Whitstable are a very good passing team.

“They play a very good passing game from the back, play through the thirds and play some good football.

“It will be a tough game. But they will be just as concerned about us.”

Winger Kieron