Whitstable Town manager Jamie Coyle praises analysis work of Laurence Ball and Taylor Couldry as Oystermen move step towards Wembley final return with 4-1 victory at Harpenden Town

Two unsung Whitstable Town heroes have been praised by manager Jamie Coyle as the Oystermen took another step towards a successful FA Vase defence on Saturday.

Whitstable progressed to the last 16 - three ties from a Wembley final return - after they won 4-1 at Harpenden Town.

Their next match in the competition will see them host Spartan South Midlands Premier Division high-fliers Cockfosters on Saturday, February 7.

Coyle and No.2 Matt Longhurst were able to instruct their players on how to best set up against Harpenden, with scout Laurence Ball and coach Taylor Couldry having told them exactly what to expect from their hosts.

“We completely had to change our style because we knew that we could properly control the game,” said Coyle. “The players delivered the game plan perfectly.

“We have got Laurence Ball, who had been out to look at them, and Taylor Couldry had also gone and watched them a couple of times. They have got to take massive credit.

“If you look at last season, we played against teams [in the Vase] in the last eight and the last four that had never seen us play. It’s absolutely crazy they were going in blind!

“The analysis we received from those guys was really influential in our performance, and the result, on Saturday.

“That’s why they need to take huge credit.”

Top scorer Javaun Splatt put Whitstable into a half-time lead at Harpenden but the hosts remained well in the match.

Splatt converted again just after the hour mark, though, and substitute Nathan Jeche and midfielder Bradley Schafer made sure of their progress after the home side pulled one back on 74 minutes.

Coyle said: “We controlled possession a lot in the game, which is unusual for us. That was really pleasing where we showed a different