Teenager Jake Abrahams was Whitstable’s weekend matchwinner - and boss Jamie Coyle will have no qualms with giving more youngsters chances in the first team.
Attacking midfielder Abrahams, 17, scored a 90th-minute winner as the Oystermen won 2-1 at Tunbridge Wells in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.
His late intervention came after the hosts had cancelled out a 33rd-minute goal by midfielder Bradley Schafer.
“A lot of managers talk the talk with regards to developing and progressing youngsters,” said Coyle. “For us it’s always been a target, wherever we have worked, to play the youth.
“Jake came off the bench in the FA Cup against Dulwich Hamlet. He was the first substitute at Chichester in the replay last Tuesday and got the winner on Saturday.
“We have got Ashdon Day at 19, Jack Peters is 20, Jake is 17 and the keeper, Dan Colmer, is only 23.
“Fin Cotton is 20, as well. We have got a young squad - but we don’t really look at their ages.
“It’s good for the club. There’s some really good work going on in the under-16s, under-18s and the Academy.
“We’re keen to be a part of that conveyor belt.
"We don’t want them to go to other clubs. We want to push them into our first team.
“Hopefully, there’s a few other youngsters that can come through, as well.”
While the visitors had 17 shots in comparison to Tunbridge Wells’ seven, they came up against keeper George Bentley in inspired form.
Coyle said: “We should have been completely out of sight by half-time.
“We created so many chances. Their goalie was the best player on the pitch, he pulled off some unbelievable saves.
“All the time it’s only 1-0, you’re open to one set-piece or one counter-attack. To be fair to Tunbridge Wells, they got a well-worked goal.
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