Whitstable Town’s Will Thomas on their 5-0 FA Cup win at Haywards Heath, how their new signings have settled in and league matches against Glebe and Lordswood

Defender Will Thomas believes Whitstable’s squad always had another gear in them - and they seemed to find it emphatically in their weekend FA Cup win!

Marcel Nimani’s Oystermen thrashed Southern Combination League Haywards Heath 5-0 in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Whitstable arrived having beaten Erith Town in their only Southern Counties East Premier Division game so far this term, but were even more ruthless in Sussex on their way to winning £1,125 in prize money.

“It was good,” said centre-back Thomas.

“We felt after the Erith game, although we won 2-0, we probably had another gear in us. I think Saturday was almost the perfect performance.

“We’re not going to win the FA Cup, we want to mainly focus on the league, but we had a lot of supporters come and we showed them what we’re all about.

“I think, last season, we always felt we were good defensively but we just lacked that killer instinct in games.

“We feel this year, with the players we’ve got, we will get goals from all over the pitch.

“That will be a massive asset.”

Striker Steadman Callender bagged a second-half hat-trick after goals by Josh Williams and Tyler Anderson had put Whitstable in control.

Thomas, 25, said: “We played against him before. You could see with the type of goals he scored last season he’s a real poacher.

“His goals on Saturday were real poacher’s finishes. But his link-up play was good, he got two assists so he brings a lot in terms of linking with other players as well.”

All five Town goals came from summer recruits who have settled in swiftly with their new team-mates.

Thomas stated: “I think it’s one thing the gaffer has done very well. He has not just got the player, he has signed the character.

“All the new lads have been great.