New Faversham manager Tommy Warrilow is drawing on experience from his final season at Ashford as he aims to get the Lilywhites’ promotion bid back on track.

Warrilow got off to a winning start with ambitious Town after he replaced Sammy Moore as boss. They came from behind to earn a 2-1 win at Rusthall in the Southern Counties East Premier Division last weekend.

Second-placed Faversham host frontrunners Glebe this Saturday. Only a point separates the sides but both have played more league fixtures than some of the teams just behind them in the table.

Divisional top scorer Stefan Payne will also be on the opposite side to Glebe striker Jamie Philpot - the division’s second highest scorer on 17 goals.

“They have had a great season,” said Warrilow on Glebe.

“Obviously, they have signed some experienced players in Jason Banton and Jamie Coyle has gone in there. They have Jamie Philpot, who bangs goals in.

“For me, it’s a lot of new teams - but I understand they have kept their core. Deal and Corinthian have kept their core as well, so it’s no coincidence that they’re up there.

“Perhaps that’s why Faversham is not right up there.

“We need to get that consistency going. I saw last year (at Ashford) what happens if you keep changing and changing and changing.

“Last year, everyone was saying ‘You’re inconsistent’ and I said ‘I know’ but I couldn’t do anything about that because teams kept coming in for my players.

“Hopefully, we can get that consistency.”

The Lilywhites had been tipped as huge title favourites but certainly haven’t had it all their own way this term.

While there is pressure to ensure Faversham remain in the promotion picture, play-off occupants Deal and Corinthian are presently in pole position in the title race.

Warrilow, who has welcomed centre-back Ollie Gray back into the fold after a dual-registration spell at Hythe, said: “The pressure is there to win every single game.

“But, unfortunately, we cannot do anything about what Corinthian and Deal do.

“All we can do is play our games and see what happens.

“I have been in clubs - like Cray Wanderers - that were doomed but we turned it around. But these are all words, it’s easier said than done!

“Once they (Faversham’s promotion rivals) start playing these games, we will get some realism with the table.

“I know Faversham were top but there’s teams like Lydd with four games in hand and Bearsted have been on a fantastic run.

“Bearsted could move two points off the top (if they win their game in hand).

“We have come in with 17 league games to go this season and we will see where that takes us. We have got to play Deal again and they’re certainly bigger games.

“But in the meantime, if you look at the table and don’t respect other teams, you will come unstuck.”

Warrilow moved quickly to sign keeper Jacob Russell on loan from old club Ashford until the end of the season.

Russell is yet to make his Faversham debut, though, with youngster Lewis Briggs picked at Rusthall.

“Briggsy has come in and done a fantastic job this season,” explained Warrilow, who has seen winger Ashley Miller leave for Deal.

“I knew there was perhaps an opportunity to get Jacob. I contacted the club (Ashford) directly and they were good enough to say ‘Yes’.

“The players are unbelievable players, there’s no need to drop a bomb into the squad. But something was not right.

“We have deployed our system, we’re tried and tested with. The whole off-the-pitch set-up is fantastic.

“The most important thing is to try and get out of this league. How we get out is irrelevant.”

Martin Youngah gave Rusthall the lead before striker Warren Mfula levelled it up and an own goal turned the game around in the second half.

Warrilow said: “Rusthall are a good side.

“They were very athletic and good on counter-attacks. They will definitely cause other sides some problems.

“Anyone that was there would know, even when we went 1-0 down, we got in four or five really good positions where it hit someone or their keeper made a save.

“But in the second half, it was a really dominant display, although the final ball could have been better.

“The most important thing was to get three points but we put on a good performance which was nice, as well.”

Warrilow has been joined on his backroom staff by long-serving No.2 Alex O’Brien and goalkeeping coach Terry Sedge.

Faversham visit Corinthian in a re-arranged Challenge Cup Quarter-Final on Tuesday after the tie was postponed earlier this week due to a frozen pitch.