Herne Bay travel to Littlehampton Town this weekend (weather permitting) with boss Steve Lovell under no illusions as to the task facing his side.

It comes after defeat at Homelands on Easter Monday has left the Bay needing an impressive finish to the season to make post-season… 

“When Mark and I came into the Football Club, we wanted to put smiles back on people’s faces after what happened last year (relegation from the Premier Division and well documented off the field problems) and I think we’ve done that,” Lovell reflected as his side sits in the middle of the fight for a Play Off place with four games to go. 

“I think if you had asked anyone at the Club at the start of the season, they would have taken this position as there was no real pressure from them on us to be where we are. We put our own pressure of course – that is what we do and always will.” 

Easter was mixed for the Bay as defeat at Ashford United on Easter Monday was not ideal as they battle with Sussex sides Three Bridges and Lancing for what appears to possibly be the final Play Off berth.

“We didn’t start very well on Monday,” Lovell admitted, “You cannot give sides two goal leads. I do not know what happened, but it was very disappointing after the run that we have been on. We changed a few things a lot earlier than we would have liked to, but by then the damage had been done!” 

“Saturday was so different – we played well and kept going and fully deserved the points. We have been playing well away from home having won at Lancing, at Hythe, and a point at Three Bridges as well as at Chichester so we are in a good place despite Monday.” 

On Saturday, the Lovell’s head for Littlehampton Town. The Sussex side (who face third placed Sittingbourne on Tuesday) have slipped recently and are currently third from bottom adding to what will already be a tough test for the Bay.

“Littlehampton is always a tough place to go,” Lovell admitted, “And as they are not in the best of form at the moment and fighting for every point, we will have to be at our best to get something from the game. We had a few niggles after Easter, but hopefully we will have a full squad to pick from.” 

Herne Bay go into the game in seventh place in the South-East table, three points behind fifth placed Three Bridges who have played one game fewer than Lovell’s side with Lancing sandwiched between the two. Chichester City are fourth after a run of eight successive victories without conceding a goal.  

This weekend sees Bridges host Sittingbourne with Ryan Maxwell’s side knowing that a win in Sussex mathematically guaranteeing Play Off football for the first time in the Club’s history, whilst Lancing host East Grinstead Town, another one of the strugglers.

“We’ve still all to play for especially when you look at some of the games that the others still have to play,” Lovell admitted.

“We’ve got tough games too – after Littlehampton we play Sheppey and then Cray Valley and finish against Chichester; I think we’re going to have to get ten points from our last four and then see where we are…”