Herne Bay face a huge double header in Sussex in the space of three days which could go a long way to determining the direction of their season.

Bay made it three straight wins in Bostik South on Saturday with a 4-0 success at home to VCD, who came into the game on the back of three wins themselves.

They have scored 10 goals in that span – conceding just once – to sit just three points behind the play-off places, with games in hand on all the sides above them ahead of their Tuesday night trip to Hastings (7.45pm).

Before that, confidence is high as Bay prepare to visit Horsham in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with £4,500 in prizemoney and a place in Monday’s draw at stake for the winner.

Joint-boss John Embery admitted: “It’s going to be an interesting few days in the cup and the league.

“We go there with confidence on Saturday and have had them watched. We know a bit about them.

“The money is important for both teams and, of course, if you win that one you’re a step closer to that magic first round.

“The results in the league this week went our way and if we were able to pick up another win, we’d be right in the mix among the leaders at the top of the table.”

The win over VCD was a far cry from the 10-1 defeat against Tonbridge Angels in the League Cup four days earlier.

Embery said: “People will look at that game and that scoreline but these were young players, players who don’t normally start for us.

“It was nowhere near our starting side. It’s water off a duck’s back to us.

“The Tonbridge game had absolutely no bearing on Saturday. We played well, stuck to our footballing principles and probably should have scored more. We try to play the right way, we’re quick and positive and we don’t just try to hoof it.”