Joint-boss Jermaine Darlington hailed Herne Bay’s character after they scored nine goals in two superb away wins this week.

Bay set up an FA Cup clash at Margate next weekend when they won 5-2 away to Horsham on Saturday.

They followed that up by coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Hastings on Tuesday and that result – their fourth league win in a row – lifted them to eighth in Bostik South.

Darlington said: “It showed the strength of character of the boys. Even though we were 2-0 down, we thought it wasn’t quite deserved.

“We thought we might have been on top at that time and the boys felt it as well.

“They still had a positive attitude and got what they deserved in the end."

A busy schedule sees Bay travel to Cray Wanderers on Saturday and host Ashford on Tuesday before heading to Hartsdown Park for the big FA Cup derby on September 30.

Darlington said: “We’re happy with that, Margate down the road but it doesn’t really matter who we’ve got. We’re going to approach the game like we do any other.

“The FA Cup is an opportunity for them to show how good they are and the further they go, the bigger test of their ability it will be."

For a week, though, it’s all about the league.

“We’ve got a game in hand on a couple of teams and two on some,” Darlington said. “It’s all good to have those games in hand but you’ve got to go out and win them."

Bay have several players carrying knocks but fit-again Danny Leonard got 25 minutes at Hastings and could start against Cray.