Harry Brooks is set to remain Herne Bay’s No.1 for the time being.

Brooks, who finished last season with Bay as they suffered Isthmian Premier relegation, is back at Winch’s Field.

Boss Steve Lovell reunited with Josh Bexon in the summer, having previously worked with him at Ramsgate, and picked him between the posts at the start of this term.

But Brooks has now been given his opportunity - and has taken it with both hands.

Lovell explained: “Harry’s done well in the last couple of games.

“Josh wasn’t around last week so Harry has played. He deserved to keep his place on Saturday.

“They’re both fighting for the shirt. Whoever is doing the business will stay in goal.

Bay defender makes team-of-the-week

“Harry kept a clean sheet on Saturday and did well so again, this Saturday, he’ll be the one in the net.

“Josh will have to wait for his opportunity again. But that’s just the way I like it. I like competition for places and we have a lot of it now.

“People have got to be on their game if they want to stay in the team.”

Brooks kept a clean sheet, only Bay’s second of the campaign, in a 2-0 Isthmian South East home success over Phoenix Sports last weekend in front of a crowd of 363.

Lovell reflected: “It was a lot more convincing than the score suggests.

“We had quite a few chances in the first half but their keeper made a couple of saves and we missed a couple.

“I think it was just a matter of being patient and just keeping doing what we were doing, and the goals came.”

Bay had to wait until the 78th minute to break through, in-form striker Michael Salako scoring, before Gil Carvalho added a second with eight minutes to play.

Lovell said: “Gil Carvalho missed a couple of opportunities in the first half.

“I said to him at half-time, ‘Just keep going, keep getting the chances’ and him and Mike played well up there together. They both got their goals so that was pleasing.

“It was a good result and a good three points. Any three points is good because any team can turn it on, on the day. We’re getting there.

“There’s a long way to go yet but we’re improving and we seem to be picking up and getting better.”

The result moved Bay to third - albeit they have only played five league matches due to various cup commitments, one of which saw them lose 3-0 to Sevenoaks in the Kent Senior Cup last Wednesday.

“The cup games have come through September and we’ve still only played five league games,” said Lovell. “It was nice to get a league game under our belt.

“We’ve got a game on Saturday and then we’ve got Sittingbourne on Tuesday, and then we’re up against Lancing.

“October is a busy month regarding [league] games. It’ll be nice to keep the run going.”

Bay face an unknown quantity this Saturday when they visit newly-promoted Southern Combination champions Broadbridge Heath.

Lovell said: “I’ve looked at their scores and they have had a couple of decent results and a couple of decent performances.

“It’ll be a tough game again. We have got to approach it in the right way and make sure we’re prepared properly.”

That’s followed by Tuesday’s derby at Sittingbourne, themselves off to a good league start.

Lovell admits he and assistant Mark Lovell will be open to rotating their squad for the clash at Woodstock.

“I have got a squad now that’s big,” said Lovell. “People who play on Saturday might not play on Tuesday. I can rotate it a little bit.

“I have enough players to do that. We’ve got a few ‘oldens’ in our team that might need a break from playing three games in a week.

“We’ll have a look at that after Saturday and then pick a team.”

Left-back Harry Brown has returned to fitness after an ankle injury and striker Kane Rowland is available after missing the Phoenix game due to a family wedding.

But forward Jack Richards (neck) is due to be assessed while young winger Sammi Takaloo is out of contention this weekend having suffered with slight concussion since a knock at Sevenoaks.