Herne Bay’s draw at Sheppey United shows how far they have come, according to manager Steve Lovell.

Bay sit just outside the Isthmian South East play-offs in seventh after they let a two-goal half-time advantage slip in Saturday’s 2-2 derby draw at Holm Park against a Sheppey side who reached the FA Cup First Round this season.

Lovell, who took charge of Herne Bay in the summer and put together a new-look squad, said: “It just shows how far we have come as a group, really, because we were disappointed on Saturday to get a point.

“We have only lost one in 10 games in the league. It’s a bit of a good run we’re on, confidence is high, and it’s just disappointing to concede those two goals on Saturday.

“Like I said to the players afterwards, there were two or three players that weren’t on their game and you cannot carry two or three. But all credit to the rest of the boys who got the other ones through.

“It’s good that everyone is fighting for each other.”

First-half goals from defender Harrison Pont and striker Kane Rowland put Bay in command but Sheppey hit back.

Lovell reflected: “We played really well in the first half.

“We were 2-0 up - and could have had a couple more. That was very good and we were doing everything right.

“Even in the second half, we had two or three opportunities to go 3-0 and 4-0 up, which we didn’t take. I think a couple of our players were off form on Saturday and that allowed them to get back into the game.

“They got a goal after an hour and then they got a breakaway goal about 80 minutes in from either our free-kick or corner. There was a foul just outside the box and everything stopped - but the referee said to play on.

“There was one long ball and we got done.

“We’re disappointed with the way we conceded the second goal but, overall, it was a decent performance. We should have finished the game off earlier - but we didn’t.

“Aiden Prall made a couple of really great saves to stop us winning the game in the second half. He’s an excellent goalkeeper and had to be at his best.”

For Pont, there was a goal for a second successive game. Lovell wanted more from his centre-halves - and four-goal Pont is starting to deliver.

“Ponty is a good lad,” noted Bay’s boss. “I’ve been saying to our centre-halves that we should be getting a lot more goals than we are from set-plays.

“He managed to get on the end of one on Saturday, which was good, and one the previous Saturday as well.

“The goals are being spread around the team. It was nice to see Kane get a goal, as well.”

Bay host Cray Valley - another team who made the FA Cup First Round - this Saturday.

“They’re a good side,” noted Lovell. “We watched them play Charlton.

“They’re a very good side, very well-organised and, in the last two or three years, they have always been an excellent team in the league.

“It will be a very hard game on Saturday. But it’s one we are going into, hoping we can perform like we have done and, hopefully, get another win under our belt.”

As well as Cray Valley, Bay also are scheduled to play frontrunners Ramsgate, Chichester and Hythe before the end of 2023.

On his side’s hopes of a top-five finish, Lovell said: “There’s a lot of games to go.

“We have got a very difficult December coming up, playing all the top teams and teams that are in form. We want to push as hard as we can and pick up as many points as we can.

“Hopefully, we will do that and continue playing like we are playing. If we do that, I think we will be fine.

“A lot of teams have a lot of games to catch up on - but they have all got to play each other, so points are going to be dropped somewhere along the line.

“All we can do is concentrate on our own games.”

And, for now, Bay are having to cope without several sidelined key personnel.

“I’ve got quite a few players out injured,” conceded Lovell. “Hopefully, they will be back in the next two or three weeks.

“Gil Carvalho was out on Saturday, Archie Burnett was out, Bola Dawodu was out and Dan Carrington was out. It’s been a bit of a nightmare regarding injuries.

“But it gives the other boys a chance to show what they can do and they’re doing okay.

“Let’s just see what happens over the next couple of weeks - and then it’s a big period over Christmas after that.”