Michael Salako’s red-hot goalscoring form for Herne Bay keeps going - and while manager Steve Lovell knows it’ll come to an end at some stage, he’s enjoying the ride for now.

Salako, who only made his first start for Bay in mid-September, added another two goals in their 3-3 Isthmian South East draw at early-season strugglers Beckenham last weekend.

The striker already has eight Bay goals this term under Lovell, himself an ex-Welsh international frontman.

“Mike has scored a few now in the time he has been with us,” said Bay’s boss. “He works hard.

“He’s not your orthodox centre-forward. But he’s always there in the six-yard box when the chance comes in.

“His two goals on Saturday were just like that. It was a great cross from Tom Hanfrey for the first and then a great header.

“I know what it’s like. You’re going to have a period of time where you don’t score. I would like to think he will score every week!

“But there’s going to be a time it won’t happen for him and that’s when other players need to step up.

“He will have a target for himself for the season but, every game he plays, he looks like he will score at the minute. Long may that continue.”

Beckenham only have one league victory this campaign but certainly played their part in the six-goal game.

Lovell reflected: “We played really well.

“We created chances and kept the ball well. They got a penalty which was a bit dubious and scored a cracker of a goal. We had one cleared off the line and their keeper made some good saves.

“I was pleased with the performance. It was just disappointing, conceding the penalty but fair play to Beckenham.”

Lovell believes Beckenham are better than the table suggests with Louie Theophanous, once of Bromley, scoring twice.

“We have played a lot worse teams than them this year,” he said. “It was a good point. The boys kept going.

“We were disappointed in the dressing room but Beckenham have always been quite difficult to beat at their own place. They had some good players.

“Our performances have been very good and we’re creating loads of opportunities.

“Most of the games we play seem to be good games.

“We just have to sort it out a bit defensively. But, on the attacking side, we always look like scoring.”

Herne Bay’s other goal came from substitute Mobolaji Dawodu.

Lovell, whose side were knocked out of the Velocity Cup at home to Isthmian Premier Folkestone last Tuesday, said: “There were a couple of boys that missed out against Folkestone because they had slight injuries.

“Those that came in did very well so we kept them in.

“Bola was one that had to come off the bench. He has a slight injury but he came on and got a goal.”

Midfielder Archie Burnett scored and looked on course to have put Bay through against Folkestone, only for the visitors to get a late leveller and win 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

“That was disappointing,” Lovell noted. “Over the 90 minutes, we probably did enough to win the game comfortably.

“But we missed two or three opportunities to put the game to bed. The good thing is we’re creating those chances and getting a lot of opportunities to score.

“Defensively, we were excellent, as well, against Folkestone. If we had defended that well on Saturday, we would have won quite easily.”

Play-off occupants Bay are at home to Erith & Belvedere this Saturday.

Dawodu and Burnett are both injury doubts.