Young Herne Bay defender Jack Hillier enjoyed a memorable first-team debut in their comeback victory on Tuesday.

Half-time substitute Hillier set up forward Kane Rowland’s stoppage-time winner as Steve Lovell’s side beat Eastbourne Town 2-1 in Isthmian South East at Winch’s Field.

The 17-year-old youth-team prospect came on for captain-for-the-day Jack Parter.

Bay boss Lovell explained: “We took Jack Parter off as a precaution at half-time.

“He’s not been well all week and was a bit sore. Jack was a bit nervous for the first five minutes after he came on but he grew into the game.

“He was over the moon to set up Kane’s goal.

“This is what non-league football is all about, giving these sorts of players the chance to play first-team football. He did an excellent job.

“There’s a lot more young players at the club that can do the same thing as Jack.”

Herne Bay fell behind in the second half against Eastbourne Town in front of a crowd of 278, only for young defender Joel Odeniran to equalise in the 77th minute before Rowland won it.

“We kept going,” said Lovell, whose troops bounced back from a 5-3 home loss to Sevenoaks last weekend despite goals from midfielder Ethan Smith, winger Josh Reid and Odeniran.

“It just shows the character we have at the club. They all worked hard, it’s a good squad.

“Even the players that came on, they galvanised everybody and got us going. It was nice to get the winner. I think we deserved it overall.

“I was disappointed with our first-half passing, but you will have games like that over the course of a season.

“It was nice to get three points after Saturday.”

Rowland’s goal in midweek was his fourth of the campaign as he netted for the second time in three games.

Lovell said: “He will always get you goals.

“He held the ball up well on Tuesday night and I’m really glad that he got his goal. He’s one of the players that you need to help the youngsters - people like him, Scott Heard, Liam Friend and Harry Brooks. I was pleased for him.”

Odeniran seems to have found form in front of goal with his first goals of the season coming in their last two games after striking up a solid centre-back partnership with Skye Salmon.

“He has done well,” noted Lovell, speaking before Isthmian Premier Folkestone recalled Odeniran from his dual-registration deal this week. “Him and Skye, considering their young ages, have performed really well recently.

“It was a good goal from him on Tuesday - a good header - and he’s growing in stature with us.

“There’s no reason why he cannot keep improving.”

Next for Bay are successive league journeys to Phoenix Sports and Sittingbourne this Saturday and on Tuesday, respectively.

Weekend hosts Phoenix Sports have made a slow start to the season but have made recent changes to their squad after Darren Anslow replaced Keith McMahon at the helm.

Lovell, who will face Phoenix's new Gillingham loanee keeper Taite Holtam, who he had on loan at Herne Bay earlier this campaign, admitted: “Phoenix will be a different proposition than what they have been at the start of the season.

“They released seven players on Monday so they will have a different team.

“When you come up against new players, playing under a new manager, they all want to impress. That will be a tough game on Saturday.

“Then obviously, Sittingbourne will be a tough game, as well.”

Defender Tom Hanfrey has left due to a lack of first-team opportunities.

Utility player Hanfrey had made six starts this term but just two of those appearances have come in the league.

Lovell revealed: “I had a good chat with Tom.

“I’ve had him at three clubs now, including at Charlton when he was a kid. He just wants to play football and I couldn’t guarantee he will be in our team on a weekly basis.

“I said to him ‘If you want to go, please go’ because he’s still young.

“He’s only 23 - although I think he’s the oldest 23-year-old I’ve known in my life because he has been around for so long!

“He’s a good lad and, hopefully, he can enjoy his football somewhere.”

Herne Bay and Herne Bay Harriers have confirmed they will merge to form one club next season.