Boss Steve Lovell felt he saw two different sides to his Herne Bay squad in their season-opening victory at Littlehampton.

Bay began the Isthmian South East campaign with a 3-2 win on Sunday.

They led 3-1 at half-time after goals from midfielder Mo Kamara, striker Mike Salako and defender Jack Parter’s penalty, having fallen behind inside the first 10 minutes.

But Bay then had to dig deep to earn maximum points after Littlehampton pulled a goal back and forward Kane Rowland was dismissed halfway through the second period.

Lovell, who was without player-coach Liam Friend (back) and midfielder Scott Heard (holiday), reflected: “In the first half, we played really well.

"We played some really good football, created some really good chances and took three of them. It was excellent.

“But Kane getting sent off sort of changed the outlook of the game in the second half and it became another good performance in a different way, really.

“We had to dig in and defend, and hang on to what we had. I thought we did that well, as well.

“Perhaps, we could have scored a couple more goals ourselves in the second half but, mainly, it was about hanging on to the three points. We did that with a very hard-working performance.

“So, there were two good performances in each half but for different reasons.”

Experienced Kamara, who rejoined in the summer after a spell at Margate, also played a hand in another goal and made a key late goal-line clearance.

“Mo has started the season very well,” Lovell noted. “He’s had a good pre-season.

“When he was with us last year, we didn’t want him to go. But he’s come back now and he’s made a really good start.

"Hopefully, he can keep that going. He played well and I think he was our man-of-the-match on Sunday.”

The fact Parter, 30, another to have rejoined Herne Bay in the close season, took their penalty raised a few eyebrows.

But Lovell explained: “Last year, we had a few penalty-takers. I think Mike took a couple - and missed a couple early on - and Theo Osinfolarin was taking penalties.

“But Jack stepped up. He wanted to take it, so why not?

“He scored it well. We might as well keep him on them!”

Rowland’s 66th-minute dismissal came in unusual circumstances. He was set to be substituted and - on being deemed to not be leaving the field by the most direct route - allegedly pushed referee Josh Langley-Fineing.

“With the way the game was going and the way that it happened, it was ridiculous, really,” admitted Lovell.

“It’s disappointing for him and disappointing for us. He has apologised for it.

“Missing him for three games is going to be a hard thing for us but we’ll have to get through it.

"It’s happened now so we cannot do anything about it.

"We just have to crack on.”

Bay’s first home game of the season sees them host Isthmian South Central Rayners Lane in the FA Cup preliminary round this Saturday.

Lovell revealed: “We had someone watch them last week so we know a little bit about them.

“It’s the FA Cup so anything could happen. It will be a tough game but we just have to perform like we are doing and worry about our performance.

“If we play like we can do, we won’t have a problem.

“Although it was a good start on Sunday, we still have got to improve in certain areas and, if we do that, we should be okay.”

The winners of the tie will pocket £1,444.

Herne Bay’s veterans team will take on a Spurs Legend side at Winch’s Field this Sunday, kick-off 2pm.