By Alex Hoad

Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey says his players are sending a message to their Ryman League Division 1 South rivals that they are resilient and up for the challenge at a higher level.

Bay are establishing themselves nicely in the higher division, having been promoted from the Kent League for the first time in 125 years this summer. Since losing their opening game of the campaign, Bay have collected 13 points from eight games and only lost once more.

After a 1-1 draw at home to Burgess Hill on Saturday, Bay came from 2-0 down after an hour at Chipstead on Tuesday night to snatch a last-minute draw and extend their unbeaten run to five games.

Halsey (pictured) said: "We are five games unbeaten and that is a magnificent achievement.

"We are hard to beat and it’s there for everyone to see. We went away to Chipstead, which is not the easiest place to go, on a Tuesday night, went 2-0 down and came back to earn a point.

"That shows our resilience to the rest of the league. I heard their manager telling their players that we would be an easy win for them, I told the lads that and we proved him wrong."

Bay occupy a play-off place in the fledgling table with 13 points from their first nine games and Halsey added: "We sat down and I told the boys I wanted 15 points from our first 10 games and that means we need to win at Three Bridges on Saturday to reach that target."

Three Bridges have lost three of four at home and Halsey said: "We have nothing to fear, we are doing well and with the run we’re on, we expect to go there and win the game."