Chairman Bill Dordoy doesn’t want the ‘euphoria’ of Herne Bay’s run in the league and FA Cup to be tainted by their midweek League Cup humbling at Tonbridge Angels.

After toppling previously unbeaten Walton Casuals in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup at Winch’s Field on Saturday, Bay bosses John Embury and Jermaine Darlington rang the changes for the cup tie at Longmead on Tuesday.

An even more youthful side than usual came up against the Bostik Premier promotion chasers, stung by back-to-back defeats to local rivals in the previous eight days.

And they were made to pay as Angels ran in five goals in either half on their way to a 10-1 win – just shy of the club record loss of 11-0 suffered more than 100 years ago.

Mr Dordoy admitted: “Tonbridge played well and their committee said to us that we were unfortunate to come up against them after they had lost to Faversham (in the FA Cup on Saturday).

“It was a case of men against boys. We had 16, 17, 18-year-olds out there and they had an experienced side.

“It wasn’t quite a full team but they brought on two or three, like Nathan Elder in the end.

“We didn’t defend that well but they were a strong team on the rebound after their last couple of results. It’s not the end of the world.”

Dordoy added: “The competition was not top of our priorities. You have to win the cup to win any money.

“We got £3,000 for winning our FA Cup match on Saturday and we have a chance of £4,500 in the next round.

Bay have been drawn away to another of their Bostik South rivals Horsham in the second qualifying round on September 16. Dordoy said: “It’s not the worst draw we could have had.

“It would be great to keep the run going a bit longer and then maybe get a big game at home.”

The Walton Casuals win was Bay’s fifth straight in all competitions and Dordoy added: “Maybe after the euphoria of five straight wins and the FA Cup win on Saturday they thought it might be easier than it was.

“But this is a young team, we know we’ll get beatings this season, especially against good teams.

“It’s how they learn from them and react. We are home to Margate on Tuesday (in the Kent Senior Cup) which will be a good test of how they respond against a similar quality
side.

“Most important, though, is that they recover in time for VCD (who visit Winch’s Field in Bostik South at 3pm) on Saturday.”