Liam Friend has praised the young players who have stepped up into Herne Bay’s side - and admits their experienced heads need to do more to support them.

Bay, who have had to contend with several injuries in recent weeks, sit just above the Isthmian South East relegation zone. They were beaten for a third successive game last weekend, losing 3-0 at unbeaten leaders Ramsgate.

It was a match which saw defender Jack Hillier and midfielder Monty Saunders start while young midfielder Alfie Hill came off the substitutes’ bench.

Bar defender Frankie Smith, the bulk of Steve Lovell’s side have returned to fitness now, though, and need to turn their form around on the pitch.

“The younger guys, and Monty especially, have really stepped up,” said Friend, who is club captain and player-coach. “Monty deserves to be getting the game-time he is now because he had to be patient.

“Jack Hillier has started eight games and he’s definitely not disgraced himself at all. He has played very well.

“Alfie Hill came off the bench on Saturday and showed real energy with his tackling.

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“So, it’s nice for Steve to have some younger players so he can say ‘Well, that’s the standard’ - and I think some of us experienced players maybe need to raise our levels to help them more, rather than them showing us the way.

“Normally, you might say ‘We’re missing a few players so we’ve had to rely on a few younger players’ but, no, the younger players have more than held their own.”

Herne Bay’s loss at Ben Smith’s Ramsgate came only 11 days after they had been edged out 2-1 at Winch’s Field.

But Friend said: “The game on Saturday was a bit of a muchness, really. After a 3-0 game, if you’re the winning team, you would be giggling when you hear someone say that.

“But even when we played them at home and had that late penalty, I thought we more than matched them. They’re a good team, of course they are, and that’s why they are top.

“They’re up there because they deserve to be up there.

“But I think we’re closer to them than was shown on Saturday. Our home performance probably showed where we are but, with regards to points, we’re a long way off them.

“We need to do something to rectify that.”

A healthy contingent of Herne Bay supporters helped make up the 818-strong crowd in miserable conditions at Southwood and were in fine voice.

“Our fan-base is really good,” admitted Friend. “It's a bit cheesy and corny when people say ‘The fans were different class’ and that sort of stuff, but our fans come home and away.

“As long as the team is putting the effort in, they really do back us. I think we do have a team that really put the effort in, although it’s not quite going our way at the moment.

"But you’ll never not hear our fans.”

It has been a challenging start to the campaign overall for Bay boss Lovell.

Friend said: “Steve is a brilliant manager.

"I’d probably say that he’s the best manager in the league. He’s doing well with the squad he has got.

“Not many people will play three teenagers so we need to turn it around for Steve.

“At the moment, we’re not giving the performances or the results that we should be.

“But he is a very experienced manager and we just need to turn that corner, whether that’s for the fans, for Steve or for each other.”

Josh Bexon returned in goal as Bay picked up a much-needed 4-3 midweek home league win over Three Bridges.

Substitute Kane Haysman netted twice in the final 11 minutes, the first a penalty, to secure the points after Bay boss Lovell had been sent off with the score 3-2 to Three Bridges.

Having fallen behind inside 10 minutes, Bay went ahead through forwards Kane Rowland and Mike Salako before the visitors netted twice in as many second-half minutes.

Bay are at home to play-off occupants Beckenham on Saturday. Bexon is likely to play once more, with Harry Brooks suspended after he was red-carded at Ramsgate for a late challenge on Josh Ajayi.

Herne Bay will have a Kent Senior Cup quarter-final tie at National League South side Tonbridge on Tuesday, as full-back Jack Parter returns to the club where he made his mark in senior football.