Sam Denly says his Herne Bay players can enjoy a pressure-free afternoon when they head to leaders Dorking Wanderers on Saturday.

The Surrey side made the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-offs last season and lead the way this year with games in hand over the chasing pack.

Boss Denly said: “Saturday is going to be difficult, Dorking are flying, top of the league and we’re away from home. Nobody will expect us to get anything but that means there is no pressure on us.

“We can go there on the back of three decent performances, two of which were wins and that will be my line to the players on the day – they are under no pressure. We’re near the wrong end of the table and Dorking are the ones expected to win.

“I have no doubt that on our day we are capable of beating anyone – we can cause an upset.”

Bay won against Ramsgate and Chatham between Christmas and New Year but were edged out 2-1 at home by Faversham on Monday.

Denly said: “It was a good performance and we deserved to have got at least a point. We dominated possession in the second half but just couldn’t create many chances.

“It’s disappointing but that’s football. I’d have taken six points from the three games beforehand. They were all local derby games and we can take a lot out of the performances.”

Bay have only taken 11 points from 13 league games on the road this season, although 10 of those have come in the last five away games.

Despite that, Denly backed Jack Delo to bounce back from the blunder which handed Faversham a late winner in the Bank Holiday derby.

He said: “The one on Monday took an awkward bounce but both Jack and I would expect him to have done better with it but he’s been outstanding for us and has certainly earned us plenty of points with his saves.”

Bay have got a difficult January with eight games – four of them against teams hunting promotion – and play-off-chasing Lewes head to Winch’s Field on Tuesday (7.45pm) for the first of two meetings between the sides in four days.

Denly said: “They are another good side and will be right up there but it’s a home game and by and large, we’ve been good at home so I expect us
to get something out of the game.”