Boss Steve Lovell still expects Herne Bay to be in the promotion picture this season - despite their midweek derby defeat.

Bay were beaten 4-1 at Sittingbourne, one of the favourites to win the Isthmian South East title, despite striker Mike Salako’s second-half goal on Tuesday.

But Lovell, who was without player-coach Liam Friend and striker Kane Rowland at Woodstock, claimed: “It was not too big a gap.

“It was just individual errors that cost us on Tuesday. We’re not far off at all.

“We have got a lot of games coming up against some of the top sides. It’s going to be a tough end of October, running right the way through to November.

“We’re playing catch-up but, if we do well in our games in hand, we will be there or thereabouts.

“There’s one or two outstanding teams that I expect to be right up there, and I think Sittingbourne will be one of them.

“They have got good strength-in-depth - but so do we.”

Lovell felt Bay struggled to get going in the first half against Sittingbourne as they fell behind.

They delivered a much-improved second-half performance but swiftly found themselves 2-0 down. Although Salako gave them hope of a comeback, two more Sittingbourne strikes wrapped things up in front of a crowd of 264.

Lovell reflected: “When we had the ball in the first half, we just didn’t keep hold of it and look after it so we just couldn’t gain any momentum.

“Although we were only 1-0 down at half-time, I felt we hadn’t started. We just didn’t pass the ball like we can.

“In the second half, we started brilliantly and passed the ball the way we know we can. But they got their second against the run of play.

“We then created a good goal for Mike to score. At 2-1, we felt like we still had a chance but a couple of individual errors cost us.

“The players work hard and train hard, and they put everything into the game. In the second half, we got back to our normal way of playing.

“You just cannot keep making mistakes and expect to get away with them because, against the good sides, they will punish you.

“They ran out 4-1 winners but I don’t think that was a true reflection of the game, especially in the second half.”

Herne Bay have also seen young defender Joel Odeniran return to parent club Folkestone after a dual-registration stint at Winch’s Field, putting in a man-of-the-match performance on his competitive debut for Invicta at the weekend.

Lovell noted: “He’s a good, young, player. He has gone back.

“I don’t know how long he will be back there for but, hopefully, we can have him back at some point. Let’s see what happens.”

Teenage defender Jack Hillier made his second start for Bay at Sittingbourne, having come through 90 minutes in their 3-1 win at Phoenix Sports last weekend as midfielders Kane Haysman and Ethan Smith joined a Salako spot-kick on the scoresheet.

But fellow youngster, midfielder Artem Kuchkov, has been an unused substitute in their last two games.

Lovell stated: “Jack did well again on Tuesday and I only took him off because I wanted to change the shape where we were chasing the game.

“He did really well and started against Phoenix on Saturday, as well. But you cannot expect 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds to be playing 40 games in a season. It’s a similar situation with Artem.

“I’ve taken him out to give him a little breather since this is his first taste of football at this level. They cannot just keep playing every game, that will burn them out.

“But when you’re down on numbers, they have got to help you pull through.

“Hopefully, we can get a few bodies back. We’re always looking to improve the squad if we can, as well.”

Bay, beaten on penalties in a Velocity Cup tie at Sheppey last month after a goalless draw, are at home to Ernie Batten’s Ites in the league this Saturday.

Lovell, who hopes to have vice-captain Jack Parter and Rowland fit for the game, said: “It’s nice, after you have a result like we did on Tuesday, when the games come thick and fast.

“They’re a good side. There’s not many poor sides in this league, to be honest.

“Phoenix Sports only lost 1-0 on Tuesday to Ramsgate and Ramsgate are one of the best teams in the league.

“It’s about who turns up on the day. We’ll have to turn up on Saturday.”

Herne Bay are at home to Margate in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.