Sam Denly has excused teenage goalkeeper Ben Kitcherside from blame after suffering a torrid afternoon in Herne Bay’s 6-3 FA Trophy exit at Heybridge Swifts on Saturday.

The highly-rated youngster stepped in to replace the unavailable Jack Delo, and Denly said: “It was a hard day for Ben, he is a really good prospect.

“He didn’t get any help from his defenders, but he has broad shoulders and will be fine.”

He added: “We were poor and made too many individual errors. I wasn’t happy, I think they had seven shots and scored six goals.”

Bay’s humbling came hours after Denly met supporters at a club forum which he described as “very positive”.

He believes they, like the players, are buying into his long-term plan, he said: “We were in the bottom four when I got the job, so they have seen things improve.

“We have a team of good local talented players, who are playing good football, with the second best home record in Ryman League Division 1 South.”

Bay’s poor away record will be firmly tested with a trip to Folkestone Invicta on Saturday, before travelling to Worthing next Wednesday.

Denly said: “It will be a tough game against the side with the best manager in the league.

“There will be changes with Jack (Delo) and Liam Quinn both back, and Gary Sayer has completed his three-game ban – all three will come straight in.

“We will be better than we were at Heybridge and there is no reason why we can’t come away with something.”

Kitcherside is back in action on Thursday when Bay’s under-18 squad travel to Thamesmead Town, for a place in the FA Youth Cup first round.

Dominic Smee scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win against Erith & Belverdere in the last round, with a victory earning the winner a trip to Dartford.

Denly said: “Ben Smith is doing a great job with the youngsters. Dom is another member of a talented squad.”