Player-coach Liam Friend admitted the first goal proved key in Herne Bay’s Isthmian South East defeat at unbeaten leaders Ramsgate on Saturday.

Bay are on a three-game losing run and have won just once in eight fixtures in all competitions, having gone down 3-0 at Southwood.

Steve Lovell’s 17th-placed side started well at Ramsgate but a quickfire double from midfielders Benedict Bioletti and Roarie Deacon left them with a mountain to climb after the opening 15 minutes.

They then lost keeper Harry Brooks to a second-half red card before seven-goal TJ Jadama rounded off another tough afternoon in miserable conditions.

“It wasn’t ideal,” reflected captain Friend. “We felt we started quite well but it was a bit of a sucker-punch with their first goal, from a goalkeeping error, and it sort of changed the way the day went a little bit.

“I don’t think, as players, we did anything to cause the day to change because of that - but, looking back, I guess that was the big moment. That’s football and it happens.

“For their goalie (Tom Hadler), with everything that went near him, he did his job, he did really well, kicked well and caught well, and he held any shots that came his way.

Report: Ramsgate 3-0 Herne Bay

“Other than the two goals, I don’t remember them having too many chances in the first half. It was a bit of a non-event so, as the away team at top of the league, you’re happy that they have had minimal chances.

“But with goal one and goal two, we’re really disappointed as a team with how we defended those. That’s kind of how we felt the first half went.

“As soon as the red card came, the game was kind of over, really, as an event. We huffed and puffed and we have got a good squad in terms of working hard and keeping going until the end, which is why Steve has been quite loyal to the players.

“But at the moment, with our luck - if we won the lottery - that’ll be the week that 100 people win it!”

Bioletti appeared to have been crowded out for the Rams’ opening goal, only to manage to find room to unleash a 12th-minute shot, which got past Brooks from the edge of the penalty box.

“A little bit of our confidence went,” admitted Friend, whose team, strangely, had not been in action since losing 2-1 at home to Ramsgate last Tuesday. “Their bellies were up a bit.

“I didn’t feel like there was a massive amount between the two teams. They have some good players, of course, they have. It would be silly not to consider the fact that Joe Taylor has probably already got 1,000 goals this season or something!

“TJ is a good player. But I didn’t think they had lots of touches where you felt ‘Cor, he’s a good player’, even though they are.

“But the game is won and lost in both penalty boxes. Their defensive penalty box and attacking penalty box were much better than ours today.”

Herne Bay also will have more decisions to make in goal in the near future, unless they successfully appeal against the sending off that Brooks was handed by referee Richard Joss for a late foul on substitute Josh Ajayi. Midfielder Ethan Smith took the gloves for the remainder of the game.

Brooks, who had been replaced between the sticks by Sam Freeman and then Thomas Crump, before being recalled for the Ramsgate home game, will be available for Tuesday night’s home match against 19th-placed Three Bridges before a suspension kicks in.

Friend said: “The sending off sort of put him out of his misery a little bit. But that’s up to Steve who comes in.

“First and foremost, anything can happen on Tuesday and he has that game because the suspension hasn’t kicked in yet. The suspension starts on Saturday so I’m sure Steve will be thinking about that next week.

“That’s out of my control.”

Three Bridges ended a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win at AFC Croydon Athletic at the weekend.