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Herne Bay boss Ben Smith praised the attitude of weekend matchwinner Bola Dawodu.
He came off the bench to hit an 84th minute clincher against high-flying Sevenoaks in their Isthmian South East match at Winch’s Field.
Dawodu was disappointed to have been left out of the starting XI but before kick-off got his team-mates fired up with a pre-match song and then sunk the goal which netted them three points.
“People are there for the team and he is certainly one of those,” said Smith.
“He was always going to be disappointed not to be playing but if someone can see the bigger picture and put the team ahead of themselves it makes it a lot easier, certainly for the manager.”
Dawodu belted out a song as punishment for turning up to the game late but he made a timely intervention with the game against Sevenoaks level at 2-2.
Smith had put him on to help protect the defence, who were coping with an aerial bombardment.
“It turned out to be an inspirational attacking substitution but that wasn’t what we meant!” the manager admitted.
“He’s very good in the air and managed to pop up with a goal. It was really pleasing.”
Victory was another sign that Herne Bay could challenge for promotion this season but Smith isn’t getting caught up in any of that.
He said: “I said this is a period that is going to be a test, the last two, versus Ashford and Sevenoaks, we should be coming away with six points.
“We probably played a lot better against Ashford (which ended 2-2) but we’ve taken four points and we have to be happy with that.
“We’ve come away thinking ‘what if?’ but the belief in the changing room has grown.
“After Saturday’s win people were saying that we could aim for promotion this year, but I have to say ‘slow down a bit!’, just the same as I said when we lost a few at the start of the season.
“For us, it’s about never too high and never too low. It is still early and we are playing sides in this division who have been developing for two or three seasons, like VCD.”
Bay are away to sixth-placed VCD on Saturday.
Smith said: “VCD are a good side but I don’t see them as being miles better than us, we will both be saying the same, that if we play to our best then we can win the game, but every side in the top half could be saying that.”
Bay boss Smith, meanwhile, wished Bradley Stevenson best wishes after he left before the weekend for Chelmsford City, a move up to the National South.
Smith said: “I’m delighted for him and I hope he uses Chelmsford as a stepping stone because he can play at a better level than that if he fulfils his potential.”
Bay will have Tushaun-Tyreese Walters back available this weekend following his suspension.
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