John Embery was pleased to see Herne Bay get off the mark with two home wins in three days but says injuries are still hampering early season progress.

Bay beat Ashford United 2-0 on Tuesday night to progress to the quarter-finals of the Kent Reliance Senior Cup and a home tie with Margate.

Two days earlier they beat Combined Counties League Chessington & Hook United 2-1 in the FA Cup preliminary round. They now host Bostik South rivals Walton Casuals on Saturday week.

Joint-boss Embery said: “It was nice to get through because other teams in our division stumbled out of the competition.

“We should have got a lot more and the scoreline flattered Chessington.

“We missed several one-on-ones and other good chances, some from six or eight yards out which went straight at the keeper.

“It could have been seven or eight on another day. We have to learn to be more clinical.”

Two more 18-year-olds made their first team debuts against Ashford in midweek, defender Ed Bensley and central midfielder Harry Miller. Bensley was with Millwall for four years from the age of 10, before linking up with Embery and Jermaine Darlington, while Miller joined them from Dover’s Academy.

Connor Wilkins has been discharged from hospital for a second time after a recurrence of tonsillitis, while England schoolboy international Josh Wisson is the latest addition to Bay’s walking wounded with an ankle injury.

Embery said: “We haven’t picked from a full squad since the start of pre-season but the good thing is we have got good depth.”

Bay head into the bank holiday double-header looking for their first league points.

They host Chipstead on Saturday before the short trip to Faversham on Monday (both 3pm).

Embery said: “We deserved something from the first game against Lewes and it was heartbreaking to lose so late but we deserved nothing at Sittingbourne.”

Bay Reserves start their Kent County League Division 1 Central & East campaign with a trip to K Sports Reserves on Saturday (2.45pm).