The return of Herne Bay’s experienced heads has been highlighted by manager Steve Lovell after back-to-back league wins.

Bay beat Isthmian South East play-off occupants Beckenham 1-0 at home on Saturday, despite seeing captain Liam Friend red-carded, having won last midweek’s seven-goal game against Three Bridges.

Those victories came after Lovell’s team had been on a seven-match winless league run.

Midfielder Kane Haysman, 29, had played a vital role in both games. He bagged a match-winning late brace against Three Bridges and scored the game’s only goal through a free-kick against Beckenham.

Lovell said: “We’d missed Kane for three games.

“With him and Frankie Smith out, people like Friendy, Jack Parter, Mike Salako and Heardy (Scott Heard) - the experienced ones - they’re important to have in the team.

“Even in the top flight, if you look at Man City, they have lost a couple of their best players and it’s no coincidence they’ve started losing games.

Bay player makes team-of-the-week

“It’s important for all teams to keep their most experienced players fit. Having Kane back has been excellent.

“He was ready for last Tuesday but we didn’t want to start him after a few games out.

“When he came on, he made an impact and he got another goal on Saturday.

“He played in midfield rather than as a No.10 but still did a good job.”

Lovell started to fear the worst when Herne Bay failed to make their first-half dominance pay against Beckenham and had player-coach defender Friend dismissed when he pushed speedy attacking midfielder Steven Townsend from behind, but his players dug in and did get the result.

“We played really well,” he reflected. “In the first half, the game should have been dead and buried. We had so many chances and didn’t take them.

“You do think ‘Is it going to be one of those days?’ especially when Friendy gets sent off. But the players dug in well and could have got two or three.

“It’s no surprise, really. The results in previous weeks have been all our own doing and with some bad luck in there, with sendings off and stuff like that.

“I had no doubts over the players’ temperament. They have worked hard.

“In the last couple of games, we haven’t made silly individual errors - and we have got results.”

Josh Bexon has returned between the sticks from a long-term injury and made some important saves on his way to a shut-out against Beckenham.

Lovell said: “He’s only just come back.

"I think he’d played one game for the under-23s, prior to last week. He’s done a good job.

“He’s a good goalie. I had him at Ramsgate when we were top of the league and he won the Golden Glove once or twice.

“We just need to get him a little bit fitter but, with the more games he plays, the better he’ll get.

"He has been a breath of fresh air and I’m really happy for him.”

Lovell is keen to keep goalkeeper Harry Brooks, who completes his suspension this weekend, at the club.

“Harry has been great and we need to have more than one keeper around,” he said.

“Harry Brooks still has a massive part to play for us but, for the time being, Josh has been in goal - and we have won.

“Like I’ve said to all the players, they’re all playing for their place but, also, I will change it up for certain games. I think we have got 17 senior players and they’re 17 players that I’m not afraid to start every week.

“We just need to be mindful and balance it the right way.”

Sinn’Kaye Christie also helped Bay keep their clean sheet against Beckenham as he came off the substitutes’ bench for his bow to replace Jack Hillier after Friend’s dismissal.

On the signing of ex-Dover, Sheppey and Ramsgate man Christie, Lovell said: “Skye Salmon, Dan Carrington and Friendy have done well.

“I just felt we needed a dominant centre-half. Dan Carrington has come in and played well but he’s more of a midfield player.

“Skye is a young lad, who will get better and better. But we cannot play him for 42 games at this level. He needs to be nurtured through it.

"I think he will be a good signing.”

Bay visit Danny Kedwell’s Ashford team this weekend before a home derby against another promotion-chasing team, Sittingbourne, on Tuesday.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Keds, [director of football] Alan Walker and the other people there,” said Lovell.

“They’ve done a good job in the last couple of weeks. They have beaten some of the better teams in the league.

“Then, Sittingbourne are one of the top two or three sides in our division this year.

“They’re good games and they’ll be a learning curve for a lot of our players. With the Christmas period coming up, there’s a lot of games soon.

“We need to keep everyone fresh and ready for them.”

Friend is due to be suspended for both games.

Herne Bay went down 2-1 at National League South team Tonbridge in their Kent Senior Cup quarter-final tie despite striker Mike Salako’s 10th goal of the season on Tuesday.