Steve Lovell was thrilled to see some of Herne Bay’s squad players step up as they - finally - played their first home league match of the season.

Having reached the FA Cup third qualifying round, Bay won 2-0 against Steyning Town Community to move to seven Isthmian South East points from four league fixtures at Winch’s Field on Tuesday.

Player-coach Liam Friend and midfielder Scott Heard were sidelined due to minor knocks, utility player Dan Carrington was also unavailable and six-goal striker Mike Salako was an unused substitute in midweek.

But winger Josh Reid made the most of a fourth start of the season, scoring a fifth-minute opening goal, while forward Kane Rowland bagged his first league goal this campaign.

“It’s nice to have our first league game at home,” said Bay boss Lovell, who played young prospects Skye Salmon and Joel Odeniran in the heart of defence. “We had quite a few players out on Tuesday.

“Players like Liam Friend, Scott Heard, Dan Carrington and Mike Salako.

“It gives the other boys an opportunity to come in. They did - and they did well.

“It’s good to give those opportunities and they took them.”

After a blistering opening, Lovell’s team struggled to hit the same heights after the restart, with the visitors hitting the crossbar and seeing a header cleared off the line, but Bay held on comfortably enough.

Lovell reflected: “The first half was excellent, getting the two goals and we could have had a couple more.

“I just said to the boys that they did defend well in the second half but, really, we had a few opportunities to really kill the game off - and we didn’t. But fair play to them.

“They had a good go at us in the second half. At 2-0 down at half-time, they had to do something but we defended well as a unit.

“We have had an unbelievable number of clean sheets. It’s seven in our last 11 games.

“That’s great on the defensive side of it and we’re scoring goals, as well.”

The goal for talented ex-Lordswood player Reid came after a flowing Bay move in front of a crowd of 274.

Lovell noted: “He’s really quick and direct.

“In the second half, he was still a threat but his decisions weren’t the best.

“That’s what he has got to improve on.

“But he does give us something extra. We played a 4-4-2 on Tuesday, which we don’t normally play, just to get Josh on the pitch.

“It was nice to give him a game.”

Rowland then flicked a beautiful cross by right-back Jack Parter, who stood in as skipper with Friend absent, home on 18 minutes.

“Jack Parter and Josh worked well together down the right, and it was a great cross from Jack,” said Lovell. “Then, it’s a great header by Kane, who got across his man - as all great forwards do.

“I thought Kane played really well. He won headers, held the ball up for us and offered something that we haven’t had for three or four weeks.”

That league victory came after Bay were edged out 2-0 at newly-promoted Isthmian Premier team Chichester in the FA Trophy third qualifying round last weekend - the hosts’ first goal came in unusual fashion in an incident which involved Odeniran.

Lovell reflected: “It was disappointing with the way it happened.

“We hit the post twice and definitely had chances to win the game against them. But they scored in the 90th and 94th minute.

“The first goal was bizarre, really, because Joel had got injured. He was lying on the floor - and actually played the fella onside that went through and scored!

“It was a killer for us, really. But the boys performed well.”

Next up for Lovell’s troops is the visit of Sevenoaks on Saturday.

It’s been a mixed start to the season for Marcel Nimani’s troops but Bay’s manager, who hopes to have Heard back, said: “There’s no easy games.

“Even Steyning Town on Tuesday, I felt, at times, that they played some good stuff. We had to defend well against them because they caused a threat - and most teams do in this league.

“Saturday will be no different. It’s a tough game.

“It’s a local-ish derby so it will be a good game.”

Herne Bay host Eastbourne Town on Tuesday, with Carrington set to be back in time for that match while Friend may also be fit enough to feature.