Bola Dawodu remains a part of Herne Bay’s promotion-chasing squad, insists manager Steve Lovell.

Dawodu has joined Southern Counties East Premier Division side Lordswood on a dual-registration basis and started against one of his former clubs last weekend in a 3-2 win at Faversham.

But Lovell still thinks the versatile midfielder will be involved at some stage in the business end of Bay’s Isthmian South East season.

“I said to Bola he needs to go out and get some minutes,” explained Lovell.

“We have dual-registered him with Lordswood. But I’ve spoken to Bola and said he’s very much a large part for us.

“Like he said himself, he cannot get into the team because the team is doing well. He’s been doing well there but he’s still very much a part of our squad.

“At the moment, our team picks itself - but it’s important the others get minutes.”

Play-off occupants Bay made it 22 points out of the last 27 available with their own 3-2 win - a hard-fought game against basement boys Beckenham on Saturday.

Lovell twice saw Bay squander a first-half lead and added: “I don’t think it’s the best we have played.

“I was a bit disappointed with our performance, but we will have games like those.

“We have been on a good run – we had a bit of a dip – but we came out with three points. I would have taken the result before the game because Beckenham are fighting for their lives.

“If I’m being honest, perhaps they should have got something out of the game but we dug it out.”

Red-hot striker Michael Salako scored twice in the first half to take his tally to 22 goals.

Lovell said: “He had a couple of other chances which he should have scored as well. He could have ended up on four or five!

“But he’s getting there at the right time and, generally, he’s finishing off the chances.

“The other boys are creating the chances for him but Mike still has to be in the right place at the right time.

“Mike has scored some really good goals in the last couple of weeks. He’s on 22 goals which is not bad when you think he only joined in September!”

But midfielder Scott Heard’s first Bay goal after the restart proved the difference.

“The previous weekend, he was unlucky not to get a goal,” Lovell said. “It was a similar situation on Saturday. But he got on the end of one of those chances and stuck it away.

“He’s a great character. I’m really pleased we have got him at the club. I’m really pleased we have got his experience and he’s fitted in quite well.

“We still have 12 games to go and I think we still have to win the majority of them because the teams around us are playing each other.

“We just need to pick up as many points as we can.”

Bay visit another team in the relegation zone, Erith & Belvedere, this Saturday.

But Lovell, who watched their weekend hosts lose 4-0 at home to Sittingbourne this month, won’t underestimate the Deres, who ground-share at Welling United.

Lovell said: “They’re fighting for their lives.

“At this time of the season, I would rather play teams in mid-table, rather than those at the bottom or at the top.

“There’s been changes in personnel there, on and off the field.

“I think we have to perform better than we did on Saturday. If we do that, we should get something out of the game.

“But they went to Hythe and beat them 3-1, so it won’t be easy.”

Forward Jack Richards (ankle) has suffered another injury setback in training, although he could still be in contention this weekend.