Manager Steve Lovell thinks Herne Bay need to win at least three of their final four games to stand a chance of making the play-offs.

Bay suffered a 2-1 derby defeat at Ashford on Easter Monday, despite top scorer Michael Salako’s 24th goal of the season, after a 3-2 home win against East Grinstead last Saturday had made it back-to-back Isthmian South East victories.

Lovell described this Saturday’s trip to struggling Littlehampton as a must-win game in their bid for a top-five finish.

But, even if they fall short, he still thinks his first season in charge has been a productive one after the club were relegated from Isthmian Premier 12 months ago.

He said: “There’s four games to go. I think we need to win three out of the four to have a chance.

“It’s still possible. We still believe that we can do it.

“We just have got to win our next two games. If we win our next two games, then it’s possible that we can do it.

“This Saturday is a must-win game but, whatever happens, it’s been a good year for the club.

“It’s been a good year after the year the club had last year.

“It will be great if we can get a play-off place. If we don’t, we have got to build for next year.”

Herne Bay found themselves two goals behind at Ashford’s Homelands ground on the half-hour and never recovered despite Salako pulling one back before half-time.

“I made a substitution after about half-an-hour and, after that, we absolutely battered them,” reflected Lovell. “But we were 2-0 down by then.

“It was disappointing how we started but I was pleased with how we responded.

“Until they got their third goal, it was all us but we just couldn’t find the net.

“They (Ashford) had a very good team down there. They’re under new management with Alan (Walker) and Darren Hare there.

“They will do well.”

That loss came after two-goal Kane Rowland and Salako helped Bay edge East Grinstead, although it’s now more than two months and 10 matches since their last clean sheet.

Lovell said: “We have scored goals in most games this year. The problem has come with letting them in.

“There’s been too many individual errors throughout the season. You cannot expect to score three goals every game to win.

“I don’t know how many 1-0 or 2-0 wins we have got, but it’s not many this year. The opposition has tended to score against us.

“That’s something we have got to improve for next year, cutting out individual errors.

“If players cannot cut them out, they might not be the right people.

“The summer is a good time to change things but, this season, there’s still a lot for us to play for.”

Already without injured defensive pair Harrison Pont and Dan Carrington following Saturday’s win, Lovell was forced to take off midfielder Scott Heard and forward Vance Bola at Ashford.

Lovell admitted: “I’m down to the bare bones.

“We will just see how everybody is.

“But we have enough players to get a team out and we need to get wins.”