Boss Steve Lovell is optimistic Herne Bay’s big FA Cup tie against Maidstone will stand them in good stead for the rest of this season - on and off the pitch.

Isthmian South East Bay’s FA Cup journey came to an end at the third qualifying round stage, an unfortunate first-half own goal from young defender Skye Salmon seeing them beaten 1-0 by the National League South Stones last weekend.

The tie attracted Herne Bay’s second largest crowd of 1,997 - only bettered by an attendance of 2,303 that saw Margate win an FA Cup fourth qualifying round match in 1970.

Lovell said: “We’ll take everything out of it.

“It just shows the character and the ability of our boys and, not just from the starting 11, but with the 16 or 17 senior players that we have got.

“Even against Erith Town last Tuesday (a 5-1 Kent Senior Cup win), the boys that came in were excellent. It shows we have got a really good group of players.

“It shows we have got a good fan-base here, as well, which acknowledges good football and are right behind us.

Report: Herne Bay 0-1 Maidstone

Proud Lovell: I cannot ask for more than that

“Hopefully, we can take that forward.”

Bay have often played free-flowing football under Lovell and son-assistant Mark Lovell - but were forced to show a different side to their game against Maidstone.

Goalkeeper Harry Brooks was rarely troubled, though, as he was only forced into a single second-half point-blank save to deny defender Temi Eweka from giving the Stones a two-goal cushion.

“We have been defending well,” said experienced Welshman Lovell.

“We had six clean sheets in eight and only conceded one goal on Saturday. Defensively, we’re sound.

“But you’re right that the opposition didn’t allow us to create as many opportunities as we have been doing in league games.

“Sometimes, you have to hold your hands up and give credit to the opposition.

“They’re two leagues above so they should be able to do that.”

Herne Bay revealed young Ukrainian midfielder Artem Kuchkov had penned a deal until the end of the season ahead of their match against Maidstone.

He came into the tie with three goals in four games, only to find no way through George Elokobi’s team’s well-drilled backline.

On Kuchkov’s contract news, Lovell said: “I’m really pleased.

"He’s going to be a good player, Artem, and games like Saturday are only going to help him.

“I thought he kept working and kept trying but just got no change from their defenders. They were good.”

Herne Bay are next in action at Chichester in the FA Trophy third qualifying round on Saturday, the scheduled midweek league home game against Three Bridges postponed due to a Sussex Senior Cup clash for their scheduled visitors.

While Chichester won Isthmian Premier promotion through the play-offs last term, Lovell’s team took four points off them.

Lovell said: “It would have been nice to have them at home but we have got the journey to them.

"They were in our league last year and we beat them 3-1 at their place.

“It will be another tough game but, when you get into these rounds in cup competitions, you’re going to come up against decent opposition.

“We’ll give it a good go and then, hopefully, get a league game in.”

The winners of the game will pocket £2,450.

Bay’s weekend trip will be followed by a home game against Steyning Town Community on Tuesday - incredibly only their fourth league fixture this term!

Asked if he knew what a league match was, Lovell joked: “I don’t!

“I had a look after Saturday and we could have gone into the bottom four in the league, depending on how some of the results went but a few went the other way.

“By the time we play those league games, some teams are going to be six or seven games ahead of us so it’s a lot to catch-up on.

"But that’s lovely - bring it on.”

Striker Kane Rowland could be in line to make his return at Chichester, having served his suspension after he was sent off in their opening-day 3-2 league victory at Littlehampton.