A fast start on Saturday helped Herne Bay win their big bottom-of-the-table home clash over Bowers & Pitsea.

Rory Smith broke the deadlock in the third minute while a free-kick from new arrival Yannis Drais deflected in not long after. The first-half entertainment wasn’t over as ex-Cray Wanderers midfielder Billy Crook converted a spot-kick to halve the deficit.

But a goal by striker Marcel Barrington after the restart sealed a 3-1 success which moved Herne Bay seven points from safety and only three points behind opponents Bowers, with another Crook spot-kick in stoppage time saved.

On-loan Tonbridge midfielder Mason Saunders-Henry’s left-wing cross found Bay attacker Smith at the back post at Winch’s Field, with the frontman on hand to score his seventh goal this season amid a dream start for them.

In the fifth minute, things got even better for Kevin Watson’s troops, who doubled their advantage in front of a crowd of 404. Experienced midfielder Drais’ free-kick took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed visiting goalkeeper Melvin Minter. It looked to be an own goal but one suspects Drais will be doing his best to claim it.

The 16th minute saw the away team finally have their first chance, only for winger Michael Bareck to send an effort high and wide.

Drais and Smith then combined at the other end, two minutes later. The latter nodded a left-wing delivery into the arms of Minter.

But James Collins’ men made it 2-1 just after the half-hour mark. Referee Peter Conn awarded a spot-kick - calmly converted by Crook - after midfielder Bola Dawodu went to ground on his Winch's Field return when trying to get a shot off. Midfielder Bode Anidugbe was also booked for the hosts for his part in the incident.

Four minutes later, Bowers goalkeeper Minter got down low to prevent Barrington from being able to restore their two-goal lead through a fierce drive.

The 39th minute really should have seen the away side equalise. A free-kick fell kindly to Dawodu, whose effort was blocked, before Oscar Shelvey was denied by Herne Bay keeper Jordan Perrin - who potentially saved with his face! Eventually, though, the ball was scrambled off the line.

Three minutes after the restart, Minter once again had to get down low to save from Kymani Thomas.

At the other end, Perrin then parried visiting winger Rio Campbell’s strike away from danger, soon after.

The pressure from the hosts was growing, though, and Bay protests for a penalty for handball were dismissed in the 55th minute after Anidugbe’s strike was charged down.

But Herne Bay did restore their two-goal lead with 63 minutes played. In similar fashion to their early opener, the impressive Saunders-Henry crossed from the left and, this time, Barrington slotted home from yards out at the far post for his sixth of the campaign.

Bowers made a double substitution midway through the half, which saw Harrison Carnegie and Dawodu replaced by D’Jean Spencer - last term at Faversham - and Valckx Fernandes.

And with 14 minutes to go, Spencer found space. But he was thwarted by Perrin before a Campbell effort flew inches over, three minutes later.

Bay threatened in the 83rd minute, with Thomas’ shot flying just over.

In the last seconds, the away team were awarded a second penalty which was awarded for a handball by Bay skipper Laurence Harvey. Crook took it once more but he saw his second spot-kick of the match saved by Perrin.

It was a first league victory under Watson for Herne Bay, just their third overall this campaign, and their first since mid-October. Despite the victory, Bay do remain bottom.

There was a debut for new home signing Drais, the Frenchman once of Dover, Welling and Aldershot.

Dawodu started for the visitors while winger Carnegie - who this season has already briefly played for Faversham and Whitstable - also was in their line-up.

Herne Bay: Perrin, Williams, Harvey, Johnson, Barrington (Ojemen 90mins), Saunders-Henry, Anidugbe, Smith, Thomas (Allsopp 85mins), Drais (West 77mins), Ozobia. Subs not used: Martins.

Bowers & Pitsea: Minter, Thistleton, Dawodu (Fernandes 67mins), Peter, Campbell, Allen, Carnegie (Spencer 67mins), Gibson (Lewis 75mins), Shelvey, Crook, Bareck. Subs not used: Sartorius, Redgrave.

Referee: Peter Conn.

Attendance: 404.