Boss Kevin Watson is eager for Herne Bay to prove their surprise victory at Carshalton wasn’t a one-off this weekend.

They made it three wins from four matches on Saturday at Colston Avenue. Bay are now just two points from fifth-bottom Kingstonian and safety.

But they have a tough run-in, which starts with Saturday’s Isthmian Premier match against fifth-placed Enfield Town at Winch’s Field.

“It will be a really tough test,” said Watson.

“They’re, obviously, going to want to stay in the play-offs and will have aspirations of trying to finish higher than they are.

“They’re an experienced, strong, side, but we have got to see it as another test of where we’re at.

“We haven’t got enough results against the teams up the top and we want to show that Saturday wasn’t just a one-off.

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“With the squad we’ve got, we’ve enough characters to be able to get results with the run-in we’ve got. We’ve got a lot of the top teams left to play - Cray Wanderers, Hastings, Lewes and Bishop’s Stortford.

“But we’ll plan, as we do, and we know a little bit about them.

“So it’ll be a good test of character for us.”

The win at Carshalton was the perfect response after Bay’s 1-0 loss to Haringey last Tuesday.

Watson said: “As a management team, what you want after disappointment is a result and Saturday was a very good response.

“It was an accomplished performance, quite resilient and professional.

"They’re a good team and that’s why they’re positioned where they are in the league table.

“That’s not luck over the course of 36 games, is it? So, it was pleasing.”

Big striker Marcel Barrington was influential at Carshalton - but his manager insists there’s still more to come from him.

Watson, who had previously worked with the 27-year-old at Cray Valley, said: “When I had him with me before, he had a very good goalscoring record.

“But he has got other elements to his game. He has been contributing, even when he’s not got on the scoresheet.

“The most interesting thing is that he’s at an age and a stage where I still believe that he can improve a bit further.

"But we like working with him and he’s open to that. He deserves to get the headlines.”

Barrington broke the deadlock on the hour and, despite the hosts hitting back three minutes later, Barrington appeared to make it 2-1 - although Bay debutant Jerson Dos Santos has since attempted to claim that goal too.

Watson said: “I don’t want to settle that argument - I’ll let them decide!

“But if you’re a centre-forward, you do what Marcel does and make sure it’s in. And if you’re Jerson, you take just as much credit for it.

“That’s just showing pride in what you’re doing.”

Bay’s boss has also been pleased with how Dos Santos has settled in at his new club.

“What’s pleasing is that he wanted to come and play for us,” he said.

“I’ve known of him for some time and, obviously, he’s played at Step 4 and got goals.

“He’s a good lad. At this stage of the season, it’s good for him to come in and contribute toward what we’re doing.

“He’s acclimatised really well and trained on Thursday so I’m really pleased for him.”

Keeper Harry Brooks started again for Bay at Carshalton - when on-loan Hastings defender Finn O’Mara added a late third - while Jordan Perrin turned out for Southern Counties East Premier Division leaders Erith & Belvedere in their home defeat to Whitstable.

But Watson insists Perrin still has a future with the club.

He said: “Jordan has, obviously, played the majority of games this season.

“But when he got suspended, Harry has come in, so Jordan just wanted to keep his match fitness up.

“He’ll certainly make appearances for Herne Bay before the end of the season. But he wanted to keep his match fitness up and that’s not something I could begrudge him.

“I spoke to him at the weekend to see how he’d got on so Jordan is certainly still part of our plans and still a Herne Bay player.”

Attacker Rory Smith and midfielder David Ozobia are close to returns after spells out.