Herne Bay joint-manager John Embery has urged his players not to dwell on their 8-1 humiliation at Lewes last weekend.

Bay conceded seven goals in the second half as the home side made the most of wild weather conditions.

Embery admitted the players were “embarrassed” by the result but insisted there were mitigating circumstances.

“The game shouldn’t have been on,” he said. “The pitch was waterlogged and the wind was gale force. They pushed and pushed for the game to be on.

“We should have scored more in the first half. We hit the post and bar three times and I said to them one goal wouldn’t be enough, we’d need to score at least three because second half they were going to come at us.

“We couldn’t get out of our box. Our keeper was lucky to get the ball 10 yards out of the area.

“They started firing from everywhere and whatever we did, we couldn’t get out. They camped in there and every time they launched it forward, it went in.

“I’m not making excuses because we should have defended better at times but you’ve just got to put it behind you.

“It’s one of those crazy things that happen.

“It’s just disappointing we didn’t cope with the conditions.”

Herne Bay are at home to bottom side Shoreham on Saturday but could the Lewes thrashing have knocked the confidence of their young players?

Embery said: “Of course you worry about that but they know if they played against them in normal conditions, it wouldn’t be an issue.

“We’ve just got to get the right result on Saturday and put it behind them.

“They can’t worry about it and dwell on it. We draw a line in the sand and that’s it.

“I expect them to brush it off. They’re embarrassed about the scoreline but there wasn’t a lot they could do other than cutting out personal errors.”

Jono Richardson returns from suspension while Embery expects to have Raphe Brown, Connor Wilkins and Kingsley Aikhionbare back fit.