John Embery believes Herne Bay have turned a corner ahead of their clash with league leaders Cray Wanderers.

Bay won 2-1 at Aylesbury last weekend to reach the FA Trophy first qualifying round.

They'd conceded 14 goals in the three games before that but joint-boss Embery is confident they can go on a positive run now.

He said: "We had a lot of players back on Saturday so we're hoping we've turned corner in respect of pushing onwards.

"They've come from behind recently away from home against Ramsgate and this team.

"We must make sure we don't concede sloppy early goals. We're having to chase the game from being behind and leaving ourselves open."

Bay certainly can't afford to do that against a Cray side six points clear at the top of Bostik South East and scoring goals for fun.

Embery said: "We're really looking forward to the Cray game because they're the kind of games when we do well.

"They're a footballing side and we struggle against workmanlike sides who put it around and try to beat us up.

"If you look at our results against teams who pass the ball and play football, we always do well.

"We're expecting to go well but they're a good side so we'll have to be at our best.

"We're hoping the boys can rise to the occasion and get a result for us."

Goals from Ben Gorham and Jake Embery saw Bay, second-bottom in the league, come from behind to beat Aylesbury.

"We needed that," Embery said. "We played well so I couldn't ask for any more.

"We were in control of the game all the way through, we just switched off for a second.

"They literally had one shot and scored and that seems to be happening to us quite a lot recently.

"Teams aren't getting many chances but when they do, they seem to end up in the back of the net."

Goalkeeper Ben Hunter's knee injury will keep him out until Christmas but three other players are on their way back to fitness.

Alex Mulrooney-Skinner and Danny Leonard should both be fit to face Cray while Nick Reeves (calf) is hoping to resume training soon having not played since August.