Kevin Watson will get to work at training after winning his first game in charge of Herne Bay.

Watson oversaw a 3-1 Velocity Cup home win on Tuesday over Sevenoaks at Winch’s Field.

Having not been able to hold a training session with their squad, the match allowed Watson and assistant Adam Flanagan the chance to look at their options and they used five substitutes which included youngsters Lucas Hanley, Monty Saunders and Euan Bunn entering the fray.

But league points are the priority for the Isthmian Premier’s bottom side ahead of Saturday’s home match against fellow strugglers Brightlingsea.

Watson said: “I wish it had been a league game now that we’ve won it - we would rather have had three points!

“We’ve had a game without being able to put on a coaching session with the lads.

“You’d assume it would have been better the other way around but at least we know what we are coaching on Thursday as a result of Tuesday’s game.

“It was good practice against very strong opposition. They’re a well-organised side so it was a good test.

“It was nice to win the game. That’s the objective with any game but it was a learning curve for us as a management team to see the players perform.

“Some players potentially played in positions, formations and a tactical understanding that they are maybe not used to so it was a lot of information for them to digest.

“As a whole, they were receptive to that which was the most important thing.”

Promising striker Kymani Thomas struck twice against Sevenoaks, three days after his stunning effort in a 4-1 league loss last Saturday at Horsham got him off the mark for the campaign.

Watson said: “The position he was playing, he had to be patient for the first 20 or 25 minutes. He probably thought to himself ‘Am I ever going to get involved in this game?’

“But with the job we asked him to do, it’s about being patient and being selfless, working for the team.

“Then he got his reward with a couple of opportunities that he finished well.”

His brace came after captain Laurence Harvey scored the first goal of Watson’s reign midway through the first period, heading in from an Eddie Allsopp corner.

“I thought him and Dan Johnson, as well as Briggs Ojemen, were outstanding at the back. That’s important for us,” said Watson.

“Laurence had a very good game. I loved the fact - even at 3-0 up - he had that personal pride about trying to keep the clean sheet with the information he was giving to other players.

“That’s what you want from your captain.”