Ashford United 0 Herne Bay 2: Reaction from Bay boss Ben Smith to their Isthmian South East play-off final win and promotion

Ben Smith says Herne Bay’s historic promotion is the greatest achievement of his senior managerial career to date.

Bay joined league champions Hastings in going up to Isthmian Premier as they beat Kent rivals Ashford 2-0 in the Isthmian South East play-off final. It will be the first time they've played at Step 3 in the non-league pyramid in their 136-year history.

Winger Kieron Campbell broke the deadlock in the second half at Homelands before substitute Aaron Millbank converted a penalty he had won himself in front of a 1,865-strong crowd to seal the win.

Smith, appointed Herne Bay’s manager a little under three years ago, enjoyed a good FA Vase run with former club Canterbury City reaching the semi-finals and had, had success as a youth coach at Winch’s Field, but never previously had triumphed at senior level.

He said: “When I look back, in the Kent Youth League, I had a great side that I took through. We won everything, the County Cup three years in a row and went a season unbeaten, and I’ve never quite been able to get that form at this level.

“We did a great job at Canterbury City with everything that went on behind-the-scenes throughout the time I was there. You felt kind of like the manager, chairman, kitman… just everything.

“To come to Herne Bay, and to do it with my mates as well, and turn a club around, it tops the lot. It absolutely tops the lot.

“But we’ve got to find something else now that’s going to be better.”

Manager Smith also revealed on-loan Ebbsfleet midfielder Mike West had to have injections in order to get through the game. He started and played just shy of 80 minutes before being replaced by Millbank.

Summing up his emotions with his winners' medal proudly around his neck, he commented: “It