Boss Steve Lovell eyes a minimum of two wins from Herne Bay’s next three Isthmian South East matches as they aim to stay in the play-off mix

Manager Steve Lovell is eyeing a minimum of two wins from Herne Bay’s next three Isthmian South East matches as they aim to stay in the play-off mix.

A 3-1 loss at leaders Ramsgate on Boxing Day left Bay 10th – five points behind fifth-placed Sheppey but with two games in hand.

Lovell’s side make the trip to Burgess Hill on Saturday before a New Year’s Day home derby against Ashford. They then visit Sevenoaks on Saturday, January 6.

Lovell said: “We need to pick up a couple of wins over the next three games, really.

“If we can do that, we will still be there or thereabouts - but we don’t want to slip too far away from it. We can only do what we can do.

“We just wanted to get a team and a squad together to consolidate ourselves in this league for the season initially. Now, we’re after a little bit more than that and want to stay on the outskirts of the play-offs.

“There are two or three teams who are going to be ahead of everybody else come January or February. It will then be about the teams who get into the other play-off places and there’s a number of teams vying to do that.

“It’s enjoyable and throws up all sorts of different things for you to think about.

“The first part of the season has been very good for us and we’re quite happy with how we have progressed.

“We just need to make sure we continue in the same vein.”

Burgess Hill made a change in the dug-out earlier this month, with youth-team boss Gary Mansell replacing former Leyton Orient midfielder Dean Cox.

“This Christmas period is a tough period for everyone,” noted Lovell. “We have got Burgess Hill on Saturday and then Ashford and Sevenoaks.

“Burgess Hill is a tough place to go out and get a result.

“They have got a new manager and he has brought in a couple