Herne Bay boss Steve Lovell describes opening-day display in 2-2 draw with Burgess Hill Town as worst since he took charge during the summer

Manager Steve Lovell has described their opening-day display against Burgess Hill as the worst they have put in since he took charge.

After a lengthy but encouraging pre-season, Bay found themselves 2-0 down at home to the Hillians as they played their first Isthmian South East fixture last Saturday.

Late goals from wideman Gil Carvalho and midfielder Archie Burnett salvaged a dramatic point.

While Lovell is remaining calm, he knows his new-look squad can play much better.

He said: “I’d have taken a point when they scored their second goal!

“After all the pre-season games, I thought that was our worst performance so far on Saturday. The boys agreed.

“I don’t think we could have played any worse so, to get a point, that was a bonus. When we were 2-0 down, we kept going until the end.

“We seemed a bit nervous. It was strange, really.

“That group has played most of the games in pre-season but we couldn’t pass the ball. There were five or six players really off their game.

“But it was the first competitive game - I will not get carried away with it.”

While the contest was Bay’s first competitive match, Lovell had already watched Burgess Hill edge past Sutton Common Rovers in an FA Cup replay last Tuesday and expects them to do well this term.

“I thought they were very good,” he said. “Although they took a two-goal lead, we had chances as well. But they will be there or thereabouts.

“They were a very experienced side. Although we didn’t play very well, we got a point out of it.

“It’s a point and a start.

“It’s going to be a tough league, there’s a lot of good teams in there, and we just need to keep working.”

Among those making their competitive bows for Herne Bay was former Dover defender Harrison Byford, who started, while