Herne Bay boss Steve Lovell disappointed not to take something from 2-1 Isthmian South East derby defeat to Ramsgate

Herne Bay manager Steve Lovell was disappointed not to get something out of Bank Holiday Monday’s game against Ramsgate, having taken the lead at Winch’s Field.

In front of a crowd of 1,039, Bay led through Harrison Pont and controlled proceedings in the first half, only for Ramsgate to score twice in 15 minutes after the break to secure a 2-1 victory.

Lovell was delighted with the first-half display but knew his Isthmian South East team had to take their chances when on top.

He said: “In the first half we played really well, we pressed them, got into them and created quite a few chances.

“We scored early on but, even after that, we had two or three good opportunities to go two or three up, didn’t take them and against good teams - and they are a good side - it’s going to come back and bite you, and that’s what happened.

“We changed it around when we went 2-1 down, we tried to get an extra man going forward, and then we had Ponty sent off which didn’t help, but even with 10 men, we created two or three chances at the end. They were nervous, and we could have nicked something out of it.

“I’m disappointed for the boys, really. I thought they played really well, worked hard and we had opportunities to go two or three up.

“It was a good game of football and I think it is coming together.

“It’s a long season but I have been encouraged from what I’ve seen so far and, if we continue playing like this, we’ll be fine.”

Bay took the lead on three minutes when Pont, who was later dismissed for a second bookable offence, was left unmarked inside the box and beat keeper Tom Hadler with a powerful shot from close range.

The hosts bossed possession and gave away very little in terms of goal-scoring opportunities, and Lovell set up his