Herne Bay boss Steve Lovell welcomes home ties as side drawn against Rayners Lane or Broadfields United in FA Cup and Northwood in FA Trophy

Manager Steve Lovell has welcomed Herne Bay’s home draws in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy.

Isthmian South East Bay will host Rayners Lane or Broadfields United at Winch’s Field in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday, August 17.

Northwood then will be Herne Bay’s visitors in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round on Saturday, September 7.

“It’s nice to have two at home,” said Lovell, who saw rivals Ramsgate - one of his former clubs - make it to the FA Cup Second Round last year.

“The first two FA Cup draws were away last year.

“Someone like Ramsgate showed last year just what a positive impact a good cup run can have for a club. We all want to go as far as we can in any competition.

“I’m pleased we have got two home draws because that gives us a good chance to progress further in those competitions.”

There was certainly no shortage of entertainment as Herne Bay started pre-season with a 7-4 victory at home to Southern Counties East Premier Division Hollands & Blair last weekend.

Lovell said: “It was a very good run-out.

“We made changes later on and, obviously, the youngsters and trialists coming on changed it a little bit but we have got to give them a go.

“For the majority of it, it was very pleasing and we scored some good goals. It was a very good attacking performance.

“Some of the new lads coming in had a run-out - Kane Haysman, Ethan Smith and Ollie Gray all got minutes on the pitch.

“Jack Parter was excellent on Saturday.

"He’s such a good signing because he can play in a number of positions and Mo Kamara, again, has come back, looking sharp.”

Two-goal Sam Sarpong, Mike Salako, Kamara, Frankie Smith, Kayan Hassan and Kane Rowland found the target.

“We like to go at teams,” admitted Lovell, whose troops were one