Herne Bay manager Ben Smith speaks of admiration for Lewes boss Tony Russell

Herne Bay boss Ben Smith has spoken of his admiration for Tony Russell as his side prepare to host Lewes this Saturday.

Russell’s Lewes head into the match after an 8-0 FA Cup thrashing of Sheppey on Tuesday. Former Sittingbourne, Ramsgate, Folkestone and Margate striker Joe Taylor scored five of them.

Smith has a lot of respect for what Russell did at Cray Wanderers before he left last year and believes it’s no surprise Lewes are just outside the Isthmian Premier play-offs this term.

“I had a lot of appreciation for Cray Wanderers with what Tony Russell did there,” said Smith, whose team will visit Margate on Tuesday.

“We tried to base ourselves around what Cray did, I’m sure a lot of other clubs are trying to emulate that as well. It says an awful lot about what they had done.

“It’s no surprise they have done well at Lewes.

“It’s nice to test yourself against good quality - Andy Drury at Margate included - so let’s roll the dice and see how we go.”

While Lewes are fighting at the right end of the table, 19th-placed Herne Bay are in the relegation zone and Margate have only collected one point more from their opening five league fixtures and sit 15th.

Smith said: “They are two tough games against two good sides. They have two very different styles.

“Lewes, we know they will have a lot of the ball and we will need to ride our luck a bit.

“Margate, I have watched them a couple of times this season. They have shown how resilient they are but, also, they have a lot of quality.

"Ben Greenhalgh is one of the best players in the league but we are no mugs.

“It will be interesting to know when Margate last played Herne Bay in a league game, I certainly don’t know off the top of my head.

“It’s a shame it’s on a Tuesday night and