Herne Bay manager Steve Lovell on dual-registered midfielder Bola Dawodu’s future and an Isthmian South East trip to Erith & Belvedere

Bola Dawodu remains a part of Herne Bay’s promotion-chasing squad, insists manager Steve Lovell.

Dawodu has joined Southern Counties East Premier Division side Lordswood on a dual-registration basis and started against one of his former clubs last weekend in a 3-2 win at Faversham.

But Lovell still thinks the versatile midfielder will be involved at some stage in the business end of Bay’s Isthmian South East season.

“I said to Bola he needs to go out and get some minutes,” explained Lovell.

“We have dual-registered him with Lordswood. But I’ve spoken to Bola and said he’s very much a large part for us.

“Like he said himself, he cannot get into the team because the team is doing well. He’s been doing well there but he’s still very much a part of our squad.

“At the moment, our team picks itself - but it’s important the others get minutes.”

Play-off occupants Bay made it 22 points out of the last 27 available with their own 3-2 win - a hard-fought game against basement boys Beckenham on Saturday.

Lovell twice saw Bay squander a first-half lead and added: “I don’t think it’s the best we have played.

“I was a bit disappointed with our performance, but we will have games like those.

“We have been on a good run – we had a bit of a dip – but we came out with three points. I would have taken the result before the game because Beckenham are fighting for their lives.

“If I’m being honest, perhaps they should have got something out of the game but we dug it out.”

Red-hot striker Michael Salako scored twice in the first half to take his tally to 22 goals.

Lovell said: “He had a couple of other chances which he should have scored as well. He could have ended up on four or five!

“But he’s getting there at the right time and, generally,