Herne Bay player-coach Liam Friend reacts to 3-0 Isthmian South East defeat at unbeaten leaders Ramsgate

Player-coach Liam Friend admitted the first goal proved key in Herne Bay’s Isthmian South East defeat at unbeaten leaders Ramsgate on Saturday.

Bay are on a three-game losing run and have won just once in eight fixtures, having gone down 3-0 at Southwood.

Steve Lovell’s 17th-placed side started well but a quickfire double from midfielders Benedict Bioletti and Roarie Deacon left them with a mountain to climb after the opening 15 minutes.

They then lost goalkeeper Harry Brooks to a second-half red card before seven-goal TJ Jadama rounded off another tough afternoon in miserable conditions.

“It wasn’t ideal,” reflected captain Friend. “We felt we started quite well but it was a bit of a sucker-punch with their first goal, from a goalkeeping error, and it sort of changed the way the day went a little bit.

“I don’t think, as players, we did anything to cause the day to change because of that - but looking back, I guess that was the big moment. That’s football and it happens.

“For their goalie (Tom Hadler), with everything that went near him, he did his job, he did really well, kicked well and caught well, and he held any shots that came his way.

Report: Ramsgate 3-0 Herne Bay

“Other than the two goals, I don’t remember them having too many chances. It was a bit of a non-event so, as the away team at top of the league, you’re happy that they have had minimal chances.

“But with goal one and goal two, we’re really disappointed as a team with how we defended those. That’s kind of how we felt the first half went.

“As soon as the red card came, the game was kind of over, really, as an event. We huffed and puffed, and we have got a good squad in terms of working hard and keeping going until the end, which is why Steve has been