Herne Bay player-manager Liam Friend hopeful team can build on goalless Isthmian South East weekend draw against Crowborough Athletic ahead of away match against Merstham

Player-boss Liam Friend is eager for Herne Bay to build on the display in their last match as they prepare for a stiff test this Saturday.

Friend was much more satisfied with what he saw from his players in last weekend’s goalless draw at home to relegation-threatened Crowborough despite the stalemate extending their run to one win in eight Isthmian South East games.

Next up is a trip to fellow play-off hopefuls Merstham, with Bay beating the Moatsiders 2-1 at Winch’s Field in October through goals from top scorer Kamani McFarlane and striker Alfie Bloomfield, despite having defender Joe Alatise dis-missed in the second period.

“They had a good result on Saturday, beating Ashford (2-1), who have been in really good form,” said Friend. “They’re a good team.

“We beat them earlier in the season so I’m sure they will want to get back at us. We were really good for 60 minutes and then, when we went down to 10 men, we didn’t really touch the ball. We know it will be a tough test.

“I know they have got some good individual players in Emmanuel Robe, Korrey Henry and Ange Djadja, who they have signed from Fisher.

“You always want to be playing the teams above you and this weekend will be no different. I’m really keen for us to build on Saturday’s performance with another good one.

“As long as our players give that, I’m sure we will be okay.”

There was no way through for Bay against Crowborough despite debutant striker Johan Caney-Bryan having a first-half goal chalked off for offside and left-back Rhys Wyborn hitting the woodwork.

But centre-half Friend reflected: “For a few weeks, I’ve been bemoaning that the performances haven’t been there. I thought the performance was there on Saturday.

“It was all us but Crowborough dug in