Teenager Jack Hillier sets up winner as Herne Bay come from behind to beat Eastbourne Town 2-1 in Isthmian South East in midweek after weekend 5-3 defeat against Sevenoaks Town

Young Herne Bay defender Jack Hillier enjoyed a memorable first-team debut in their comeback victory on Tuesday.

Half-time substitute Hillier set up forward Kane Rowland’s stoppage-time winner as Steve Lovell’s side beat Eastbourne Town 2-1 in Isthmian South East at Winch’s Field.

The 17-year-old youth-team prospect came on for captain-for-the-day Jack Parter.

Bay boss Lovell explained: “We took Jack Parter off as a precaution at half-time.

“He’s not been well all week and was a bit sore. Jack was a bit nervous for the first five minutes after he came on but he grew into the game.

“He was over the moon to set up Kane’s goal.

“This is what non-league football is all about, giving these sorts of players the chance to play first-team football. He did an excellent job.

“There’s a lot more young players at the club that can do the same thing as Jack.”

Herne Bay fell behind in the second half against Eastbourne Town in front of a crowd of 278, only for young defender Joel Odeniran to equalise in the 77th minute before Rowland won it at the death.

“We kept going,” said Lovell, whose troops bounced back from a 5-3 home loss to Sevenoaks last weekend despite goals from midfielder Ethan Smith, winger Josh Reid and Odeniran.

“It just shows the character we have at the club. They all worked hard, it’s a good squad.

“Even the players that came on, they galvanised everybody and got us going. It was nice to get the winner. I think we deserved it overall.

“I was disappointed with our first-half passing, but you will have games like that over the course of a season.

“It was nice to get three points after Saturday.”

Rowland’s goal in midweek was his fourth of the campaign as he found the net for the second time in three games.

Lovell