Manager Steve Lovell has described their opening-day display against Burgess Hill as the worst they have put in since he took charge.

After a lengthy but encouraging pre-season, Bay found themselves 2-0 down at home to the Hillians as they played their first Isthmian South East fixture last Saturday.

Late goals from wideman Gil Carvalho and midfielder Archie Burnett salvaged a dramatic point.

While Lovell is remaining calm, he knows his new-look squad can play much better.

He said: “I’d have taken a point when they scored their second goal!

“After all the pre-season games, I thought that was our worst performance so far on Saturday. The boys agreed.

“I don’t think we could have played any worse so, to get a point, that was a bonus. When we were 2-0 down, we kept going until the end.

“We seemed a bit nervous. It was strange, really.

“That group has played most of the games in pre-season but we couldn’t pass the ball. There were five or six players really off their game.

“But it was the first competitive game - I will not get carried away with it.”

While the contest was Bay’s first competitive match, Lovell had already watched Burgess Hill edge past Sutton Common Rovers in an FA Cup replay last Tuesday and expects them to do well this term.

“I thought they were very good,” he said. “Although they took a two-goal lead, we had chances as well.

“But they will be there or thereabouts.

“They were a very experienced side. Although we didn’t play very well, we got a point out of it.

“It’s a point and a start.

“It’s going to be a tough league, there’s a lot of good teams in there, and we just need to keep working.”

Among those making their competitive bows for Herne Bay was former Dover defender Harrison Byford, who started, while another new recruit in Frankie Smith came off the bench.

On Byford, Lovell said: “He did OK. It’s new to him at this level.

“He’s a young lad, we’ve got quite a young squad. Him and Frankie Smith are both good young players.

“I’ll give youth an opportunity. They’ll learn.

“As long as we can improve them, they’re going to improve us as a team.”

Next up is an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at Bedfont Sports, of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, this Saturday.

Experienced Welshman Lovell previously came up against them in a friendly while he was with Welling.

But when asked what he knows about their current squad, Bay’s boss replied: “Nothing! I know it’s quite a good community club.

“I remember going there and playing a pre-season friendly at Welling. They didn’t start very well on Saturday, they lost their opening game [4-1 at Flackwell Heath].

“But in the FA Cup, anything can happen. If we improve on Saturday, we will be fine.

“I’m not going to get worried at this stage. I know what the boys can do and I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

The opportunity to play against opposition that Herne Bay would be unlikely to otherwise face is also welcome.

“When the draw is made, you don’t know who you’re going to play against,” stated Lovell, in charge of Gillingham in 2019 when they visited Swansea City in round four.

“I’ve experienced the FA Cup higher up. It throws up a lot of surprises.

“That’s why we have got to be on our mettle on Saturday and, hopefully, we get a result.”

The winners will earn £1,444.