Boss Steve Lovell insists a mid-table finish would represent a good season for Herne Bay.

Bay have struggled to build on last term’s eighth-placed Isthmian South East finish and find themselves just above the relegation zone in 16th.

Three goals in seven second-half minutes saw them lose 4-0 at home to title-chasing Sittingbourne on Tuesday. It came after keeper Josh Bexon was red-carded early on in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Ashford.

But Lovell is still confident Bay’s squad will come good.

He said: “We have played all the top sides over this period.

“We have played Ramsgate twice, Beckenham and Sittingbourne - they’re the teams towards the top and teams in form. The words ‘in form’ make a huge difference, they have built momentum.

“We’d had two good results before this week but we probably didn’t play as well as we did on Tuesday in either of them. We will get it right.

“I’ve got a really good squad, which I’m happy with this year. We will win more games than we will lose between now and the end of the season.

"I just need people back from suspensions and injuries, like Jack Parter, who was out on Tuesday.

“We want to finish mid-table. If we can finish higher, that’s brilliant.

“But this year was always going to be about building for the future. We have got some youngsters coming through and we just need to build for the next year or two.

“It’s about getting the club to where it should be in the long run, putting on performances the supporters can be proud of. We have got really good and knowledgeable supporters.

“They understand, for most of the game on Tuesday, we were in the game against a really top team so we’re not far away.

"But it will take time.”

Bay were holding Ryan Maxwell’s red-hot Brickies to a goalless draw until midway through the second half.

“It was good for an hour, we were fine,” reflected Lovell. “But they’re a very good side - probably the best side in the league we have played.

“We did well and had chances to go in front but we didn’t take them. They scored a brilliant first goal.

“It was one where, if you were a neutral, you would have applauded it. Then, there were two goals against the rub of the green.

“They just fell in the right place in the penalty box and they had scored three goals in quick succession, which was harsh on us. It’s in both boxes where our problems lie.

“We’re not taking chances at one end and they scored two really good goals on Tuesday - but the other two just dropped in the right place for them.

“The positive for us is that we were in the game for an hour. People will look at the scoreline and see 4-0 - a hammering - but I’m sure even Ryan will say we gave them a good game.

“We’re just disappointed with the result.”

Bay’s hopes were massively hit in the first 10 minutes at Ashford when goalkeeper Bexon was dismissed.

He mis-controlled a back pass and slid in to challenge a home forward, only to handle the ball outside his penalty area.

Lovell, who again had to rely on midfielder Ethan Smith with the gloves, said: “It’s amazing, really!

“Me and Mark [Lovell, his son-assistant] just looked at each other on Saturday and couldn’t believe what’s going on. To be fair, even with 10 men, the players worked so hard.

“They had the wind in the first half and went in at half-time 1-0 up. We changed our system to have a go.

“I felt, even with 10 men, that we would get a goal. They got their second and then, to be fair to Mike Salako, he missed a really good chance - but then made it 2-1.

“They were under a bit of pressure but scored a late goal.”

Left-back Bailey Akehurst made his Bay bow in midweek, having left Chatham Town.

Lovell revealed: “I know him from Gillingham.

“I tried to sign him in the summer but he went to Chatham. When I heard he had left, I was on it straight away.

“He hasn’t played a lot recently due to a little injury that he has, but he got through 90 minutes and did well.

“We didn’t really have a left-back for Tuesday with Jack Parter out, Frankie Smith out, and Monty Saunders out. I was struggling to get a team out a bit but, to be fair to the boys, they did really well.

"Bailey will be a good signing.”

Herne Bay host East Grinstead, level on points with them but with a league fixture in hand, on Saturday before Tuesday's trip to mid-table Broadbridge Heath.

Harry Brooks will return in goal for Bexon while defender Jack Parter should be fit enough to make his comeback.