Liam Friend is pleased with the strength-in-depth Herne Bay’s squad has got - but hasn’t ruled out adding further firepower.

Bay claimed an impressive 2-1 Isthmian South East home win against Merstham last weekend despite finishing the match with 10 players after defender Joe Alatise was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Veteran midfielder James Rogers, 40, striker James Jeffrey and young midfielder Jamie Lartice were introduced in the second half as Herne Bay defended their lead after first-half goals by top scorer Kamani McFarlane and forward Alfie Bloomfield put them in control.

“We’re probably still one or two attackers light on the bench,” said Bay player-boss Friend. “But we want a squad.

“A couple of players have left, not wanting to buy into our squad. All the players that came on did a good job on Saturday.

“To be fair to JJ (Jeffrey), when he came on, he probably played in two or three different positions in the 20 minutes or so he was on for!

“But a special mention to Alfie, who JJ came on for, as he had absolutely run himself into the ground.

“That’s what we want - and expect - from our players.”

It meant Friend saw both sides of his team’s game in their victory against the Moatsiders.

He reflected: “I was really pleased with the performance.

“The first hour was easily the best we have played this season. We looked really solid at the back, we created a lot of opportunities and probably the only negative was we didn’t take our chances.

“Then, I was really pleased for a different reason after a bit of a silly second yellow from big Joe. It sort of changed the game a little bit.

“After that, I was pleased for a different reason - the resilience, the doggedness and our great team shape. Even then, I felt we had four or five counter-attacks that we could have extended our lead in.

“They did score a really good goal. Their lad (Lee Lewis) has put one in the stanchion from about 20 yards out.

"As a team, doing 10 men getting behind the ball a little bit, that’s always something that can happen.

“I was pleased for two reasons - the first hour, we were really good - and then in the last 30 minutes, we showed the other side of the game.

"That’s just as important.”

While Friend felt Alatise’s first caution was harsh, he had no complaints over the second, which came in the 59th minute at Winch’s Field.

“The first booking is never a booking,” said fellow centre-back Friend, talking ahead of their midweek match. “The referee did have a bit of a wobbly 10 minutes with his decision-making.

“One of their players got booked for something very light and I don’t know if it was a case of he had done that so he had to book Joe for that.

“But I’ve got no real complaints about the second yellow card. When you’re on a booking, you have got to be a little bit more careful.

“It’s the second time we have been down to 10 men this season.

“We drew 0-0 at Broadbridge Heath and we’ve beaten Merstham. I don’t want us to get too good at doing it - that means we’re doing it too often!

“But there definitely is a positive way of looking at it.”

Fifth-placed Bay’s win over Merstham kept them in the play-off places in the early standings, albeit they have played more fixtures than most.

Friend said: “I think all of the top eight won on Saturday so it shows you the consistency you probably need to stay up there.

“If any of those guys had not won, they would have dropped off the pace. It’s going okay but, if we keep performing how we did on Saturday, I’ll be really pleased.

"Hopefully, that’ll stand us in good stead.”

Scott Heard scored both goals in a 2-0 win at VCD on Tuesday, although Bay defender Louie Procopi was red-carded in the second half.

Alatise misses out through suspension when Bay host second-placed Three Bridges this weekend.

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