Derby double header

Herne Bay are preparing to play rivals Faversham twice in quick succession.

The two sides are due to meet at Winch’s Field this Saturday, before Bay play the mid-table team at Salters Lane 10 days later in a match which has already been re-arranged several times.

Ben Smith’s Bay side will be aiming to get their Isthmian South East play-off bid back on track after being dealt two blows in recent days. Sixth-placed Bay lost 3-1 at Sevenoaks last weekend, while they have decided against appealing the decision to award last month’s abandoned match to play-off rivals Haywards Heath.

Heath were 1-0 ahead at halftime at Winch’s Field when the referee got injured and the match was called off - with the teams unable to agree on a replacement official or on how the match could continue. A club statement on Sunday said Bay had been fined “a substantial amount” for allegedly breaching league rules and they eventually decided against appealing “despite the mitigating circumstances”. It leaves Herne Bay four points behind Haywards Heath but with a game in hand. Smith said: “We have got to prepare for Faversham at home and Faversham away. They are going to be two very different games.

“I think they have a good side. When I was at Canterbury, my style of play was not particularly great but it brought success, especially in the (FA) Vase, so I’m not going to knock someone for playing to their strengths. Faversham play to their strengths. “That’s what makes James Collins a good manager, and they’re going to be two tough games.”

Smith also revealed the club have lost the services of Adem Ramadan, who appears set to join rivals Ashford.

There had been suggestions an illegal approach was made for the midfielder but Smith backed Ashford manager Tommy Warrilow, saying: “Adem has gone too (to Ashford).

“It’s a bit of a grey area as to whether we received a sevendayer. But to be fair, Tommy Warrilow rang me and I trust him explicitly.

“He is probably one of the most straight-up guys I have come across in football. I don’t think he would intentionally make an illegal approach. “We have to wait seven days and I expect Ashford will be signing him. All we are going to do is wish Adem the best at the club.”

At Sevenoaks, Herne Bay fell behind before the visitors levelled through Rory Smith’s effort, with Smith feeling his side had taken control.

But a “really criminal” second left Smith furious and put Harry Hudson’s new-look team in front before they added a third. Bay have also signed midfielder Tyler Cox who had been at Lingfield of the Southern Combination League. On Cox, Smith, who didn’t rule out making further signings, said: “He is an explosive player, he adds to our attacking options.”

Winger Roberto Ratti has also indicated on social media he has left the club but Smith didn’t rule out him playing for Bay again before the end of the season.