Herne Bay player-coach Liam Friend reacts to Isthmian South East’s 3-0 defeat against unbeaten leaders Ramsgate

Player-coach Liam Friend admitted the first goal was crucial in Herne Bay’s Isthmian South East defeat against unbeaten leaders Ramsgate on Saturday.

Bay is on a three-game losing streak and has won just one of eight games. We lost 3-0 at Southwood.

Steve Lovell’s 17th-placed side started well but quick strikes from midfielders Benedict Bioletti and Roarie Deacon left them with a mountain to climb after the first 15 minutes.

They then lost goalkeeper Harry Brooks to a second-half red card, while seven-goal TJ Jadama finished another tough afternoon in miserable conditions.

“It wasn’t ideal,” thought Captain Friend. “We felt like we started off pretty well but there was a bit of a poor kick on their first goal due to a goalkeeping error and that changed the tone of the day a bit.

“As players I don’t think we did anything to change the day because of that, but looking back I think it was the big moment. “This is football and it happens.

“Their goalkeeper (Tom Hadler) did his job despite everything that came his way, he did a really good job, he kicked well, he caught well and he kept every shot that came his way.

Report: Ramsgate 3-0 Herne Bay

“I don’t remember them creating many chances other than two goals. It was a bit of a minor affair, so as the visiting team at the top of the league, you’re happy they had minimal chances.

“But with the first and second goals, we were really disappointed as a team with the way we defended them. We felt like that was the way the first half went.

“As soon as the red card came, the game was kind of over. We raged, we boasted, and we had a good squad in terms of working hard and going all the way, so Steve remained pretty loyal to the players.

“But if we’re lucky right now – if we win the lottery – this will be the week 100 people win!”

Bioletti looked crowded for the Rams’ opening goal, but managed to find space to release Brooks’ shot from the edge of the box in the 12th minute.

“We’ve lost a bit of confidence,” admitted Friend, who has strangely not been on the field since last Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Ramsgate. “Their bellies were a little upturned.

“I didn’t feel there was a huge difference between the two teams. Of course they have good players. It would be foolish not to take into account the fact that Joe Taylor has probably already scored like 1,000 goals this season!”

“TJ is a good player. But even if they were, I didn’t think they had enough touches to feel like, ‘Cor, he’s a good player.’

However, the match is won and lost in both penalty areas. “Their defensive penalty area and offensive penalty area were much better than ours today.”

Unless Brooks’ dismissal by referee Richard Joss for a late foul on substitute Josh Ajayi is successfully appealed, Herne Bay will have more goalscoring decisions to make in the near future. Midfielder Ethan Smith took the gloves for the remainder of the game.

Brooks, who was replaced by Sam Freeman and then Thomas Crump before being recalled for Ramsgate’s home game, will be available for Tuesday night’s home game against 19th-placed Three Bridges before his suspension arrives.

His friend said: “Sending it kind of put him out of his misery. But that’s up to Steve to get in.

“First of all anything can happen on Tuesday and he will start the game because the suspension hasn’t kicked in yet. The suspension starts on Saturday so I’m sure Steve will think about it next week.

“This is out of my control.”

Three Bridges ended their four-game losing streak by beating AFC Croydon Athletic 1-0 on Saturday.