We've got to be mentally strong to keep churning out results, says Herne Bay joint-manager John Embery

HERNE BAY joint-manager John Embery says his players can put themselves in the shop window when they play Gillingham on Tuesday night.

The Bay produced an impressive display during their 4-0 win over their bitter-rivals Whitstable Town at the weekend but they still remain rooted to the foot of the Bostik South East Division table with eight points from 15 games and with a home league record of seven defeats out of seven.

Whitstable Town had left-back Harry Brown red-carded for a nasty challenge on Herne Bay striker Jake Embery in the 40^th minute and Bradley Schafer headed in the resulting free-kick.

Jake Embery rifled in his 14^th goal of the season nine minutes after the interval, before Miles Cornwell and the impressive Thomas Carlton completed the rout.

John Embery and Jermaine Darlington’s side welcome League One club Gillingham to Winch’s Field for a place in the Kent Senior Cup Semi-Finals up for grabs.

“It’s one of those games where the boys can play with no pressure and just go and enjoy it, go and work hard and show those club’s what a good player you are,” said Embery.

“A player could get signed, could get bought, that’s what they’ve got to go and look at.

“If they get beat, everyone expects them to get beat. They’re a League One side and everyone expects them to get beat so you have to go there with no fear and play with passion and courage and desire to get on the ball and do the right things.

“It could change one or two of their lives, you never know. That’s what I said to them, you never know who’s watching and if you perform in that kind of game, you’ve got a chance of pushing on.”

Herne Bay then host bottom-six side East Grinstead Town at Winch’s Field on Saturday 15 December (15:00).

Matt Longhurst’s side have collected 17 points so far this season and were expected to be doing a lot better than they currently are this season.

“It’s a must-win game. We’ve got to be mentally strong to keep churning out results,” added Embery, whose side are four points adrift of the side immediately above them, Greenwich Borough.

“From a technical point of view, we’re as good as any of the sides in the top five but we’ve got to do that consistently and we’ve got to keep believing that when we play the players are doing the right things. If they keep doing that well you only have to go on a great run and get yourself in the play-offs.  There’s a lot of football to be played, so we’ll see how we go.”

The Herne Bay joint-manager admitted his 18-year-old son has been getting stick from supporters after winning only two of their league games this term.

“I feel sorry for him at times because he has to carry that mantle of being my son,” said Embery senior.

“He scored 24 goals last season, of course it adds pressure.  What it does when he’s not scoring goals people say he’s only in the team because of his dad. It’s not, it’s because of what he does for us, his working, his movement and his desire to want to keep scoring.

“He carries that really well for a young lad. It’s not easy for a youngster. If you get a youngster that gets you 10 goals you’ve done well.

“When you’re not scoring you got to keep working because if you don’t fans are going to look at you first because you’re his dad and that carries a big burden and you’ve got to be strong but he’s got big shoulders the boy.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website:  www.hernebayfootballclub.co.uk

Herne Bay  v  Gillingham
Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Tuesday 11 December 2018
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Winch’s Field,  Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG