Our first game at home is Hornchurch - a tough one for the first one but we've got absolutely nothing to lose, says Herne Bay boss Ben Smith

HERNE BAY manager Ben Smith says he is relishing the opportunity to returning to play home games at Winch’s Field.

Games against Kingstonian (1-1) and the FA Cup victories over Horsham (2-1) and Ashford United (2-0) yesterday, were played in Ramsgate.

Herne Bay welcome Hornchurch to Winch’s Field on Tuesday night, the first game played on the club’s new 3G playing surface after the newly-promoted club got the go-ahead to return home on the eve of their homecoming game.

Hornchurch are currently in third-place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table with 12 points from six games, while Herne Bay are second-from-bottom with four points on the board.

“It’s a really tough game but we’ll give it our best, it’s all we can do, just give it our best,” said Smith, who is managing at this level for the first time this season.

“We’re not a side that fears anyone, absolutely not.  Hornchurch won The FA Trophy the other year.  They’ve got a lot of experience at this level, unlucky to miss out going up last year.  We’re under no illusions what we’re up against but it’s a great test for us.”

Smith is looking forward to holding home advantage for the first time this season.

He said: “It’s a big thing not being at home for so long, it’s a big thing.  The term home advantage doesn’t come from nowhere.

“We’ve started the season in a new league, without that (home advantage) up our sleeve trying to help us.

“Our first game now is Hornchurch, a tough one for the first game but we’ve got nothing to lose, absolutely nothing to lose.

“We’re not in a great position looking at it but the position doesn’t reflect the performances for the majority of games so I’ve got no worries on that front.

“We’ll have a good run at some point and it’s great to be back!

“We’ve put so much work in this football club, it’s transformed and we’ve turned it around and it’s quite a nice story really from near on extinction to a promotion and now the next phase with a new pitch, new clubhouse, a new stand going in. 

“There’s an awful lot of plans at the football club to try to push on to the next level.”

Herne Bay  v  Hornchurch
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 20 September 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG