Marcel Barrington came close to drawing Kevin Watson’s side level when his free kick clattered against the crossbar, only for Ben Marlow to double the Blues’ lead with a low finish moments later.

The energetic Jonny Giles added a third on the hour mark as Bishop’s Stortford looked to squeeze the life out of the visitors.

But despite a flurry of late half chances, the Bay were outfought over the course of 90 minutes, leaving them to suffer a second successive defeat.

Against a top opposition many are expecting to be competing for that single automatic promotion place, a good strong start was always on the cards.

However, with less than sixty seconds on the clock, Watson’s side were dealt a blow when a flick on from Chris Harris fell to Deering, who lobbed the ball over the top of Perrin, who was caught off his line, and into the back of the net.

Without a goal since joining the Bay from Brentwood Town, Daniel Ogunleye looked to try and work something with Barrington but in trying to thread the ball through to the forward, he overcooked his final pass, leaving the Bishop’s ‘keeper with a simple stop.

With Aveley and Hornchurch hot on their tails, the hosts were in no mood to turn off the pressure and almost had a second through Harris, who rose highest to meet the ball with his head, only to direct it narrowly off target.

Bishop’s were starting to bang on the door as the Bay began to get forced onto the back foot, with Deering a whisker away from bagging a spectacular second.

However, there is plenty of talent in the Herne Bay squad and with Mason Saunders-Henry having already some eye-catching goals this season, you’d be forgiven for expecting more of the same when he cut inside his man on the corner of the box before pulling the trigger.

With many expecting the net to ripple, heads were in hands as the ball whistled wide of the left-hand post.

The men in yellow were starting to gather momentum and just before half time, Barrington almost drew his side level, but a well-struck free-kick clattered against the crossbar, with the shot-stopper nowhere near stopping it had the ball been just a fraction lower.

That momentum was brought to an abrupt end a minute of two later when Bishop’s marched the ball up the other end to bag a second through Marlow, who gathered the ball just outside the box before firing into the bottom corner.

A better start to the second half was needed an in the returning Hamilton Antonio, things could have started perfectly when the midfielder marched the ball forwards in the 50th minute before pulling the trigger. However, the fan-favourite could only fire over.

Approaching the 60th minute, those in attendance were getting the impression that a third goal was not far off and unfortunately for the Bay, it was Bishop’s who bagged it, courtesy of Giles, whose trickery allowed him plenty of time to fire through a crowded penalty area.

Chances did not stop coming for the hosts as they pushed on for a fourth, only to find Perrin to be a determined man between the sticks, with the Bay number one saving well from Giles in the 75th minute of play.

Entering the final fifteen minutes, Watson’s men were starting to show a little fight as they set about getting on the score sheet. The duo of Barrington and Saunders-Henry looked to be the most likely duo to do any damage but the big striker could only head Mason’s excellent cross wide.

But they were almost the creators of their own downfall with less than six minutes to play when a defensive header was pounced upon by a Bishop’s attacker. Thankfully, Perrin was on hand to spare his sides’ blushes, pulling off a fine save.

There was still time on the clock to try and come away with something from the game, with Barrington once again finding the ball at his feet. Allowed a little bit too much room to work with, Marcel bit when given the opportunity to shoot, only to see the Bishop’s shot-stopper get his fingertips to the ball to deflect it behind.

But the hosts seemed comfortable enough with the lead they had developed and saw out the rest of the game to collect all three points.

Full Time: Bishop’s Stortford 3 Herne Bay 0

Bishop’s Stortford Starting XI: Jack Giddens, Sam Deering (Frankie Merrifield 76’), Jonathan Giles, Matthew Johnson, David Olufemi, Lordon Akolbire, Darren Foxley (Ryan Charles 66’), Ben Marlow (Donnell Thomas 70’), Mark Haines, Oliver Peters, Christopher Harris.
Yellow Cards: Mark Haines 42’ Matthew Johnson 44’ Ben Marlow 57’

Unused Subs: Jay Porter, Anthony Church

Herne Bay Starting XI: Jordan Perrin, Dan Johnson, Finn O’Mara, Connor Dymond, David Ozobia, Marcel Barrington ©, Daniel Ogunleye, Hamilton Antonio (Donnell Anderson 74’), Jack Sammoutis, Jude Russell, Mason Saunders-Henry

Yellow Cards: Connor Dymond 58’ Hamilton Antonio 70’

Unused Subs: Troy Williams, Monty Saunders, Mike West