A 4-2 away victory at Guernsey made for a very happy flight home from the Channel Islands.
Again it was the elements that influenced the outcome. In the first half in with the strong wing at their back, the hosts, playing fast, attacking football threatened with almost every attack. Three of Bay’s goals came from corners and with the final goal in injury time it was a well deserved victory on the longest trip we have to make in the league season.
Ross Allen had a number of chances to give Guernsey the lead but Jono Richardson made a couple of tremendous last ditch tackles within the box to deny the Green Lions talisman. If it wasn’t Richardson then Ben Hunter was behind him producing a number of fine saves. One in particular, from a poor throw straight to the Guernsey forward who put Allen clear only for Hunter to redeem himself by using his 6’7″ frame to push the shot from 12 yards around the upright.
Then against the run of play Richardson jumped the highest to head home a Tom Carlton corner to give Bay an early lead which they held until the half hour mark. A good run down the left flank from Dave Rihoy was moved inside to Allen who flicked the ball back to allow Rihoy to smash a fierce volley past Hunter.
In the second half, with the strong wing now helping Bay, the impetus switched and Bay were now the dominant force. Richardson scored his second from another Carlton corner kick. Herne Bay were now asking all the questions and only a number of fine saves from 18 year old, loanee keeper from Bournemouth, Will Dennis, prevented Bay from increasing the lead.
Hunter was back in the action midway through the half with another full stretch diving save turning Thomas De la Mare shot with the outside of his boot and a point blank save with his foot keeping out a certain equalizer from substitute, Paris Pereira’s low volley.
The lead was increased when Josh Wisson nodded home from another corner kick from Carlton in the 78th minute. nodding home at the far post. However Guernsey didn’t give up and from a Jamie Dodd free kick the ball was pumped into the box. Allen somehow won a penalty after he tripped Richardson as he attempted to clear, resulting in Jono pushing Allen over. Allen made no mistake from the spot directing it into the top right corner despite Hunter guessing the right way.
Guernsey had 7 minutes to get the equaliser so they threw everything at Bay but in injury time Bay hit them on the break as Jake Embury racing from inside his own half found himself through on goal and having been first, thwarted by Dennis and then by Dodds, manged to tuck the ball into the back of the net to ensure Bay came away with the points.
Saturday 4th November 2017
Bostik League Division One South
Guernsey 2 – 4 Herne Bay
Att: 656
Goals: Richardson 2 Wisson Embery)
Herne Bay: Ben Hunter, Josh Wisson, Raphe Brown, Danny Rumbol, Jono Richardson, Bradley Schafer, Alex Mulrooney-Skinner, Tom Carlton, Jake Embery, Connor Cox, Nassim Dukali
Subs Used: Sami Mezaine (Mulrooney-Skinner 78) Jack Steventon (Rumbol 83) Tyler Myers (Schafer 90)
Subs not used: Jardel Bunda-Kamara, Jack Hyslop.
Man of the Match: Jono Richardson