Herne Bay exited the Emirates FA Cup, pressing the self-destruct button, with two more sent off to make the red card tally six in the last five outings.
“I’m disappointed and feel let down tonight”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “again the talking point will be the two red cards and it’s become an issue that I have got to address”.
Hastings set their stall out early forcing two goal-line clearances in the first two minutes then opening their account in the 12th when the visitors defence failed to deal with a cross from the left and Sam Crabb powered home. It would be United’s half with more chances to fall their way before Medlock added a second 3 minutes before the break with a sweet turn on the edge of the box and a firmly struck strike that flew past Delo.
In between those goals, Adams had a shot tipped over by Delo, Harris curled one just past the angle of post and crossbar and Harris again inexplicably struck the crossbar from just 6 yards out. In this first period, Bay troubled Josh Pelling in the home goal just the once when Mark Lovell’s downward header forced a save at the foot of the post.
Sam Denly made a double substitution at half time and one of those subs, Ellliot Cutts, dragged a tap in from 6 yards the wrong side of Pelling’s right hand post. If that had gone in how different the game might have been. But Cutts was not the villain here. Bays penchant for the colour rouge would soon rear its head. In the 55th minute, Nelder’s tackle in the box earned him a second yellow, red duly flourished, and Sam Cole drilled the penalty home to seemingly put Hastings out of sight.
Only now did Bay battle back. 13 minutes from time Kane Phillip sent a cross in from the left and Mark Lovell headed a lifeline goal. But, the linesman’s flag was raised. It seemed it might be ruled out but the referee had doubts, consulted the linesman and awarded the goal. More drama was to come.
In the 88th Sam Hasler struck the goal of the night, stepping inside, sending a 25 yard unstoppable screamer past Pelling. Could it be that the 10 men could pull this out of the fire? That slim hope was dashed 60 seconds later when Kane Phillip was given a straight red for his lunging late tackle down by the corner flag.
“Sammy Hasler’s strike was top class but it was too little too late”, said Denly, “we missed a great chance at the start of the second half then went three down and a man down. We have to pick ourselves up and go again”.
Hastings United: Josh Pelling, Sam Crabb, Alfie Hall (Tyrrell Richardson-Brown 62), Ollie Rowe, Jack Harris, Tom Vickers, Sam Adams, Sam Crutwell, Zac Attwood (Max Hollobone 73), Billy Medlock (Harvey Hanifan 88), Sam Cole.
Subs not used: Sean Ray, Bright Temba, Stephen Okoh, Dan Rose
Sent Off: None Cautioned: Sam Cole
Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Georgio Russo (Elliot Cutts 46), Joe Nelder, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders (Dan Parkinson 66), Danny Walder, Sam Hasler, Mark Lovell, Danny Williams, Steven Ita (Kane Phillip 46).
Subs not used: Gary Sayer, Michael Turner, Kane Butler, James Turner
Sent Off: Joe Nelder, Kane Phillip. Cautioned: Joe Nelder (2)
Referee: Michael Lowe Assistants: Nick Blogg & Philip Jones
Man of the Match: Billy Medlock (Herne Bay)
Hastings United (2) 3
Sam Crabb 12
Billy Medlock 42
Sam Cole 55 (pen)
Herne Bay (0) 2
Mark Lovell 77
Sam Hasler 88
Emirates FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying Reply
Tuesday 29th September 2015
at The Pilot Field
Attendance: 301
by Peter Guise
(Photo: Herne Bay FC library photo: Sam Hasler who scored Bay’s second goal)