Herne Bay lost ground on main play-off contenders Whyteleafe with this draw but were heartened by the news that other rivals didn’t gain an advantage, both Worthing and Whitstable drew, the latter thanks to a late penalty.

“It does feel like a loss, I’m disappointed”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “we lacked a lot of quality in the final third but Redhill have got to take credit, they’re scrapping for points down the bottom and they made it hard for us”.

Bay had more than enough chances to put this game to bed but might easily have gone behind early on. Frankie Sawyer, formally with the Uniteds of Tooting & Mitcham and Hastings crashed an effort against the home crossbar before Herne Bay came alive.

Twice in the space of seven minutes Sam Hasler might have opened his account. His first attempt came after cutting in from the right, twisting past two Redhill defenders then blasting over the bar. The second, a left foot drive on the quarter hour mark, brought a top draw safe out of Rhys Hughes in the Lobsters’ goal.

The chances came, and went, after the turnaround as well. Mark Lovell, with the hour reached, was inches away from connecting with Danny Walder’s right wing cross.

Madness descended on the game seven minutes later with referee, Karl May, having to deal with a melee on the edge of the Redhill penalty area before a Bay free kick could be taken. 5 yellow cards were brandished in the direction of 3 home players and 2 from the visitors.

One of those in the direction of Michael Olarewaju who also escaped what would have been a straight red had his apparent punch throwing been witnessed by match officials who were busy, and unsighted, dealing with the edge of the box argy-bargy.

Finally, the awarded free kick was taken producing a spilled safe from Hughes who grabbed the ball at the second time of asking. Jordan Casey had the best chance of the match to set Bay’s nerves at ease but his lethargic header from Harry Brown’s left wing cross sailed harmlessly over Hughes’ crossbar.

“Frustrating has got to be the word”, bemoaned Denly, “but listen, we’ve been decent, we’re sixth in the league. Over the course of the game we’ve had enough chances to win it but another clean sheet, we take the point and move on. Mathematically we can still do it (make the play-offs) but it’s in Whyteleafe’s hands, we just want to finish as high as we can. It would be lovely to go down there last game of the season with something on it but it’s not in our control now”.

Bay ‘keeper Jack Delo, meanwhile, is celebrating 4 clean sheets in five games in March, that odd game out was the 1-0 reverse at the hands of champions elect Burgess Hill Town; surely he must be in line for the Golden Gloves Award!

 

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Bent, Liam Quinn, Harry Brown, Danny Walder (James Turner 90), Danny Spiller, Steven Ita, Mark Lovell (Jordan Casey 80), Sam Hasler (Joe Nelder 67).

Subs Not Used: Dan Johnson, Nathan Eastwood.

Cautions: Liam Quinn, Steven Ita, Dan Bent, James Turner, Harry Brown. Sent Off: none

 

Redhill: Rhys Hughes, Leonardo Mazzone, Rob Hill, George Craddock (Jack Barton 26), John Difford (Lewis Stephens-Toomey 67), Michael Olarewaju, Casey Johnson (Leyton Regan 85), Ross Morley, Daniel Thompson, Frankie Sawyer, Tyron Pink.

Subs Not Used: Keshan Mills-Whyte, Jack Penny.

Cautions: John Difford, Michael Olarewaju, Jack Barton.                        Sent Off: none

 

Man of the Match: Rhys Hughes (Redhill)

Referee: Karl May                     Assistants: Peter Cruise & Steve Perry

 

Herne Bay (0) 0

 

Redhill (0) 0

 

Attendance: 201

 

Photo credit: Steve Barton – Redhill ‘keeper Rhys Hughes foils another Herne Bay attack.