Herne Bay lost a pulsating game to Walton Casuals who extracted revenge for the six nil thrashing earlier in the season.

The game started slowly as both teams seemed anxious in what seemed alien conditions as the sun shone & no rain.

The first half chance of the game came in the 21^st minute when Stuart King twenty yards saw his volleyed shot go just past the post & a minute later a long ball forward caught the Casuals defence out & King latched onto it just beating the onrushing Ferhat Aksoy but his stabbed shot went past the post.

Another chance came in the 38^th minute when King turned quickly & put Joe Nelder in but his shot was saved by Aksoy’s legs.

Walton’s first chance of the game came in the 41^st minute when Jamie Okai received the ball from a throw in, turned & shot from twenty yards just going past the post.

The very next minute saw a glorious chance go a begging for Bay as Jordan Casey saw his shot beat Aksoy but not the crossbar & as it rebounded back Nathan Eastwood reacted the quickest as he stooped to head goal wards only for Aksoy to save it.

In the first minute off added on time Casuals took the lead when Gabriel Odunaike received the ball from a throw in & turned quickly & shot into the bottom right hand corner leaving Jack Delo helpless.

In the next minute of added on time Herne Bay nearly equalised when Dave Walder saw his shot deflected to Casey whose first time shot from five yards was superbly saved by Aksoy.

The second half was only three minutes old when Okai flicked the ball on for Odunwaike whose cross to the back post found Malik Owani whose header from two yards was saved by Delo.

Another great chance went for Bay in the 51^st minute when Casey went into the area rounding Aksoy but from an acute angle his shot was cleared of the line by Sol Paterson-Bohner.

The next twenty eight minutes saw both sides having a go but both defences were on top & then in the 84^th minute a scuffle occurred as both sets of players started to push & shove each other & once it had calmed down the referee Mr David Smart gave out four yellow cards for the players involved at the start of the melee.

This stoppage did not help Herne Bay as it stopped their momentum & then in the 90^th minute Walton went two up when Owani in the area received the ball from Okai & from three yards scored.

In the 2^nd minute off added on time Kane Phillip on the left crossed low into the area for James Turner but he blazed his shot over the bar & the very next minute it was nearly three as Owani in the area went round Delo & his first shot was blocked but came back to him & his second shot was blocked again before being cleared.

The final whistle went & both teams had varied emotions after a game full of chances but one team taking theirs.

HERNE BAY:

1. J.DELO  2. M.TURNER (90+2)  3. H.BROWN  4. D.WALDER  5. C.SAUNDERS  6. G.BENNER

7. N.EASTWOOD (60)  8. J.NELDER  9. S.KING  10. J.CASEY  11. D.GRANT (70)

SUBS USED: 12. J.O’CONNELL (90+2)  14. K.PHILLIP (60)  15. J.TURNER (70)

UNUSED SUBS: 16. K.BUTLER  17. J.KENNETT

BOOKINGS:  1 .J.DELO (90+4)   3. H.BROWN (47)  8. J.NELDER (84)  10. J.CASEY (75)  14. K.PHILLIP (84)

 

WALTON CASUALS:

1. F.AKSOL  2.  S.LABINJO (80)  3. L.FLANIGHAN (8)  4. DJIBRIL FOFANA  5. J.DEEN-JIMON  6. S.HUCKLE

7. M.HUDSON (90+3)  8. S.PATTERSON-BOHNER   9. J.OKAI  10. G.ODUNWAIKE  11. M.OWANI

SUBS USED:  15. M.FITZGERALD (80)  16. S.DAY (8)  17. Y.BAMBA (90+3)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. G.MACDONALD  14. L.HALL

BOOKING: 2.S.LABINJO (80)  16. S DAY (54)  10.G.ODUNWAIKE (84)  15. M.FITZGERALD (84)

 

REFEREE: Mr D.SMART

ASSISTANTS: Mr C.BURTON & Mr P.CRUISE

ATTENDANCE: 166