The vast majority of Herne Bay’s biggest crowd of the season so far went away disappointed with this below par performance as the home side ran out of steam after half time.

Hopes would have been high at the break, Bay had the better of the first half but a calamitous early error in the second period signalled Bay’s descent toward defeat.

As early as the 5^th minute Steven Ita laid down a marker for Sam Denly’s side when he shot across the face of the visitor’s goal. Ita’s quick feet and skilful movement would be instrumental throughout the opening half as Bay pressed for an opening goal that never arrived. On the quarter hour mark a clever back heel from Stuart King set up Ben Brown whose blocked shot fell to James Brown only for his effort to be turned round the post. The resulting corner was taken short and Sam Hasler’s curling shot was tipped over.

Herne Bay did have the ball in the net soon after but the referee adjudged the goalkeeper to have been pushed when he dropped the ball although closer examination would have revealed that the foul on the Swans ‘keeper was committed by his own centre half. Such is football!

Then came the interval. Walton & Hersham launched a speculative attack from the off. A long ball into the home box was allowed to bounce and with Delo waiting for it to drop, the experienced veteran,Tony Reid, lifted the ball over him and into the net.

Too many passes from Herne Bay were now going astray and few defensive clearances found a blue shirted player. The play became ragged and the Surrey side advanced at their leisure but it wasn’t until 7 minutes from time that they put the match beyond reasonable doubt when Tarome Hemmings lashed home.

Bay might have pulled one back in the closing stages when Stuart King fired goalwards having been put through by Ita but the Swans custodian, Gary Ross, shot out his left arm to parry the ball away.

Ironically, Herne Bay will have an early chance to redeem themselves as they travel to Stompond Lane next Saturday to play Walton & Hersham in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. Manager Sam Denly will not need to remind his charges of this particular afternoon’s second half performance.

 

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Dan Johnson, James Brown (Joe Nelder 64), Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Samuel Hasler, Dan Parkinson (Sam Staunton 79), Ben Brown (Jordan Casey 64), Stuart King, Stephen Ita.

Subs Not Used: Harry Brown, Ben Kitcherside.

Cautions: None

Sent Off: None

Walton & Hersham: Gary Ross, Nathan Daly, Yinka Salami (Marvin Farrell 78), Andre Scarlett, Louis Clark, Ashley Thompson, Tarome Hemmings, Vernon Francis, Tony Reid (Andrew Dalhouse 80), Andrew Mensah, Dominic Ogun.

Subs Not Used: Daniel Ranger, Kadeem Ajeon, Josh Bennett.

Cautions: None

Sent Off: None

Man of the Match: Tony Reid (Walton & Hersham)

 

Referee: Simon Finnigan            Assistants: Ollie Butcher, Orville Bentley

 

Herne Bay (0) 0

 

Walton & Hersham (0) 2

Reid 46, Hemmings 83

at Winch’s Field

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)

Saturday 23^rd August 2014.

 

Attendance: 215

Picture supplied by Terry Kemp (Stephen Ita threads his way through two Walton & Hersham midfielders.)