Herne Bay extended their winning sequence to three with this solid performance against play off hopefuls Worthing in a niggly game on a heavy pitch at Winch’s Field.
“It was a bit niggly but I think the conditions played a part in that”, said Bay manager Sam Denly, “Worthing are a footballing side, they like to get it down and play and they couldn’t do that. It was a really good win for us.”
Bay suffered an early set back when Danny Walder had to be helped from the pitch inside the first ten minutes when he was clattered to the ground. It meant a reorganisation with Mark Lovell coming on to replace him. Steven Ita had the best chance of the half for Herne Bay soon after but his shot was deflected wide whilst the Rebels main protagonist was the lively Lloyd Dawes.
Twice in the space of two minutes Dawes might have put the visitors ahead. First in the 39th his shot from distance seemed to surprise the experienced Jack Delo in the home goal with the effort cannoning off the ‘keeper. Then, Dawes again, let fly but his shot was blocked by Turner and the ball spun up into the grateful arms of Delo.
After the break, Herne Bay forged forward more often. The difficult conditions had both sets of players slipping as they strove to gain solid footholds. Joe Nelder nodded forward to Stuart King in the 56th minute and, with his back to goal, the Golden Boot contender swivelled and sent a dipping shot just over Fagan’s crossbar. Dawes again went close for Worthing when Delo had to be at his best to push his shot round the post two minutes later.
With 8 minutes left on the clock, Bay finally made the breakthrough. Sam Hasler, on as a second half substitute, made light work of a heavy left wing as he raced on to a diagonal through ball. His low cross, hit with power had King and Lovell waiting to pounce, but it didn’t reach them as Harvey Sparks had one of those difficult split second decisions that defenders have to make, leave it knowing the forwards were racing in behind or intercept to parry the ball for a corner with a risk of turning the ball into your own net.
He chose the latter course and did, indeed, suffer the misfortune of having o.g. pencilled against his name. Fagan, his ‘keeper, was left stranded.
“I thought we were the better side today, despite the conditions we got the ball down and played and created the better chances”, said Denly, “we fully deserved the win and I’m really pleased with the boys.”
“We’re a very strong squad now and it’s a good changing room to be involved in. We’re where we are on merit, I’ve always said that mid table and above would be a good season and with 14 games to go we’re just 6 points off the play-offs.”
“If we continue to play like we have done the last few games then there’s no reason we can’t be knocking on the door come the last few games. We could give ourselves an outside chance of sneaking in there. But we’re not going to get getting carried away, there’s a long way to go yet”.
Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Danny Walder (Mark Lovell 10), Liam Quinn, Harry Brown, Nathan Eastwood, Joe Nelder, Danny Williams (Sam Hasler 64), Stuart King, Steven Ita.
Subs Not Used: Jordan Casey, Dan Johnson, Elliot Cutts.
Cautions: Nathan Eastwood, Sam Hasler. Sent Off: none
Worthing: Jack Fagan, Matt Piper, Will Hendon, Harvey Sparks, James Nicholls, Matt Hurley, Curtis Gayler, Ryan Quirke (Jaz Rance 68), Ben Pope, Omar Bugiel, Lloyd Dawes.
Subs Not Used: Tariq Richards, Corey Heath (only 3 subs named).
Cautions: Will Hendon, Ben Pope, Omar Bugiel, Jaz Rance. Sent Off: none
Man of the Match: Harry Brown (Herne Bay)
Referee: Stephen Brown Assistants: Leigh Judd & Lou Saunders.
Herne Bay (0) 1
Harvey Sparks og 82
Worthing (0) 0
at Winch’s Field
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 24th January 2015.
Attendance: 188
(photo credit: Herne Bay FC library photo – a solid performance from Harry Brown at full back earned him the man of the match award.)