On the evidence of this match both Herne Bay and Faversham Town should be pushing for a play-off spot come season’s end.
This was as entertaining as it gets and both might have taken all three points but for the intervention of the home sides’ goal frame and the visitors’ goal-line defending.
“On the second half showing, maybe we are a little disappointed we didn’t come away with all three points”, said Faversham manager Ray Turner, “on reflection taking into account the whole 90 minutes I think it’s probably a fair result.”
“Both teams had parts of the game where they might have executed better in front of goal but any point away on a Tuesday night is not too bad and I think this league is all about accumulation”.
Herne Bay started the brighter, perhaps in an attempt to put Saturday’s defeat against Chatham behind them, but fell behind to some instinctive play from former Winch’s Field striker, Dean Grant, who stepped inside and lashed a right foot shot past Delo into the bottom left hand corner from the edge of the home penalty area.
But Herne Bay were not to be denied and Connor Sanders, playing in a more forward midfield role, finished off a good move from Kane Butler in the 22nd minute to put them level.
Butler, who spent many matches on the first team bench last season whilst being an integral part of the u18s, got the nod for the starting XI for this match and impressed with his one touch ball control and precision first time lay-offs.
60 seconds later, Mark Lovell appeared to have put the Bay ahead with a powerful header only to be denied by the assistant referee’s flag and 10 minutes later, Butler almost capped a strong performance on the night when he was inches away from converting Kane Phillip’s left wing cross.
Faversham were the early pace setters after the interval. Charley Robertson spurned a golden opportunity to put Town ahead on the hour when he blasted over from six yards. Robertson fed Grant moments later but the latter’s shot slid with precision past Delo came back off the foot of the left hand upright.
The visitors found the goalframe again when 10 minutes from time, another former Winch’s Field striker, the mercurial Stuart King, headed against the base of the post.
In the closing stages Sam Hasler’s shot was deflected for a corner to deny Bay all three points.
Entertaining stuff indeed watched by a decent Tuesday night crowd that included Bay manager Sam Denly’s brother, Joe Denly who had enticed fellow Kent cricketers Mitch Clayden and Ben Harmison along to witness this value for money derby.
Herne Bay manager Sam Denly agreed with his counterpart that a point was a fair result. “I think we dominated the first half and was unlucky to come in level but second half they’ve upped their game”, he said, “for me it was a great game of football, the supporters will be going away happy.”
“Faversham are a very good side and we’ve matched them which shows you how far we’ve come. We’ve got a strong squad this season. Kane Butler’s come in and had a very strong game. It shows the quality we’ve got and the strength in depth”.
Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Nathan Eastwood, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Dan Parkinson Steven Ita 65), Mark Lovell, Kane Butler (Danny Williams 65), Kane Phillip (Sam Hasler 75).
Subs not used: Giorgio Russo, Harry Brown.
Sent Off: None Cautioned: Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders
Faversham Town: Robert French, Ryan Cooper, Jamie Maxted, Wayne Wilson, Matthew Bourne, John Scarborough, Charley Robertson, Mabolaji Dawodu (Renford Tenyue 65), Dean Grant, Stuart King, Dave Botterill (Daniel Carrington 70).
Subs not used: Olinto Bonelm Elba Santo, Thomas Benham
Sent Off: None Cautioned: Jamie Maxted, Matthew Bourne, John Scarborough
Referee: Oliver Jackson Assistant Referees: Kane Dempster & Ross Alexander..
Man of the Match: Kane Butler (Herne Bay)
Herne Bay (1) 1
Connor Sanders 22
Faversham Town (1) 1
Dean Grant 10
Attendance: 249
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Tuesday 25th August 2015.
(at Winch’s Field)
Picture supplied by Steve Barton.