Sam Denley, Herne Bay’s young manager faces a real test of character in lifting his side before the weekend derby at Woodstock Park against Sittingbourne, as his Ryman South side were denied progress in the FA Trophy not once but twice in a real heart breaking night at Winches Field, as Premier Division side Grays Athletic squeaked into the Second Qualifying Round.

Ahead through Stuart Kings typical poachers strike just before half time, Denly’s side were thirty seconds away from progress when giant substitute Brian Moses headed home a deep left wing cross to leave the home side crest fallen. It got worse for the Bay as with nearly everyone in the ground waiting for penalties in stoppage time of extra time, Joe Nightingill was quickest to react after the ball came back off of the Bay’s left post to take the Essex side through.

To put it in context, across the 210 minutes of the tie plus stoppages, Grays were ahead for exactly 90 seconds of time added on. Some would say that that is the perfect way to win football matches; others – Denly included – were left completely crestfallen!

“Disappointed is an understatement”, the Bay boss admitted. “I’m gutted for myself, gutted for the club, and gutted for the players. Over the two games, we were undoubtedly the better side, and what frustrates me is that we should have been out of sight before half time tonight if we’d taken our chances… gutted, absolutely gutted!”

Bay started brightly and could have been in front early on – Sam Hasler crossed from the left only for the flying King to be inches away from converting at the back post. The home side went even closer just past the half hour – Dean Grant’s terrific run and cross down the right saw Grays keeper Lamar Johnson flap at the cross (not for the last time during the course of the game). The ball dropped Jamie O’Connell who’s shot came back off the right post and took a horrendous bobble just as King went to shoot and the ball sliced wide and the chance was gone!

Throughout the first half, Grays threatened particularly down the left through Lee Flynn and Joao Carlos and on two or three occasions Bay keeper Jack Delo was relieved to see the ball flash across the face of his goal with the closest having Alex Cruickshank sliding in at the far post but just unable to convert the chance.

Bay deservedly took the lead on the stroke of half time. The tireless Danny Walder slipped the ball through to King, who side stepped the advancing keeper before smashing the ball gleefully into the net for his first goal for the club since his return from Folkestone.

After the break, Grays came more and more into the game without ever really testing Delo as Joe Kennett and Connor Saunders superbly led the Bay rear guard.

Indeed Hasler came close to extending the lead as his shot from the edge of the box looped up off a defenders lunge only to land on top of the net! As Grays continued to press, the Blue Herne Bay defensive line was being pushed further and further back as time ticked by, but it was only with seven minutes of normal time left that the visitors created a golden opportunity when following a melee on the edge of the box, substitute Jack West looped a ball round the motionless Delo only for it to crash back off the left post.

It was a warning that sadly the home side didn’t heed as with the clock showing 90 minutes, Moses rose highest at the back post to head Grays level.

And into Extra Time the tie went, and Walder came incredibly close to giving the Bay the lead again as Johnson spilled what looked like a low shot and was extremely relieved to see it bounce past the right post. Johnson was again left wanting as he attempted to cut out a long throw – the ball fell to Dan Lawrence who snatched at his shot and the ball disappeared into the car park.

That set the tone as twice more in the second period the ball made the same trip. Firstly Carlos somehow missed from six yards after Delo made a truly remarkable save to keep out West’s header – as the ball dropped Carlos not only cleared the cross bar but also sent the ball out of the ground.

A feat that his team mate Kenny Beaney repeated – this time following Carlos great run as penalties began to look inevitable. Inevitable that is until Nightingill’s late late late winner stole progress for the Essex side and left Denley and his side totally crest fallen and more importantly dumped out of the Trophy!

HERNE BAY – Delo, Turner (Brown 119), Sayer, Walder, Kennett, Sanders, Hasler, Nelder, O’Connell (Case 47), King (Casey 72), Grant

Subs not used – Turner and Lloyd

GRAYS – Johnson, Pope, Flynn, Nightingill, East, Cruickshank, Lalite (Moses 82), Beaney, Small (West 75), Hammond (Ramos-Gonzales 105), Carlos

Sub not used – Gilchrist

Referee – Mr Spain
Assistants – Mr Rowley & Mr Burton