Herne Bay completed their pre season schedule with a defeat at the hands of Mark Stimson’s Thurrock who gave the Bay a lesson in quick paced passing football and did much to indicate that they will be contenders for promotion from the Ryman One North this term having missed the play offs last season on goal difference.

Herne Bay took an early lead when O’Connell robbed the Thurrock left back and set up Joe Nelder who ran into the area and fired home with just three minutes on the clock.

Once Thurrock settled though their young side grew in confidence. A misplaced pass in the centre circle in the fifteenth minute from Danny Walder gave Thurrock the ball and Lamar Reynolds seized his chance to equalise when put through one on one with Kitcherside.

The Essex side, whose home turf is little more than a free kick from the northern approach to the Dartford Crossing, increased their lead midway through the opening half thanks to a sweetly struck Jordan Clark penalty then sealed Bay’s fate with Lamar Reynolds’ cheeky close range flick thirteen minutes after the turnaround.

Herne Bay Squad: Ben Kitcherside, Dan Johnson, Gary Sayer, Connor Sanders, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Danny Walder, James Brown, Jamie O’Connell, Stephen Ita, Joe Nelder, Harry Brown, Ben Brown, Kane Butler, Dominic Smee, Henry Dasofu.

Thurrock Squad: Andy Walker, Lewis Clark, Remi Sutton, Rob Gilman, Tarik Moore-Azille, Greig Stewart, Brad Warner, Tajammil Hussain, Lamar Reynolds, Jordan Clark, Jack Paxman, Ross Wall, Connor Martin, John Osa, James Goode.

Herne Bay (1) 1

Nelder 3

Thurrock (2) 3

Reynolds 15, 58

Clark J 26 (pen)

at Winch’s Field