Herne Bay made it six wins in seven matches at Winch’s Field this term giving credence to the claim that it is becoming something of a fortress.

“It’s nice that it’s like that” said manager Sam Denly, “we’re playing some good stuff at home, in contrast to last season when we were better away. We want to address the away form a little bit though.”

The home side got off to the best possible start when a rejuvenated Stuart King rifled home from the edge of the penalty area in the third minute after a smooth one touch one two with Dan Parkinson.

He then added a second sixteen minutes later. Danny Williams jumped in front of the Casuals ‘keeper to reach a Dan Johnson left wing cross. He didn’t, but Danny Bracken could only palm the ball into the path of the waiting King who slammed home from no more than two yards out.

Corinthian Casuals came into this encounter sitting second in the league and were in danger of being over-run. The loss of two early goals stung them out of complacency and they might have got a goal back in the 22^nd but for a neat save from Jack Delo, palming Battache’s exocet of a shot over for a corner.

From that corner Lee Hall caused collective sighs as his effort dipped at the last moment to ripple the top of the Bay net as it passed over the crossbar. Then with nine minutes to go before the interval Bay might have put the game to bed but for Bracken’s right hand upright standing in the way of a Danny Williams drive.

After the break Corinthian Casuals seemed to go through the gears and although Danny Williams shot on the hour ricocheted away off the Casuals ‘keeper for a corner, they duly clawed a goal back in the 70^th from the penalty spot. Gary Sayer was adjudged to have leant a little too harshly on Wilson-Dennis and Lee Hall duly converted from 12 yards.

There was to be no further score as Bay preserved their lead and three more home points although there was to be pantomime just before the end as additional replacement footballs had to be found and inflated on account of the more than normal attempts to launch matchballs into infinity and beyond.

“I thought we were excellent today, some of the best football I’ve seen at home since I’ve been here”, commented Sam Denly, “especially in the first half. We looked shored up today, we looked strong and solid. A soft penalty got them back in the game, they never looked like scoring. A really good team performance.”

 

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Connor Partridge, Connor Sanders, Dan Parkinson (Steven Ita 86), Joe Nelder (Sam Staunton 57), Danny Williams, Stuart King (Jordan Casey 90), James Brown.

Subs Not Used: Kane Butler, Harry Brown.

Cautions: Gary Sayer, Connor Sanders, Danny Williams  Sent Off: None

Corinthian Casuals: Danny Bracken, Nial Wright (Shane Graham 49), Mason Welch-Turner, Lee Hall, Joe Hicks, Danny Dudley, Juevan Spencer, Mahrez Battache, Jamie Byatt (Cisve Bamoussa 12 then Jason Turley 90), Karl Wilson-Dennis, Dave Hodges.

Subs Not Used: Jake Gill, Dan Bedford.

Cautions: Danny Dudley            Sent Off: None

 

Man of the Match: Danny Williams (Herne Bay)

Referee: Nick Dunn       Assistants: Steve Perry & Joe Kasper

 

Herne Bay (2) 2

King 3, 19

Corinthian Casuals (0) 1

Hall 70 (pen)

at Winch’s Field

 

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)

Saturday 27^th September 2014.

Attendance: 184

 

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Stuart King waits for the ball to drop to blast his second goal.)