Herne Bay scrambled back up to 9th in the league with this last gasp victory against a Horsham side reduced to ten men just before half time. 
They left it late too with substitute Kane Butler securing the points in the first minute of time added on to the 90.
“It was a very welcome 3 points,” said Bay manager Sam Denly, “I said to the lads, when you play a side that goes down to ten men it’s always hard, they galvanise and come out and have a go. It was two points gained, probably didn’t deserve all three if we are being honest.”
Ben Kitcherside took the ‘keeper’s jersey in the absence of Jack Delo and Bay also included the returning from injury Connor Sanders at centre back. They both made substantial contributions to the match.
Kitcherside, particularly, when he pulled off a tremendous save in the 41st with his legs to deny Jamie Cade. If Horsham had scored at that point it might have been game over for the Bay who conceded in the 28th when Nwacukwu converted a penalty awarded after Ben Brown upended Harry Smith in the box. But Bay recovered.
Ben Brown watched in amazement as Gareth Williams climbed to palm his header round the angle of post and bar in the 42nd. With the home side finishing the half the stronger, Dan Parkinson headed goalwards and was brought down in the penalty area by Glen Woodburn who was shown a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity.
He might equally have seen red for thrusting his head toward Parkinson immediately after the incident. But the former offence was confirmed by the match referee as the reason for the dismissal. Stuart King made no mistake from the spot to level the scores.
After the break, as often happens when a side goes down to ten men, Horsham played with real purpose and Herne Bay had to scrap to stay in the game.
Ben Brown drove over the bar in the 52nd minute and Steven Ita pulled his shot wide in the 71st. Horsham continued to press though and ten minutes from time felt harshly done by when Nwacukwu went down in the box and received a caution for simulation by referee Paul Yates who was perfectly positioned to judge.
Indeed, Mr Yates handling of the match and his major decision making were among the best this correspondent has seen this season.
The introduction five minutes from time of Kane Butler, who missed playing for England U18s because of an accident of birth, 12 days would have made all the difference, proved instrumental.
Stuart King, who gave a solid performance throughout, dummied a cross from the right and Butler swept sweetly into the far right hand corner of the net with just seconds remaining on the clock.
After a three match losing run in the league Bay have bounced back. “We’ve done that well,” said Denly, “we’ve come back, won in the FA Cup, got a point at Sittingbourne and we’ve got a win today. We’ve stopped the rot, the lads are working hard, and they can work harder that’s for sure, but we’ve won at home, we’ll take that and we’ll build for Tuesday.”
South Park are the visitors on Tuesday to Winch’s Field ahead of Bay’s trip to Tonbridge Angels in the FA Cup next Saturday.
Herne Bay: Ben Kitcherside , Michael Turner (Jordan Casey 62), Dan Johnson, Nathan Eastwood, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Dan Parkinson, Ben Brown, Stephen Ita (Kane Butler 85), Stuart King, Sam Staunton (Joe Nelder 62).
Subs Not Used: Harry Brown, James Brown.
Cautions: Liam Quinn 44 Sent Off: None
Horsham: Gareth Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Billie-Joe King, Glen Woodburn, Tom Gilbert, Byron Napier, Ross Morley, Tony Nwacukwu, Jamie Appleford, Jamie Cade, Harry Smith (Tom Bingham 62).
Subs Not Used: Warren Gibson, Gary Charman, Jamie Hills.
Cautions: Tony Nwacukwu Sent Off: Glen Woodburn
Man of the Match: Stuart King (Herne Bay)
Referee: Paul Yates Assistants: Alexis Stacchini, Piotr Zachwija
Herne Bay (1) 2
King 45 (p), Butler 90
Horsham (1) 1
Nwacukwu 28 (p)
at Winch’s Field
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 6th September 2014.
Attendance: 244
by Peter Guise
Photo credit: Steve Barton – Bay equalise through Stuart King’s spot kick