Herne Bay’s unexpected play off push continued with a narrow win over Sittingbourne in a game that had just about everything you’d hope for on “Derby Day”.
The home side were grateful to striker Zac Ansah for his 27th and 28th goals of the season – both came from the spot. Incredibly this was also the striker’s 10th and 11th penalties of the season – but the Bay’s real hero was skipper Laurence Harvey who sustained a nasty cut to the side of his left eye – that left the defender with his head swathed in bandage – before returning to replace keeper George Kamarusi, who’s own afternoon was cut short courtesy of a dislocated left shoulder.
During a first half with little to write about, Harvey’s injury was the first thing of note to happen before on 21 minutes, Keiron Campbell’s run into the Sittingbourne box was crudely ended and Ansah sent keeper Jordan Perrin the wrong way from the spot.
A long ball into the home box then spelt disaster for Kamarusi as the giant keeper tried to claim the ball only to fall awkwardly on his shoulder. Gamely, he attempted to continue but finally succumbed just before half-time with Harvey taking over between the sticks where he was called into action almost immediately – doing well to block Chukwun Okoh’s goalward prod from a free-kick knock-down – before at the other end Anthony Edgar fired over after a charging run.
The second period began in controversial fashion as Dan Carrington was adjudged to have handled in the box and shown a straight red card from referee George Warren. The dismissal looked a harsh decision, and some would say that justice was done when Harvey guessed right – diving to his left to push away Johan Caney-Bryan’s disappointing penalty.
Harvey’s heroics seemed to spur on his side and moments later Perrin produced a terrific save to deny Tom Carlton after super build up from Carlton himself, Ansah and Tushaun Tyreese Walters before Ansah hit the left post for the ten men.
The home side did then gain the crucial second goal and again it came from the spot – this time it was Edgar who had been pulled back in the box and Ansah again stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.
It was the eighth time this season that Ansah has netted a double for his side, and the second penalty seemed to knock Sittingbourne out of their stride, as Herne Bay’s top-scorer came agonisingly close to converting his double into a hat-trick. First Perrin pulled off another terrific save, and when Ansah did manage to get round the Brickies keeper, the striker couldn’t force the ball home as his fired against a post from an acute angle.
Yet to their eternal credit Sittingbourne kept going and were rewarded in the 89th minute when Okoh brilliantly angled a glancing header (from a wide free kick) over Harvey and into the net.
Indeed, the visitors almost snatched an unlikely point when substitute Harry Miller threw himself into the box and failed to convert a last gasp chance with his very first touch, but in fairness if the game had finished level, it would have been tough on the ten men.
Sittingbourne return to Woodstock pointless and boss Chris Lynch must already be starting to plan for next season, whilst for Ben Smith’s Bay occupy the final play off spot with ten games to go – albeit with sixth placed Chichester City six points behind with three games in hand… Its going to be an interesting few weeks at the seaside!
HERNE BAY – Kamurusi (Dawodu), Cooper, Kabamba, Harvey, Carrington, Lawrence, Walters (Stevenson), Carlton, Ansah, Edgar, Campbell (Naiwo)
Subs – Lightfoot & Akihinbare
SITTINGBOURNE – Perrin, Spencer (Ako-Adjei), Shirley-Clarke, Brodie. Walters-Wright, Fitchett, Stace, Eze (Bramble), Sollis, Caney-Bryan, Okoh (Miller)
Subs – Oladejo & Hanson
REFEREE – Mr Warren
ASSISTANTS – Mr Collins & Mr Woods