Herne Bay’s quick passing game and fluid movement was too much for newly promoted South Park despite the visitors taking an early lead when Chris Smith rammed home at the near post from a right wing cross.
Manager Sam Denly said, “Tonight we got back to playing good football, in spells we were excellent, it was good to get the three points.”
Herne Bay hit back immediately after that early reverse with Stuart King levelling inside 60 seconds with his 6th goal of the season, a cheeky chip from 25 yards. Bay manager Sam Denly gave a second consecutive outing to young ‘keeper Ben Kitcherside and twice he was on hand to deny South Park a second goal. His first of those two interventions was a spectacular save from Chris Smith’s free kick from the edge of the box that curved round the wall and would have been seen late.
But Herne Bay hit back, playing patient possession football, moving the ball between back four and midfield until the opportunity arose to strike and strike it did just after the half hour mark when Michael Turner on a marauding mission from right back strode forward to volley past James Wastell in the South Park goal. The visitors might have levelled just before the break but Smith’s left foot shot went just wide of Kitcherside’s left hand upright.
Bay could have added to the score line in the second period but that would have been harsh on a South Park side that stayed resolute to the end. Kieren Lavery and Chris Smith will, on their day, be a potent handful for the Surrey side but they were well contained by Quinn and Sanders with Michael Turner outstanding at right back. Liam Quinn was given too much space by the South Park defence in the 80th minute but saw his power header tipped round the post by Wastell and Joe Nelder almost finished off another teasing Steven Ita run but his shot fizzed wide 3 minutes from time.
This was Bay’s second league victory in the space of four days with the home faithful rightfully applauding them from the pitch at the final whistle. Herne Bay moved up to 8th in the league as a result of this win, leapfrogging neighbours Whitstable Town in the process.
The performance more than anything will give this Herne Bay side confidence going into the FA Cup tie at Ryman Premier Tonbridge Angels on Saturday. “We’ve picked up another few injuries”, said Sam Denly, “but there’s no pressure on us, our league form is good and we’ll go up there and have a go. There’ll be a few young lads involved, it’s an FA Cup day for them to enjoy and embrace. We go there as underdogs and you never know, on the day, if we work hard and put in a performance like we have tonight we’ve got a chance.”
Herne Bay: Ben Kitcherside , Michael Turner, Dan Johnson, James Brown, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Joe Nelder, Ben Brown (Nathan Eastwood 14), Jordan Casey (Harry Brown 70), Stuart King (Elliott Cutts 50), Stephen Ita.
Subs Not Used: Sam Staunton, Jack Delo.
Cautions: None Sent Off: None
South Park: James Wastell, Matthew Rains, Jamie Hatfield, Jack Higgins, Daniel Gusgott, Matthew Ward, Nathan Ayling, Dale Burgess (Ryan Smith 86), Keiren Lavery, Chris Smith, Liam Whittell (Bradley O’Connor 76).
Subs Not Used: Deano Baum, James McElliott.
Cautions: Matthew Ward, Nathan Ayling Sent Off: None
Man of the Match: Michael Turner (Herne Bay)
Referee: David Smart Assistants: Louise Saunders, Graham Horsier
Herne Bay (2) 2
King 10, Turner M 32
South Park (1) 1
Smith 9
at Winch’s Field
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Tuesday 9th September 2014.
Attendance: 156
Picture supplied by Herne Bay FC