Herne Bay are through to the next round of the FA Cup thanks to a resounding victory away to Horsham on Saturday afternoon. Herne Bay started this game very much on the front foot, dominating the first twenty minutes and it came as no surprise when Nassim Dukali cut in from the left flank ghosted past the defender, firing a volley across the Hornets keeper, Michael Hunter into the bottom corner in the 21st minute.

Horsham to their credit came back into the game, forcing Bay to defend for the final 15 minutes of the half. This pressure paid off when, 3 minutes from the interval, Lewis Hyde got the final touch to Rob O’Toole’s low drive into the box to bring the score level.

Minutes earlier Bay’s keeper, Ben Hunter pulled off another of his wonder saves, diving full stretch to turn a Toby House goal bound volley around the upright. Bay had a tremendous piece of good fortune right on the stroke of half time when Darren Budd’s superb free kick beat the wall only to hit the foot of the post with the ball bouncing straight into Hunter’s hands.

To be fair Hunter was completely beaten by the free kick but it is moments like that that change the game. If Horsham had scored the second half may well have seen a different outcome.

After a half time dressing down by the manager, Bay came out determined to restore their dominance that they had in the opening period of the game and it only took 46 seconds for Bradley Schafer to strike an absolute screamer which flew past Hunter(M) into the top corner from fully 35 yards out.

Bay maintained their relentless pursuit of more goals and two goals in a minute from Jake Embery and Junior Aikhionbare 14 minutes into the half put Bay firmly in control.

As with the first half Horsham forced their way back into the game pressing Bay back into their own half and were rewarded with their second goal in the 74th when House was put through to hit a fierce low drive wide of Hunter(B).

Unlike the first half Bay did not sit back and following a great spell of passing football restored the three goal advantage when Tom Carlton followed up a deflected clearance, stroking the ball into the bottom corner to put the game to bed.
Horsham were physically and mentally shattered leaving Bay to make a couple of late substitutions and play out for the final whistle.
Another brilliant team performance; the team are growing in confidence with every game they play and the travelling supporters are loving it.

Herne Bay: Ben Hunter, Bradley Schafer, Raphe Brown, Jack Steventon, Jono Richardson, Josh Wisson, Alex Mulrooney-Skinner, Tom Carlton, Jake Embery, Junior Aikhionbare, Nassim Dukali
Subs Used: Ryan Catmull (Brown 73) Jardel Bunda-Kamara (Wisson 87) Dylane Ramazini (Mulrooney-Skinner 90)
Subs not used: Jarred Trespaderne, Tom Carey, Connor Wilkins
Man of the match: Nassim Dukali