I don’t know about you but I always look forward to the Saturday afternoon game and today was no exception despite this being the longest away trip in our league.

With Jono, Raphe and Junior all unavailable Danny Rumbol was brought in to bolster the defence but he pulled up injured in the warm up.

However the first half was very good even though the conditions did not favour good flowing football. Bay were really up for the fight and it came as no surprise when Tom Carlton netted with the aid of the inside of the upright after 12 minutes.

The strong wind down the pitch favoured Bay and they looked like doubling the lead when Nassim Dukali shot forced a good save from Chris Winterton.

As half time approached it was looking like Bay would take the one goal lead into the second half. However on 45 minutes from a corner from the right, the ball bounced around in the box, Frankie Chappell’s deflected shot, wrong-footed Ben Hunter and the ball stopped on the line. Before Ben could adjust Billy Medlock raced in and smashed the ball home.
This goal turned the game as the second half was a completed different story with some good football from Lewes and some very naive defending from Bay. The goals came in the following order:

56mins – 2-1 – Matthew George run down the left-flank, with nobody closing him down crosses to Billy
Medlock. His shot is saved by Ben, tipping the ball onto the bar but the rebound fell to Bouwe Bosma who mad no mistake from close range.
60mins – 3-1 – Substitute Jamie Brotherton scores after Ronnie Conlon won the ball in his own half and went on a run unchallenged before placing the ball into Brotherton’s feet.
66mins – 4-1 – Medlock races through and cleverly lifted the ball over Ben as he came out to challenge.
70mins – 5-1—Josh and Brad mess up a clearance and Brotherton disposses them and is then brought down in the box by Josh. Brotherton scores but Ben despite getting a hand to it, cannot keep it out.
75mins – 6-1 – James Hammond’s corner passes through the players on the near post .Brad swings a leg and completely misses it and the ball ends up in the net.
81mins – 7-1 – Brotherton’s flick puts Conlon through and he slots the ball wide of Ben.
89mins – 8-1 – Ben parries Conlon’s shot into the path of Wilfried Grimaud who hits the ball home.

A really embarrassing second half for the fans and committee to endure, and I am sure John and Jermaine felt as bad as the rest of us. We can only hope that the players pull together put this game behind them and get back the confidence that winning brings.

Herne Bay: Ben Hunter, Jardel Bunda-Kamara, Josh Wisson, Jack Steventon, Jarred Trespaderne,
Danny Leonard, Alex Mulrooney-Skinner, Tom Carlton, Jake Embery, Bradley Schafer , Nassim Dukali
Subs Used: Connor Cox (Trespaderne 41) Aaron Akuruka (Steventon 60) Tyler Myers (Schafer 80)
Subs not used: Ryan Catmull