Let’s get the harsh statement out of the way, straightaway. It is not yet mathematically impossible for Herne Bay to occupy a relegation position!

This was the Bay’s third defeat in a row, their fourth in five but then let’s consider also that, like many others, near neighbours Whitstable Town included, the back half of the season has been punishing.

A schedule brought about by both the wettest winter since records began and the need to meet an imovable season’s end date that has seen many clubs forced to play every other day to complete fixtures in time. It showed in the tired legs in the second half and the loss of regular choice players through injuries that might not have been picked up in a normal fixture schedule.

The football display on offer in the first 45 was absorbing with both sides working the ball well. For the second season running, Merstham’s lightening left winger, Taureen Roberts, twisted, turned and tormented.

It would come as no surprise that two Bay players, Michael Turner and Gary Sayer, would receive cautions in the second period for upending the marauding moatsider. Roberts delivered two gilt edged chances in the space of four first half minutes.

In the 15^th he was guilty, perhaps, of taking the shot himself, deflected for a corner, when there was a man over on the edge of the Bay penalty area. In the 19^th, his precision cross from the left was powered wide by Craddock with the visitor’s goal at his mercy.

But Herne Bay fought back. Swift and decisive passing in the 26^th between Dean Grant and Stuart King ended in the latter’s driven shot cannoning off the ‘keeper to safety. It would not be the last time that Daly would deny the out of luck striker. Two minutes before the break Grant met Nelder’s cross with a power header that rocketed straight at Daly who gratefully clung on to the ball.

The second half started with the same promise and Herne Bay would take the lead 12 minutes into it. Dean Grant, again in the action, delivered a left wing cross that Jordan Casey drove home.

Finally, a shot that Daly was powerless to stop. But the lead lasted just 4 minutes. Having scored, Bay seemed to change their game tactics, relying less on the passing game and more on solid clearance as the legs tired.

It proved to be their undoing as Merstham did not hesitate to accept the open invitation to drive forward and it paid dividends when Dean Gunner drove home just after the hour mark to equalise.

Ten minutes further on and the Moatsiders were denied by a combination of bar and post. Tommy Hutchings fierce shot rattled Delo’s crossbar so ferociously that the netting rippled in reaction as the ball bounced down, onto the right hand post and was cleared to safety. If ever a shot deserved a goal that was it.

The inevitable, however, was not long in coming. In the 76^th minute, Simon Cooper drove down the right, jinked his way past Woolcott, cut in, eluded Lloyd’s challenge and planted the ball in the net. With Herne Bay pushing forward looking for the equaliser that would have made them mathematically safe from the dreaded drop, Merstham broke and with virtually the last kick of the game broke the visitor’s resolve.

A clearance lofted over the half way line found Roberts on the left with Folkes running through the centre. Both appeared to be in advance of the last defender but the assistant referee’s flag stayed firmly by his side. Roberts had the easy task of racing to the edge of the box and, once Delo had advanced sufficiently, squaring for Folkes to tap home the killer third.

With two games to go, Herne Bay supporters may well be keeping a keen eye on games elsewhere! But, a single point will do, then planning for next term can begin in earnest.

With Eastbourne Town and Crawley Down Gatwick already ‘down’ only one relegation place is yet to be filled although rumours running round the circuit centre on reprieves as a result of factors elsewhere in the pyramid. Nevertheless, clubs will not be keen on leaving their future to chance.

 

Merstham: Brannan Daly, Simon Cooper, Dean Gunner, David Graves, Liam Harwood, Gerry Gonella (Omar Folkes 65), Taureen Roberts, Elliot Thompson, Tommy Hutchings, George Craddock (Tom Howard 74), Michael Abnett (Jordan Johnson 90).

Subs not used: Rob Carter, Shane Stroud.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo,  Stephen Lloyd, Gary Sayer, George Benner, Michael Turner, Adam Woolcott, Ben Brown, Joe Nelder, Stuart King (Jake Page 67), Jordan Casey, Dean Grant.

Subs not used: Sam Hasler, Connor Sanders, Nathan Eastwood, James Turner.

Referee: Michael Haydon (Epsom)

Assistants: Richard Letheren (Chessington), Anand Desai (Surbiton)

Attendance: 104

 

 

The Ryman Relegation Run In:

 

Herne Bay	Walton & Hersham	Whitstable Town	Three Bridges	Redhill
P 44 Pts 51 GD -3	P44 Pts 50 GD -15	P44 Pts 50 GD -18	P44 Pts 47 GD -20	P44 Pts 45 GD -16
H v Ramsgate	A v Horsham	H v Three Bridges	A v Whitstable Town	H v Sittingbourne
A v Three Bridges	H v Chipstead	A v Eastbourne Town	H v Herne Bay	A v Corinthian Casuals

 

 

Merstham (0) 3 Gunner 61, Cooper 76, Folkes 90

 

Herne Bay (0) 1 Casey 57

Photo:  Jordan Casey opens the scoring for Bay – photo credit: Steve Barton