Herne Bay maintained their play-off hopes, completed the double over the seemingly doomed Magpies and scored a rare triple of headed goals on a bobbly pitch in a swirling wind that made playing somewhat of a lottery.
“It was a good enough performance”, said a modest Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “the elements played a big part and had an impact on the game but overall we’ll take three points away from home”.
In truth the first half was an instantly forgettable forty five minutes as both sides fought against the conditions. Joe Nelder might have put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute after a good run by Kane Phillip but his attempted pass into the far right corner squirmed wide of the post.
Danny Walder’s shot as the half closed fizzed past Shaw’s right hand upright but gave hope to those in the sparse spectator facilities huddling against the wind that something better might emerge after the break. Indeed it did.
Bay were brighter right from the off in the second period and nine minutes in Danny Walder sent over a deep cross from the right that Joe Nelder climbed to meet at the far post directing a powerful header to open the scoring. Sixty seconds later Nelder might have added a second but for a smart save by Shaw.
Now the visitors were buzzing, Lee Browning showing his talent for forward runs, dummying defenders and telling passes, but it was to be the introduction of Danny Williams as a substitute with twenty minutes to go that ensured the point returned with them to Kent.
With fourteen minutes to go Williams dispatched Phillip’s right wing cross with a solid header, then six minutes later his glancing header directed Michael Turner’s free kick into the back of the net. Finally, Bay could breathe easily and Denly gave a league debut to Ben Emery, the u21 skipper who revelled in the simplicity of the task.
“Three really good headers”, said Denly, “it shows the importance of having a good squad with players coming off the bench and it keeps us going. It was always going to be difficult but we were professional and ruthless when we needed to be.”
“We were a little bit more clinical today and it showed. Ben Emery did well in the few minutes he got today, looked after the ball well. There`s a few players in the u21s who are doing well and will get their chance. Sam Hallett is one of them, he’s banging them in for the u21s, he wasn’t available today but his chance will come”.
Peacehaven & Telscombe: James Shaw, Emmanuel Ndwa, Ben Ewing (Jack Funnnell 81), Andrew James, Derek Ubah, Alex Spinks (Oliver Hartley 64), Josh Marshall, Camen Bhandell, Chris Ransom (Victor Pestaria 56), Bradley Large, Kiron Scantelbury.
Subs not used: Richard Ismail, Austin Symans
Sent off: none. Cautions: Andrew James
Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Nathan Eastwood, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (Ben Emery 85), James Turner (Danny Williams 70), Lee Browning, Kane Phillip (Elliott Cutts 77).
Subs not used: Dan Johnson
Sent off: none. Cautions: none
Man of the match: Lee Browning (Herne Bay)
Referee: Anthony Foster. Assistants: Daniel Sullivan & Robitt Abutt.
Peacehaven & Teelscombe (0) 0
Herne Bay (0) 3
Joe Nelder 54
Danny Williams 76, 80
Attendance: 78
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 27th February 2016
(at Piddinghoe Avenue)
Photo credit: Steve Barton –Elliott Cutts is clearly delighted as Danny Williams turns to celebrate his second goal.