Michael Salako scored a brace as Herne Bay eased their way into the Isthmian South East top five with a hard earned victory at Phoenix Sports.

Plaudits go to the Phoenix ground-staff for getting the game on however, it was the Bay who take full advantage with their third win in eight days.

Archie Burnett had the first chance of the match for them when he arrived late at the far post and had his first time effort blocked at the expense of a corner. Phoenix goalkeeper Andy Walker struggled with the delivery and could only push it onto the bar. It came out as far as Adejola Lahan who did well to hook it away.

At the other end Denzelle Olopade headed wide from a corner before Bay goalkeeper Harry Brooks had difficulties in dealing with a cross by Gael Kileba and was relieved when his miss-directed punch flew wide of his own goal.

Danny Walder hit a shot cleanly for the visitors from twenty yards, but it flew over. However, three minutes before the break, they went ahead. Mo Kamara let fly from the edge of the penalty area that a diving Walker could only push out to Kane Rowland. He clipped it back in, Gil Carvalho flicked it on, and Salako headed home from close range.

In first half stoppage time, Brooks sliced a back-pass wide of his own goal but the Sports failed to make the most of the corner and the forty-five minutes drew to a close.

Early in the second period Kamara was given space and time outside the penalty area and set himself nicely but he shot well over. Phoenix then had a half chance when a miss-placed pass out fell into the path of Cameron Brodie. He noticed that Brooks was off his line however, he skewed his shot well off target.

Troy Walters tried to mark his Phoenix debut with a goal and hit a curler from the edge of the penalty area that flew just over then Temi Oladejo smashed a free kick into the Herne Bay defensive wall.

Rowland headed on a long pass forward to send Carvalho away, but he couldn’t hit the target then Brodie shot wide at the other end. A deep Herne Bay free kick picked out captain Liam Friend whose downward header was pushed onto the post and out by Walker.

Substitute Courtney Barrington had a shot deflected wide for Phoenix, then Kileba had a shot saved easily by Brooks as they searched for an equaliser. However, they shot themselves in the foot with just under fifteen minutes remaining. Poor decision making at the back caused an error that allowed Salako a run on goal. He drew Walker out, went round him, and slipped it into the empty net.

Olopade’s shot from twenty yards was too straight to concern Brooks and the visitors had the last two attempts, a first time effort from Friend that flew well over, and a Walder free kick that was also too high.

Neither team have evening games this week so Steve O’Boyle’s Phoenix will look to bounce back at Erith and Belvedere next Saturday whilst Steve Lovell’s Herne Bay will want to keep up the momentum when they host Sittingbourne.

Phoenix Sports: Walker, Valler (Craig 49), Clark, Olopade, Peter, Lahan, King, Oladejo (Barrington 64), Walters, Brodie, Kileba. Subs not used: Day, Long.

Goal scorers: None
Yellow cards: Clark

Herne Bay: Brooks, Whitton, Smith, Walder, Carrington, Friend, Carvalho, Burnett, Salako, Rowland, Kamara. Unused subs: Pont, Wilson, Dawodu, Aromolaran, Wright.

Goal scorers: Salako (42), (76)
Yellow cards: None

Referee: Joe Burgess
Assistants: Steven Marr and Mohammed Uddin

Attendance: 146