These young Herne Bay players gave a great account of themselves in this 2-0 defeat to Bostik Premier Division Margate, whose team was loaded with experienced players who have played at a much higher level. In fact the first half Bay gave them a lesson in quick passing attacking football.

Jack Steventon showed the teams positivity when in the opening minutes he dribbled his way through ‘gate’s defence, firing in a shot which Lenny Pidgeley did well to push away for a corner. Margate hit back and Frannie Collin’s fired in a fine low volley which Ben Hunter got down well to push away for a corner.

Herne Bay then took control of the game but unfortunately never got a shot on target to trouble Pidgeley. Jake Embery chested a pass from a Steventon cross to Junior Aikhionbare but his shot from 20-yards simply rolled into the keeper’s hands.

From another good Bay attack Nassim Dukali played the ball into Aikhionbare, who let the ball roll across him before linking up with Bradley Shafer, Tom Carlton and Danny Leonard outside the area to set-up Dukali, who shot just went wide of the post. Minutes later Collin received a caution for simulation as his heavy touch pushed the ball out of his reach, allowing Hunter to race out and slide the ball away.

From the sidelines, the referee could have decided either way but to Bay’s fortune he chose the caution. Margate’s Dave Martin went close when his free-kick towards the bottom was initially fumbled by Hunter before gathering the loose ball at his near post.
Back came Bay, Steventon hit a pass the ball down the right to Bradley Shafer, who shrugged off Martin, before cutting the ball back to Steventon, to whip in a cross. Embery attempted an overhead kick from just inside the penalty area but it was slightly mis-timed and it went harmlessly wide.

Then another major decision for the referee which unfortunately for Bay he got wrong. Dukali jinked his way into the penalty area, Tom Wynter tugged his shoulder but he referee chose the easier option and awarded a free-kick, on the edge of the area, from which Tom Carlton hit over the bar.

Margate replaced Liam Friend with the energetic Chris Sessengnon at the start of the second half and it could be seen that he was assigned to mark Dukali and what a good job he did. Margate switched from their 1st half long ball tactics and closed down Bay’s midfield and forwards and then in the 53rd minute a piece of good fortune gave them the lead.

Collin swung in a corner from the left which Wynter’headed back into the area where Jordan Chiedozie’s headed onto the bar. The ball came back down off the crossbar and Chiedozie’s shot rebounded off the post and onto Hunter’s back and rolled over the line for an own-goal. They quickly followed this with the second as Sessegnon robbed Dukali of the ball, immediately putting Collin free away on the right flank. His quick low cross fell to Chiedozie who smashed the ball home from close range.

Margate continued to press James Rogers put Orlando Smith away down the left but his curling shot into the bottom corner, was again brilliantly saved by Hunter. Bay had one last chance to reduce the deficit when Connor Wilkins eased past Tom Mills to put Aikhionbare clear but his shot across Pidgeley was wide of the far post.

Defeated but not downhearted; the budget and the experience they have available should produce a team that is capable of going a lot further in the competition but to do so they maust play a lot better than they did in the first 45 minutes.

Herne Bay: Ben Hunter, Bradley Schafer, Raphe Brown, Jack Steventon, Jono Richardson, Danny Leonard,
Connor Wilkins, Tom Carlton, Jake Embery, Junior Aikhionbare, Nassim Dukali
Subs Used: Ryan Catmull (Schafer 73) Josh Wisson (Leonard 83) Jarred Trespaderne (Carlton 90)
Subs not used: , Alex Mulrooney-Skinner, Jardel Bunda-Kamara Harry Earls Danny Rumbol
Man of the match: Raphe Brown