Herne Bay’s three match unbeaten start to the season came to an end in Sussex despite a second half fight back against a Three Bridges side that in the opening 45 minutes were quicker to the ball and swifter of foot on the break.

Once Herne Bay had drawn level though, it seemed odds on that they would at least salvage a point until, that is, they were reduced to 10 men when Harry Brown was dismissed for a second bookable offence. It made the difference, giving the home side the space they needed to regain the control they had in the first period and that had been wrestled from their grasp after the break.

Indeed, it had been a lively start to the match with Three Bridges twice getting round the back of the visitors’ defence and Stephen Ita coming the closest for the Bay when he saw his deflected shot ricochet back off the home side’s far post in the 22^nd minute.

Three Bridges quicker paced start paid dividends though as they took the lead just before the half hour mark. Liam Quinn had been harshly judged to have won a 50/50 handbags tussle 25 yards out, penalised for so doing, and Bridges ‘skipper Lee Carney struck a sweet free kick into the bottom far corner.

The decision to award the free kick would become one of many debating points amongst both sets of supporters on the evening.

10 minutes later, Three Bridges doubled their lead. Charlie Leach lumped the ball out of defence and Tony Garrod, hanging on the shoulder of the last Bay defender, defending a high line as Herne Bay pressed forward, ran the length of the half and although his first attempt was parried into the air by Delo, his resulting header on the rebound nestled in the back of the net.

Herne Bay manager Sam Denly’s half time team talk was of the stern variety and his players responded immediately. In the 53^rd minute Stuart King was upended, off the ball, on the edge of the area.

A free kick was deemed to be the only punishment required although Stuart King’s free kick administered harsher justice as he drove it diagonally into the far corner to put his side back into the game. Eight minutes later Bay equalised. Joe Nelder fed Steven Ita and he unselfishly rolled the ball into the path of the on rushing Stuart King who smashed home to level.

Herne Bay now dominated the game. The ferocity of the turnaround bewildered Three Bridges and it would take the sending off of Harry Brown 19 minutes before the end to provide the catalyst that allowed them back into the match.

As the Three Bridges right winger, who had hugged the line all night, broke away he knocked the ball past Brown and his challenge to prevent Touray escaping earned a second yellow followed with the flourish of a red. Two minutes later, the home side scored what proved to be the winner when Whitehead smashed home off the woodwork.

 

Herne Bay’s best start to a Ryman campaign came to end with this defeat. They can take pride in the fightback but will need to be a little quicker in their execution in the opening stages if they are to maintain their improved league position.

 

Three Bridges: Kieran Thorp, Williams Perauroux (Matt Daniel 82), Charlie Leach, Jamie Crellin, Marlon Maxwell, Mark Pulling, Abu Touray, Lee Carney, Tony Garrod, Ben Godfrey, Matt Whitehead.

 

Subs Not Used: Allan Tait, Dominik Ozga, Connor O’Hara.

Cautions: Williams Perauroux     Sent Off: None

 

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Dan Johnson, Harry Brown, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Samuel Hasler, James Brown (Sam Staunton 72), Joe Nelder, Stuart King, Stephen Ita.

 

Subs Not Used: Ben Kitcherside, Kane Butler, James Turner, Ben Brown.

 

Cautions: Samuel Hasler, Harry Brown    Sent Off: Harry Brown (2^nd yellow)

 

Man of the Match: Lee Carney (Three Bridges)

 

Referee: Marcus Carmichael       Assistants: Andrew Connor, Federico Ardiles

 

Three Bridges (2) 3

Carney 28, Garrod 39, Whitehead 75

Herne Bay (0) 2

King 53, 61

at Jubilee Field

 

Attendance: 71