Match Reports 2007/08 by John Bathurst

Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 26th April 2008
Holmesdale 1 - 3 Herne Bay

report by Barry Tracy

Finally the Sun shone through on the last game of a very long season for Herne Bay FC. We travellers saw a pretty good performance from the boys and a final position of 6th place achieved in the league with this winning result. 
Played on a pitch in excellent condition for the time of the year, both teams went for the 3pts, with the slope in the home sides favour in the first half and this caused Herne Bay and their stretched defence all sorts of initial problems with the long ball tactic.
The pressure eventually being soaked up, Bay attempted to get their passing game going and gradually played their way into the game. Martin Chandler started to dominate in midfield, and eventually it was his sprayed pass out to the right wing on 41mins that saw the deadlock broken.
Ben Brown picked up the ball managing to get round the last defender and home keeper Harwood to slot in from an accute angle. Half time came soon after with the Bay 1-0 up probably slightly against the run of play.
On 52mins however, the home side were given a lifeline when Aaron Burret failed to cut out a through ball, and nippy forward Rickie Hardy beat Delo in goal for the equaliser.
This failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the visitors and they started to push forward in numbers looking to retake the lead.
After Jack Delo had made a great save at the feet of a home forward who had beaten the offside trap on the hour mark, Herne Bay took the lead for the second time in the game.
On 62mins Martin Chandler hit a screamer that rebounded off the bar after good work from Dave Soutan to set him up. The narrow escape for the home side was short lived when just a minute later Rob Lawrence fired in a fierce volley from 25 yards out that flew in the top corner.
Within the space of 10 mins both Adam Todd and Rob Lawrence both saw goal bound efforts come back off the bar much to the frustration of the visitors bench.
Herne Bay were not to be denied however as in injury time, after being fed by sub Christian Marsh, flying winger Rhys Lawson buried his chance after a low cross to the far post to make the game safe.
Overall a much improved performance on recent weeks. Adam Todd leading the front line powerfully in Luke Harveys absence just shading the man of the match award after giving the home defence a torrid time.
Fittingly by the end of the game Herne Bay had 6 players on the pitch still under the age of 20.
With a tough season now over, this learning curve for a lot of these young lads will hopefully see them more prepared for the 2008-09 season, when hopefully the majority of this squad will stay together and push for a title chasing campaign in the coming summer months.

Attendance: 45

Team; J.Delo, M.Ciano, A.Burrett, S.Hanson, J.Kane, B. Brown, M.Chandler, R.Lawson, D.Soutan, R.Lawrence, A.Todd. 
Subs; S.Kettle (A.Burrett) C.Marsh (A.Todd) A.Forster (Not used)  

M.O.M. Adam Todd. 

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 19th April 2008
Herne Bay 0 - 3 Tunbridge Wells

On a day when so much was expected, with the teams above us facing difficult fixtures, Bay could have claimed 5th spot in the league, but fell woefully short of the mark.
It looked very ominous at the start with Wells forcing Bay back into their half straight from the kick off. Indeed they should have taken the lead as early as the 2nd minute but Ade Stone blasted the ball wide from close range. After this early scare Bay came right back at their visitors.
After 11 minutes four consecutive corner kicks were won but the forwards just couldn't seem to get a head to the ball and each time Wells cleared to safety.
Three minutes later  Bay were awarded a free kick inside the area. Ben Brown struck a sweet shot which smashed against the crossbar and ricocheted away. Bay regained possession of the ball and Rhys Lawson was put clear down the left. His forceful run ended in a fine shot from which  keeper, Stuart Copeland produced a diving save to turn the ball round the post.
It was constant pressure from Bay. On the 20 minute mark Luke Harvey turned his marker and fired in a fierce drive which Copeland just couldn’t hold. The ball rebounded straight to Dave Soutan but his header when straight back into Copeland’s arms and the chance was gone. After this scare Wells hit back and forced their first corner. The ball was floated into the box and glanced off Aaron Burrett’s head, evading Jack Delo grasp, and hit Stone full in the face and rebounded over the line.  The visitors were delighted after absorbing so much pressure and to take the lead was a great boost to them.
Four minutes later Stone doubled the lead. This time no fluke, just a fantastic strike from 30 yards which found the top corner. Stone should not even have been given the chance though. He intercepted a loose pass from Sam Kettle. A pass which left Bay’s defence totally stranded.
Despite being two down, Bay always looked likely of turning the game around. But something was said at half time which really seemed to affect Bay’s play in the second period. 
Bay were always off the pace and just didn’t seem to have the heart for the game. When they did have chances Copeland always produced the save. None better than when Soutan pounced onto a loose ball in the area, and smashed a low drive to the keeper’s left. Copeland, although diving the wrong way, still managed to keep the ball out with good use of his feet.
Wells secured the victory in the 80th minute when Dan Jeffery raced through and slotted past Delo.
A very disappointing result for the last home game of the season!

attendance: 125

TEAM: DELO, CIANO, KETTLE, BURRETT, HANSON, MARSH, BROWN B,
TODD, HARVEYSOUTAN, LAWSON,
Subs: KANE (Kettle), NELDER (Burrett)  (LAWRENCE (Marsh) 
Not used : FORSTER,  COOK

Man of Match:  Stephen Hanson

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 12th April 2008
Tunbridge Wells 2 - 2 Herne Bay

On a day when a torrential downpour twenty minutes before the kick off should have seen the game called off. Tunbridge Wells and Herne Bay played out this fixture, which was more akin to a game of water polo!
Wells were obviously very keen to get the game on but may probably regret this decision when you saw the state of the playing surface at the end of the game.
Bay seemed to get used to the watery conditions better than Wells and had two great chances inside the 1st fifteen minutes to take an early lead, First Ben Brown latched onto a weak pass which slowed down in the water and raced through only to fire a fierce shot over the bar. And then some great inter-passing between, Brown Sam Kettle and Luke Harvey culminated in Dave Soutan smashing a fine shot inches over the bar from twenty yards. The rest of the half saw Bay trying to play one touch football on a surface which was non-receptive to the pretty game.
Wells came back into the game in the later stages and were rewarded for their efforts when a fierce shot hammered into the box struck Aaron Burrett on the arm. The referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Mike Lord who hit a powerful low shot to Jack Delo’s right. Delo was equal to it and pushed the ball away to safety. The official immediately blew to end the half.

Unfortunately the second half was a different story for Delo. After only one minute of play Wells put a long ball over the defence and out came Delo. The ball was never going to reach him, aided by being held up in the water.  Lord pounced onto the ball and seeing Delo in no-mans-land chipped the ball over into the empty net to make amends for his first half miss. The lead lasted only 6 minutes; from a free kick the ball was pushed into the area, Neil Perkins headed the ball into the box where it fell to Adam Todd who made no mistake from 6 yards out.
This goal seemed to inspire Wells more than Bay and they upped the tempo and put Bay on the back foot. This pressure paid off. Lord was left totally unmarked on the left flank. Racing into the box he sent a low cross into the danger area into the path of Gary Clarke who side footed the ball past Delo. Bay tried to get back in the game and should have levelled in the 75th minute when Kettle raced through and only a fine save from Chris Arnold prevented the goal. However, a minute later Andy Doerr did level the scores; receiving the ball on the edge of the area he turned and fired a shot into the top corner to give Bay a share of the points.
A fair result at the end. Both sides played extremely well in the circumstances but at the end of the day the game should not have been played! 

attendance: 88

TEAM: DELO, KANE, KETTLE, BURRETT, TODD, SOUTAN, PERKINS, DOERR, HARVEY, MARSH, BROWN B,
Subs: LAWSON (Marsh) COOK (Todd)  Not used : FORSTER,  COLLINS

Man of Match:  Aaron Burrett 

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 5th April 2008
Herne Bay 3 - 1 Sporting Bengal

Not the best of games to watch today. I don’t know why, but Sporting Bengal always seem to prevent Bay from playing decent football!
That all said the game started extremely well for Bay going one up inside 38 seconds of the kick off. This goal scored by Christian Marsh could have been even earlier. Neil Perkins put a low cross into the box and Marsh swung a foot at it, but missed the ball completely. Fortunately Ben Brown was following up and struck a sweet volley, which the keeper could only parry out to Marsh, who this time made no mistake from one yard.  Everyone in the ground thought this would open the floodgates but from this moment on Bengal’s spoiling tactics seemed to frustrate Bay. Then to the surprise of everyone, they levelled the score in the 9th minute. Jack Delo came for a cross which he should have left alone. The ball fell to Stephane Forbes who, noting Delo was off his line in no mans land, coolly lobbed the ball over him into the empty net. 
Bay struck back almost immediately with Perkins having two  fine volleys saved by the keeper. In fact the Bengal keeper produced a number of tremendous saves throughout the rest of the half. Bengal to their credit also gave Bay’s defence some very scary moments but at the interval the score remained level.
The second half produced much of the same and Bengal still looked likely of being able to  pull off a shock victory. This all changed late in the game. Bay brought on Luke Harvey and began to force the pace, putting Bengal under severe pressure. From a low cross by Harvey, Andy Doerr should have put Bay in front but he decided to take a touch and the chance was gone. Brown was also making surging runs and from one of his crosses, with only a couple of minutes left on the clock, the Bengal defender was adjudged to have cleared the ball with his hand. The Bengal players surrounded the referee in a mass protest, which resulted in four names going into the book. Aaron Burrett stepped up and made no mistake  sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot kick.
Straight from the restart  Bay regained possession. The ball was hit down the flank to Perkins, who sent a great cross into the danger area. The ball fell to Harvey, who turned and smashed the ball high into net from 8 yards. Game over and relief for the Bay players who made extremely hard work in winning this fixture. 

Attendance:  80

TEAM: DELO, KETTLE, CIANO, BURRETT, COOK, BROWN B, PERKINS, TODD, DOERR, SOUTAN, MARSH|
SUBS:  HARVEY (Todd)   NOT USED:  FORSTER, KANE 

Man of Match:  Aaron Burrett 

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Kent League Premier Division Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
Wednesday 2nd April 2008
Herne Bay 0 - 2 Hythe Town (Hythe win 6-1 on agregate)

Well the inevitable happened. The first leg deficit was too much to overcome on the night. The game plan would have been to score the first goal and put the visitors under some sort of pressure.  Well Bay achieved the first part.  Sean Bremner again getting the goal , unfortunately this time it was an own goal!
This gave Hythe a four goal cushion and there would be no way Bay could possibly come back from this. Hythe’s defence was fantastically strong  and gave Bay very few chances to get back in the game.
The first period of the game was very even, with few goal scoring opportunities for either side but the tie was finished as a real contest in the 20th minute.  A Lee Winfield delivery into the heart of Bay’s area  looped off Bremner’s head over the despairing hands of Jack Delo to extend Hythe’s first leg lead, and cancelling out the away goal!
With the final now firmly in their grasp Hythe were determined not to give Bay any hope of getting back in the game. Bay to their credit never gave up and tried everything to score but unfortunately Hythe were far too solid at the back.
The second half continued in much the same vein and Bay brought on their younger players in an attempt  to change the play, but the  defenders were far too experienced to allow the youngsters any time on the ball.
Hythe’s top goal scorer Mike Smissen tried all he knew to get on the score sheet but Sean Bremner did a fantastic job of man marking him again. In fact Smissen, who teaches at Herne Bay High School, had a large following of young girls from the school in the crowd. Maybe we should play other teachers from the local schools  to get better support at our games!
In the 78th minute of the game Bremner attempted a tackle on Smissen, which he mis-timed and injured himself. As the play continued the ball was hit into the box and substitute Ian Hayes put the result beyond doubt when he drilled a low shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards. Game over.
With Bay down to 10 men and 1-6 down Hythe’s bench were bragging how they were playing all the football and what is all the talk about only having a long ball game. Well any team in that position could afford to play football! It is a pity they don’t play that way all the time. Yes Bay reverted to the long ball game with some tremendous kicks from Delo. Everything else had failed so why not? Just imagine what Hythe would do if their keeper could kick the ball like Jack!
Another great game again from Delo in goal pulling off a number a fine saves. He is without doubt the best keeper in the Kent League. Hythe thoroughly deserved their victory and we wish them the best of luck in the final on 3rd May 

ATTENDANCE:   169 

TEAM: DELO, CIANO, FORSTER, BURRETT, CHANDLER, BROWN B, BROWN S,HARVEY, SOUTAN, LAWSON
SUBS: LAWRENCE (Harvey)  PERKINS (Brown S)  COOK (Burrett) NOT USED:  MARSH, KETTLE 

Man of Match:  Jack Delo

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 29th March 2008
Greenwich Borough 1 - 0 Herne Bay

Greenwich Borough became the only team to obtain a  victory double over Herne Bay in the Kent League this season when they were awarded a very dubious penalty in the 81st minute from which Badur Mohammed scored.
A very poor game of football played on a surface which made Winch’s Field look like Wembley.
An official who seemed, for some reason, not to like Herne Bay, made a mockery of fair play with farcical decisions throughout the game. The penalty being the final insult! He did not have a good game!!
The game was ruined as a contest when Martin Chandler was dismissed after 23 minutes; receiving a 2nd yellow for a 50/50 challenge on Greenwich captain, Peter Smith. His first booking came in the 15th minute when he tripped Smith but after an aggressive confrontation by Smith, with Chandler standing his ground, the referee produced the yellow card. The whole ground failed to understand how Smith escaped punishment.
Neither team looked like scoring in a game where the strong wind, blowing straight down the pitch and the poor playing surface prevented any real football being played.
Ten man Bay looked the better side in the second half and could have taken the lead when Neil Perkins shot crashed against the bar with the keeper beaten.
As the game neared the final whistle Aaron Burrett got himself booked, for what, only the official knows! Then the penalty.!
As the Greenwich forward broke through Sean Bremner produced a fine tackle, forcing the ball away, but to the amazement of the Bay defenders the referee blew for the penalty. Bremner wasn’t booked and he was the last man, so why wasn’t he sent off?? 

attendance: 35

Team: DELO, CIANO, FORSTER, BURRETT, BREMNER, CHANDLER, MARSH, PERKINS, LAWRENCE, DOERR, LAWSON 
Subs: HARVEY (Doerr)  B BROWN (Lawrence)  S BROWN (Marsh) 

Man of match: Andy Forster

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Kent League Premier Division
Monday 24th March 2008
Hythe Town 1 - 1 Herne Bay

Still fielding a very youthful side, again these youngsters did Herne Bay proud! Max Ciano the latest recruit to the side and  a debut for Jamie Pickering.
Hythe adopted different tactics for this game; passing football rather than route one. Straight from the kick off they put together four passes before attempting the long ball. In fact that was the only real attempted long ball played by them for the whole match.
As in the previous match it was Bay who opened  the scoring, After only three minutes Harvey was fouled 35 yards out. Martin Chandler floated the ball into the box and Sean Bremner, yes Sean, rose to head the ball into the top corner. 1-0.
Hythe pushed forward but didn’t really  threaten Delo’s goal. Rob Lawrence was put through in the 18th minute  and forced Paul Hyde into producing a full length fingertip save. From this Hythe produced a counter attack down the left flank. The ball went through harmlessly to Delo but his clearing kick was headed back into the danger zone and picked up by Pat Kingwell, who raced through, rounded Delo and pulled the ball back from the bye line, finding Mike Smissen totally unmarked 6 yards out . 1 –1. No further threats at either end until the 37th minute when Delo brilliantly tipped a goal bound shot from Dave Cook around the upright to keep Bay in the game.

The 2nd period produced a very exciting 50 minutes of football, with end to end play from both sides. Bay’s tactic of man to man marking, Smissen, worked very well; in fact Bremner was outstanding in the role!
As the game progressed Bay found more and more space and in fact should have taken the lead in the 55th minute. Neil Perkins put Lawrence away down the right. He cut the ball back across the goal, Luke Harvey slid in and somehow hit the ball over the bar from less than 2 feet out! 
Hythe’s chances were left to long range shots and corner kicks. All of which  Delo dealt with brilliantly. Smissen being kept well and truly under control.
Again Bay could have, and should have, wrapped up the points when Perkins headed the ball against the bar with Hyde beaten and it still wasn’t over. During the five minutes of added injury time Hythe had two great chances of getting the win they desperately needed. Smissen broke away from his marker and raced towards the goal, but Delo produced yet another fantastic point blank save. From the resulting corner a  header went agonisingly close to the upright but thankfully for Bay, the right side! 

Attendance: 318 

Team: DELO, CIANO, KETTLE, BREMNER,  FORSTER,  CHANDLER, PICKERING, MARSH, LAWRENCE, HARVEY, LAWSON. 
Subs: BURRETT (Kettle 46)  PERKINS (Pickering 57)  DOERR (Lawrence 73)
Not used SOUTAN, COOK 

Man of Match: Sean Bremner 

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Kent League Premier Division Cup semi-final 1st leg
Tuesday 18th March 2008
Hythe Town 4 - 1 Herne Bay

Despite getting Ben Brown available after his suspension; he picked up an injury in an U18 game on Thursday, and Joe Kane has still not recovered from his injury sustained against VCD, it was again a different looking Bay side featuring another untried U18 player, 17 year old, Darren Wells. The back four had Andy Forster the old man at 24!
This was not a pretty game to watch.  Hythe play route one football! There is no passing involved, but when you have quick strikers like Mike Smissen, Dave Cook and Pat Kingwell, it works well for them, particularly against inexperienced young defenders!
For the first half Bay held out well and indeed took the lead after only 13 minutes.
A Simon Brown free kick was hit into the box, with the ball falling to Neil Perkins who smashed the ball past keeper, Paul Hyde, from 8 yards out.
From this point Hythe started to dominate. With their greater power and more experienced players, they attacked relentlessly. Twice Smissen was through one on one with Jack Delo, but on both occasions Jack produced the save.  Although Hythe dominated the play their woeful finishing ensured that Bay retained the lead for the rest of the half.
The second half was a different story! After only five minutes of the restart Smissen atoned for his first half misses. A long ball over the defence left him free to lob the ball over the advancing Delo. Two minutes later, the best goal of the game! Smissen broke through on a solo run, rounded Delo and found the net from the tightest of angles.
Bay introduced Dave Soutan and Aaron Burrett in an attempt to stop these long ball attacks and in this they succeeded. Now it was Bay’s turn to pressurize their hosts. Both Luke Harvey and Rob Lawrence worked tirelessly up front and, considering this was their first time playing together, teamed up very well.
The referee seemed to have it in for Luke, penalizing him every time he tried to hold up the ball. And when he was tackled from behind, with the ball not being won in the box, not even a foul or penalty kick was awarded!  Yet for an innocuous challenge in the midfield gets the free kick!
With Bay looking the more likely side to score, Hythe did! On 80 minutes, Smissen standing at least a yard offside, latched onto the inevitable long ball attack, flicking the ball over Delo for his hat-trick and 45th goal of the season.
A minute later it was game over. From a Lee Winfield free kick Bay’s defence stood still as the ball was pumped into the box. An unchallenged header put Cook clear in front of goal and he slid the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Bay with a mountain to climb in the second leg. 

Attendance: 184

Team: DELO, WELLS, FORSTER, KETTLE, COOK, CHANDLER, PERKINS, S BROWN, LAWRENCE, HARVEY, LAWSON.
Subs: SOUTAN (Wells  52 min)  BURRETT (Perkins 60 min) Not used  MARSH,  JOYCE 

Man of Match:Rob Lawrence (very seldom gave the ball away and worked his socks off)

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 15th March 2008
Herne Bay 1 - 0 Croydon

Report by Barry Tracy

The record books will show a 1-0 home win and 3pts for Herne Bay on the day in this Kent League Premier division fixture, but what they will not tell you was the good fortune that went a long way on the day in securing this success. 
Croydon ended up extending their now depressing sequence of 11 straight defeats in a row, but should at the very least take heart from a sterling performance, that for long periods looked as if they may well take all 3pts back up to the Croydon Arena.
With the bare minimum 11 players making the long journey to Winches Field, it was their attitude of  'we have nothing to lose but everything to gain' on the day that shone through.
Ok Herne Bay's line up did look a little disjointed at times (Martin Chandler at right back!)  and our passing game went from poor, to a level that could only just be described as average as the game wore on, but that would just be making excuses.
In the first  45mins Croydon had hit the bar and the post, and saw Jack make three top saves to preserve the status quo. We had a couple of shots that sailed over the bar only threatening the odd car windscreen in the Stanley Gardens End car park, but not much else to crow about. Half time arrived goaless and it would have been the visitors that  enjoyed the break more, as at least they looked like they were trying to win the game.
The second half started in much the same vein as the first, with Croydon still believing that the Holy Grail of their first 3pts in the league since a somewhat surprise 1-0 away win at Deal Town back on Dec 12th was still possible.
Bay's club captain Chandler had by now been moved back into his customary position of central midfield, where his ability to bring the ball down and assert his authority in the middle of the park would eventually pay dividends.
Simon Brown was now starting to find more space following Chandlers positional move, and it was his surging run into the box that would prove to be the pivotal moment of the game on 68mins.
Throwing his hips in a way Elvis Presley would have been envious of, he drew a clumsy challenge that was a stonewall penalty with no arguments from anyone in the ground. 
Martin Chandler took on the responsibility of the kick and drove home straight down the middle, as the visiting keeper dived to his right.
The last 22 mins saw end to end football with both teams squandering chances to either extend their lead, or in the case of Croydon salvage something that would have been totally deserved from their performance on the day. However, when your luck is out it usually pans out that you don’t get the breaks, and so it turned out by the final whistle for a luckless Croydon 11.
Herne Bay did have a few heroes on the day to help secure the points none more than Andy Forster, who time and time again during the 90 mins, broke up numerous Croydon moves with some last ditch tackles. Also well worthy of mention was Sam Kettle who defended well and cleared two goal-bound shots off the line.
Bay will have some players available again following injury and suspension, for the visit to Hythe on Tues in the first leg of the semi-final of the league cup, and on this performance they will be warmly welcomed back!

Attendance: 105

Team: Jack Delo, Christian Marsh (Aaron Burrett), Sam Kettle, Andy Forster, Danny Cook, Martin Chandler, Neil Perkins (Andy Doerr), Simon Brown, Rob Lawrence, Rhys Lawson, Sean Bremner
Subs not used Dave Soutan, Rob Joyce.

Man of the Match Andy Forster

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 8th March 2008
Herne Bay 3 - 1 VCD Athletic

Well, well, well, what a result and even more, what a performance by a predominantly youth side. VCD came to Winch’s needing a victory in order to maintain their challenge for the title. When they saw the team sheet the VCD management were overheard to say ‘they’re playing their youth, happy days’. Well it turned out very happy days alright, but not for VCD, for the Bay youngsters.
Unfortunately the  teams from the northern part of the County are not very gracious in defeat but today I feel comments from a VCD substituted player at the end of the game, directed at me, are typical of this . For those who didn’t hear it, I was twice called a little retard and a short arse. At least I am aware of my disabilities.  It is a pity that player is not aware of his!!
Back to the game. After only 5 minutes of the game Bay showed they were not going to roll over easily.  From the edge of the area Simon Brown hit a low shot which keeper Tedder failed to hold. 17 year old Rob Lawrence, raced in and coolly slid the ball into the empty net.
For the next 40 minutes it was all VCD and, if not for Jack Delo, they would have comfortably won the game.
On 10 minutes Mark Greatorex raced through only to be thwarted by Delo’s feet. 10 minutes later A powerful Penny header was plucked out of the air, heading for the top corner. 0n 21 minutes Huggins raced through although at least 2 yards offside only to be robbed of the ball by the advancing Delo. The ball ricocheted clear but Huggins reclaimed it and was immediately fouled by Danny Cook. From the resulting penalty Huggins scored sending Delo the wrong way. His only mistake all afternoon! On the half hour Delo saves brilliantly from a  Penny free kick. No more chances in the half.
During the first 15 minutes of the 2nd period Penny was through one on one with Delo, but his piledriver shot from point blank range was turned away. Then the game changed. Substitutes Ben Brown and Rhys Lawson were introduced. With his first touch Brown left full back Thompson for dead and drilled a low ball wide of Tedder and Lawrence slid in to put the final touch and Bay in the lead.
The youngsters’ confidence grew and grew. VCD were looking physically tired. Bay pushed forward at every opportunity, with their greater speed the visitors defence was all at sea. With a quarter of an hour to go Lawson broke through but after outpacing the defenders hit the ball wide of the goal. He made amends for this miss when in the 89th minute he broke down the right and whipped in a low cross, which totally bisected the back line, falling to another 17 year old Neil Perkins who made no mistake from close range. 3-1 and game over. Then the ugly scenes!

Attendance: 120

Team: DELO, KANE, FORSTER, KETTLE, COOK, CHANDLER, PERKINS,
S BROWN, LAWRENCE, MARSH, BREMNER.
Subs: B BROWN (Chandler 61 min) LAWSON (Marsh 61 min)
Not used SOUTAN, BURRETT

Man of Match:  Jack Delo

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd February 2008
Herne Bay 0 - 1 Erith Town

A very different side today.  No natural striker available with Luke Harvey suspended and  six under 18 players selected to face the leagues meanest defence. Erith came to Winch’s with only two league defeats and 16 goals conceded. One of those being by Bay and in that game they inflicted Erith’s biggest defeat scoring 4 goals.
We all knew it would not be the same today but what took place was an exhibition of flowing football without unfortunately an end result. That all said it was really pleasing to see Bay’s youngsters taking the game to the vastly experienced  visiting players, and in fact giving them the run around.
Bay were really quick out of the blocks and with Ben Brown, Christian Marsh, Dave Soutan and Martin Chandler being totally dominant in the midfield. Simon Brown up front worked tirelessly and Rhys Lawson gave his marker a clean pair of heels almost every time he got the ball.
Erith relied on Oldfield, Cassius and Ross Cable up front but Bay’s young defenders Joe Kane, Sam Kettle, and Shaun Smith, along with  the more experienced Andy Forster and Adam Todd dealt with all of the threats Erith made. That is with the exception of a long ball clearance into Bay’s half on 28 minutes, where the bounce eluded Todd and fell to Cable. His first time shot took a wicked deflection leaving Smith flat footed to give the visitors an undeserved lead. This was totally against the run of play and to Bay’s credit they continued to play superb football.
Oldfield should have doubled the visitors lead when he went through one on one with Smith. He chose the wrong option trying to flick the ball over Smith who managed  to somehow palm the ball over the bar.
The second half produced much more of the same entertaining football but the Erith Town defence marshalled by the very experienced, and very good, Bill Edwards prevented any real threat from Bay on their keeper, Diment.
Erith were content on hitting on the break  with Cable being the real threat. Kane, Todd  and Forster though were always in command preventing any  threat to Smith. Kane in particular  had an excellent game!  Kettle made way for Shaun Bremner with Todd being pushed up front.
Bay did get the ball in the net. From a free kick Ben Brown floated a ball into the area. The ball fell to Marsh who flicked on to Soutan, who in turn put Lawson through to smash the ball past Diment. Up went the flag, goal disallowed offside!
Chandler, again was very impressive in the midfield, switching play from side to side trying to find the breakthrough, was substituted by Rob Lawrence, another U18 player, in the later stages of the game.
This was one of the best performances put on by Bay this season without getting the result  the performance deserved. All the players can hold their head high and with real young talent like this available I am sure Herne Bay will give league leaders, and League Cup semi final opponents, Hythe Town a real tough game when they meet in a couple of weeks time and who knows with better luck in front of goal, make the final of the Cup again.

attendance: 103

TEAM: SMITH, KANE, KETTLE, FORSTER, TODD, CHANDLER, B BROWN, S BROWN,
MARSH, LAWSON, SOUTAN.
Subs: LAWRENCE (Chandler 85 mins)  BREMNER  (Kettle 73 mins)  Not used: COOK

Man of Match:  Joe Kane

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Kent League Premier Division
Wednesday 20th February 2008
Herne Bay 2 - 1 Lordswood

Bay completed the double over Lordswood winning this game by the same score as achieved at North Dane. This time however it was a much younger Bay side with both Delo and Burrett away in USA Bay started with under 18 players, Shaun Smith and Sam Kettle as their replacements. Andy Forster, Joe Kane and Adam Todd making up a strange looking defence.

Bay started very lively forcing Lordswood back into their own half. After the first 10 minutes, Lordswood started to get into the game forcing Bay to defend deep in their own half.
Possibly against the run of run Bay took the lead after 28 minutes. A dubious free kick was awarded on the edge of the visitors box. Martin Chandler floated the ball towards the back post where keeper  Arnott was forced to fist the ball away. The ball was headed back into the danger area where the Lordswood defender headed it back out to Andy Forster who rifled the ball home from close range. 1-0.
Lordswood pushed forward at every opportunity and were rewarded for their efforts in the 37th minute when Lee Farrell was put through and he coolly lobbed Smith from outside the area. 1-1.

Immediately after the interval Simon Brown replaced Chandler, Christian Marsh went into midfield, the position he normally plays for the under 18’s.
The game developed into real end to end play, but it was the visitor’s keeper who was kept the busiest. Time after time he made fine saves from powerful shots, generally from Luke Harvey. Rowan Arnott seems to relish playing against Harvey. As in the reverse fixture he pulled off save after save against him.  It was not all one way traffic though. On two occasions Smith was called into making match saving stops.
Lordswood seem to squander too many chances, despite having more than their fair share of the play they failed to find the cutting edge to break open a determined Bay defence.
Bay always looked the more dangerous, particularly on the break. Ben Brown in particular made a number very forceful runs turning defence into attack.  In the 60th minute following a forty yard sprint, ghosting past defenders he put Simon Brown away. Fortunately for Lordswood   Arnott pulled off another fine save to thwart  this attack. He followed this by turning a Harvey thunderbolt over the bar.
It looked certain that the game would end with the honours shared, but in the dying minutes of normal time Lordswood put Bay under tremendous pressure and only some desperate defending preventing them from snatching the winner. Then from a quick Ben Brown breakaway it was Lordswood who were forced into defending. From this attack Bay forced a corner. Simon Brown swung the ball into the box; the ball fell to Ben Brown and he smashed the ball home from 6 yards to give Bay the victory which their 2nd half performance possibly deserved.

Attendence: 80

TEAM: SMITH, FORSTER, KANE, KETTLE, TODD, CHANDLER, B BROWN,
LAWSON,  MARSH,  HARVEY, SOUTAN.
Subs: S BROWN (Chandler 46 mins)  Not used: LAWRENCE,  COOK

Man of Match:  Ben Brown

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 16th February 2008
Croydon 0 - 7 Herne Bay

An awful game of football for the first 44 minutes on a bitterly cold February Saturday.
Bay took the game to Croydon straight from the start and could have been two up inside the first 5 minutes if only the forwards could find a way to finish!
But for a good save from keeper Andrews, Rhys Lawson would have opened the scoring with a fine shot from close range. Straight from this attack Croydon’s  Amena went through, one on one with Jack Delo. He rounded Delo but somehow managed to slice his shot wide from 6 yards with the open goal at his mercy. This was the only threat on Delo’s goal for the rest of the game.
The course of the game was changed in the 15th minute, when Walker was harshly dismissed for a clumsy challenge on Dave Soutan. This was the start of some ridiculous decisions by the match official. The game was stop-start for the rest of the half with the referee wanting to be the centre of attention. Playing against 10 men Bay were in total control but just could not score.
In the 20th minute Lawson raced down the flank and his cross was met by Christian Marsh who shot wide of the target. In the dying minutes of the half Soutan went through but his shot was turned around for a corner by Andrews. From the corner the ball fell to Luke Harvey, 10 yards out, to stroke the ball home. 1-0 and half time.
8 minutes into the 2nd half  Lawson broke through striking the bar with a fine shot. The ball bounced down and out to Marsh, who smashed the ball back onto the bar. The ball again bounced down on the line and was cleared away.
With twenty minutes left to play Croydon’s defender Sesay, made no attempt to play the ball instead took Sean Bremner out with a two footed tackle. Amazingly the referee considered  a yellow card was appropriate on this occasion much to the surprise of all who saw it.
In the 75th minute Ben Brown made a forceful run into the box and was upended. From the penalty spot Chandler made no mistake. 2-0.  This seemed to give Bay  the spur they needed. Three minutes later it was 3-0. A fine cross from Brown put Lawson away and he coolly lobbed the keeper  from the edge of the box.  Dave Soutan made it 4-0 in the 82nd minute powering in a header from another accurate Brown cross.  A minute later Harvey fired a low shot from outside the area. The ball hit the post  and rebounded to substitute, Adam Todd who stroked the ball home. 5-0.
The biggest cheer in the game came in the 87th minute when the referee came off injured and had to be replaced by his assistant. Remarks like ‘the best decision he made all afternoon" were ringing across the ground!
Croydon  were a beaten side and Bay were rampant. Another two goals in the last two minutes from Todd and Lawson completed the rout. Todd striking a low drive from 20 yards through a packed defence and Lawson heading home from another Brown cross.
This was one of those games where Bay could have rattled up a cricket score. In previous games they have not had any luck in front of goal. Today was a different story!

Attendance: 51

TEAM: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, BURRETT, KANE, CHANDLER, LAWSON,
B BROWN, MARSH, HARVEY, SOUTAN.
Subs: TODD (Marsh 50 mins)  KETTLE (Bremner 80 mins)  Not used: COLLINS

Man of Match:  Ben Brown

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 16th February 2008
Lordswood 1 - 2 Herne Bay

A much better performance from Bay today in a game where the match official seemed hell bent on penalising every Herne Bay challenge for the ball. The official booked three Bay players for absolutely nothing and chose not to see three blatantly obvious penalty challenges against Bay! A very, very disappointing performance from todays’ match official.
That aside Bay worked extremely hard to get this result on this very  narrow Lordswood pitch.
As early as the 14th minute Lordswood keeper, Rown Arnott, showed his intentions by palming over the bar a thunderous Martin Chandler volley. 10 minutes later Man of the match, Luke Harvey, latched onto a Ben Brown cross but his shot struck the base of the post with Arnott beaten.
As the half progressed Lordswood got more into the game and put Bay on the back foot, winning a number of corners and having a few speculative shots on goal. Jack Delo, however, was not forced into making any form of save.
After the interval Bay substituted Rhys Lawson with Christian Marsh. Immediately on his introduction Marsh put Harvey through but Arnott did extremely well pushing his fierce drive around the post. From Simon Brown’s  corner kick the ball soared over to the far post, falling to Andy Forster who drove home from the tightest of angles. 1-0.
The lead only lasted one minute. Straight from the restart Lordswood attacked down the left flank. A deep cross  into the penalty area was met by Scott Bucklan who sent a powerful header into the top corner. 1-1
Undeterred Bay then became a dominant attacking force. With Harvey leading the front line with aplomb . Ben Brown making a number of very good forceful runs into the heart of the Lordswood defence but each attempt found the keeper  always on hand to prevent Bay from scoring.
Time and time again Arnott proved a nemesis for Harvey, saving shot after shot that Harvey attempted. It appeared that Bay, and in particular Harvey, would not get the goal they deserved.  
Then in the 75th minute their luck changed. A deep cross was met by Dave Soutan on the edge of the box. His header was somehow scrambled clear off the goal line. Fortunately the ball came back to Soutan. Keeper, Arnott, expecting a fierce volley dived too early but Soutan seemed to hit the ball  into the ground. With the keeper already committed at  full stretch on the ground the ball bounced over his body and the goal line. 2-1
Bay ran out winners but with a little more luck could have had a hat-full of goals but at the end of the day they got a well earned victory coupled with a good all round team performance. Maybe the sight of Manager Jason Lillis back in the technical area made the team determined to show that last weeks game was very much a one off! 

Attendance:  75 

TEAM: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, BURRETT, KANE, CHANDLER, LAWSON, S BROWN, B BROWN, HARVEY, SOUTAN.
Subs: MARSH (Lawson 55 ) KETTLE (Bremner 76) TODD (Forster 80) 

Man of Match:  Luke Harvey

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 2nd February 2008
Herne Bay 0 - 2 Slade Green

This match will rank as probably one of the worst Herne Bay performances of the season; only the Colliers Wood, FA Vase game back in September comes close!
After that game I couldn’t even do a match report. I am in a similar position today.
The Slade Green committee said after the game and I quote ’ After all the years we have played Herne Bay we have never seen such a poor side as seen today’
The game started very brightly as Bay took the game to their visitors. No real threats on  goal though. Then on 17 minutes, Slade Green were awarded a free kick 10 yards inside Bay’s half. The free kick found Chris Johnson on the edge of the box . A quick turn and a first time shot flew into the bottom corner beating Jack Delo’s dive.
Two minutes later Bay’s tactics of playing a single striker backfired. Luke Harvey reacted to a challenge from behind and was shown the red card. His challenger, Ben Payne, also being dismissed.  From this point Bay ‘s attack was too lightweight against the big ,solid , more experienced Slade Green side.
Brimming with confidence and knowing Bay couldn’t hurt them, Green pushed forward and took  control of the game. On the half hour a sloppy pass from Sean Bremner, trying to put Martin Chandler away, was intercepted. Sending a quick pass over the defensive line, the ball fell to Johnson, who looked miles offside but the assistant’s flag stayed down. 
Taking the ball under immediate control, he looked up, noting Delo was off his line, and coolly lobbed the ball with absolute precision over Delo to double their lead.
Bay tried to change things round replacing an ineffective, Rob Chiverton with Rhys Lawson immediately at the start of the 2nd period.  This change nearly had the desired effect when on 47 minutes Lawson broke through and unleashed a powerful shot from 15 yards which the keeper, Chris Peck, produced a great save turning the ball around the post.
Lawson had another similar attempt, also saved by Peck, on 60 minutes but these were the only real attempts Bay made on the Slade Green goal.
Second to bottom Green played out time, frustrating Bay all over the field.
Only a fantastic save from Delo prevented Lee Barnett from making the score more
humiliating for Bay. Barnett broke through and placed a fantastic shot towards the top
corner. Somehow Delo at full stretch managed to palm the ball around the post .
This being the only real highlight of Herne Bay’s play today!

Attendance: 102

TEAM: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, BURRETT, GUIVER, CHANDLER, CHIVERTON,
S BROWN, KANE, HARVEY, SOUTAN.
Subs: LAWSON (Chiverton 46mins)  B BROWN (Burrett 60 mins)
Not used: SMITH, PERKINS

Man of Match:  Joe Kane

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Kent League Premier Division Cup 1/4 Final
Wednesday 30th January 2008
Croydon 1 - 2 Herne Bay

With striker Aaron Firth out injured, Bay adopted a  4:5:1 formation with Luke Harvey alone up front and Joe Kane replacing Sean Bremner at full back. Bremner moved into the midfield. A strange decision seeing that Croydon had failed to score in any of their last three games!   Bay took time to settle in this formation allowing Croydon to dominate the early exchanges.
The play unfortunately reflected two teams lacking in confidence. With the packed midfield, the play was very condensed and neither side managed to put any threat on the two keepers.
After 30 minutes it looked like extra time and penalties would be needed to get a result! Then it all changed. Bay began passing the ball with good effect, stretching the home defence. After two unsuccessful long range shots which went well wide of the target from Harvey and Rob Chiverton, Ben Brown decided the better approach would be to run at the defence. This resulted in a fine drive which, unfortunately struck Chiverton, standing in the in the box, ricocheting to safety.
A minute later Brown, again, received the ball thirty yards out struck a fantastic volley which left the keeper grasping at thin air as the ball struck the back of the net. This really lifted Bay and from this moment on they pegged Croydon in the own half, playing  nice controlled football. But as has happened in previous games half time came when Bay were well on top and from the restart went back to playing the sloppy passes and giving away possession that was so evident in the early stages of the first period.
The game changed for the worse in the 50th minute. A Brown free kick was only parried out by the keeper. Dave Souton raced in and smashed the ball home. Joy turned to sadness as he was adjudged to be offside. Straight from the restart the ball was lofted into the Bay’s defence where Roy Guiver and Andy Forster both failed to deal with the danger, allowing  Matt Knuckley to nip in and flick the ball past Jack Delo. Up to this point Delo had been a virtual spectator in the game!
Croydon were now in the ascendancy and  it took Bay a long time to reassert their control on the game.  In the 70th minute Chiverton was substituted by Rhys Lawson.
Harvey broke away with a strong run down the left. His fierce low cross was met by Lawson, but his fluffed shot fell to Brown, who with only the keeper to beat, miss hit the ball enabling the keeper to turn the ball around the post. In the last 10 minutes it was all Bay.  Guiver forcing a goal line clearance from a corner. Soutan smashing a pile driver of a shot from 15 yards out, only for the defender to throw his body at the ball, with the keeper beaten, and clear.
As extra time loomed Lawson was put through. As he approached the penalty area, with the keeper advancing towards him, he unleashed a fine right foot shot high into the top corner to give Bay the victory and into Saturdays semi final draw.

Attendance: 51

TEAM: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, BURRETT, GUIVER, CHANDLER, CHIVERTON,
B BROWN, KANE, HARVEY, SOUTAN.
Subs: LAWSON (Chiverton 70mins)  Not used: WARNER, KETTLE, MARSH

Man of Match:  Aaron Burrett

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 26th January 2008
Herne Bay 1 - 1 Sevenoaks Town

Bay went back to their old ways today: dominating the game but squandering so many chances! The games between Sevenoaks and Bay this season have never had more than one goal separating the sides. Today it could have been very different.
With Eastwood and Lawson both absent through injury Bay gave new signing, Rob Chiverton, a start in the midfield. Sevenoaks were very lively through the first half and chased down every ball. Bay found these tactics difficult to handle and failed to get any rhythm in their game. Unlike last week it was the visitors that were always first to the ball. They took the lead in the 12th minute. From a free kick the ball was floated into the box. Jack Delo and Aaron Burrett went up for the ball but neither could prevent Andy Constable from glancing the ball into the empty net.
Bay hit back straight from the restart and it was Constable again, this time heading the ball off his own goal line and preventing Roy Guiver from bringing the sides level.
Bay were now getting right into the game but poor ball control in front of goal really let them down. Aaron Firth got into some fantastic scoring positions but in the 20th minute, in attempting a shot from the tight angle, he twisted his knee. Persevering for another 9 minutes but to no avail, Firth was substituted by Joe Kane.
A swift passing move, in the 34th minute, through the centre, ended inside the Sevenoaks box but the ball bounced awkwardly in front of Dave Soutan and bounced harmlessly off his shin into the arms of keeper Chris Peck. Four minutes later Simon Brown attempted a diving header from a fierce Martin Chandler cross; the ball flying wide of the target.
In the 2nd half Sevenoaks visibly tired, no longer were they chasing down the ball. Bay now dominated the play with Chandler bossing the midfield. 10 minutes into the half Bay should have been level. Luke Harvey forced his way down the left flank and from the bye line, sent in a fantastic cross which was met by a tremendous Simon Brown power header. Unfortunately with the keeper beaten the ball smashed against the crossbar and ricocheted away to safety. With 15 minutes left on the clock, Guiver broke through the defence but his low drive also struck the woodwork and bounced away out of the danger zone. 5 minutes later Bay were, deservedly, level. A fine cross from Ben Brown was met by Soutan who volleyed home from close range. Bay should have wrapped the game up in the dying minutes; Guiver sent a ball across the face of the goal but somehow Christian Marsh swung his foot at the ball and completely missed it. It only had to hit Marsh to go in the goal but it was not to be Bay’s day!

Attendance: 120

TEAM: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, BURRETT, GUIVER, CHANDLER, CHIVERTON,
S BROWN, FIRTH, HARVEY, SOUTAN.
Subs: KANE (Firth 29mins) B BROWN (Harvey 65 mins) MARSH (Chiverton 65mins)
Not used: LAWRENCE, KETTLE.

Man of Match: Martin Chandler

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 19th January 2008
Beckenham Town 2 - 1 Herne Bay

In a fantastically entertaining game, Herne Bay came away from Eden Park beaten, but certainly not disgraced. After the defensive nightmares shown at Deal, Bay looked a totally different side as Beckenham found it very difficult to break through the solid defensive line in which Roy Guiver, Joe Kane and Andy Forster excelled. Sean Bremner and Nathan Eastwood linked up extremely well with the midfield to give the Beckenham defence plenty to think about with some fine counter attacking, particularly in the first half.
Beckenham had all the early pressure, forcing Jack Delo into making three good saves all within the first five minutes. As Bay started to counter, Beckenham found they were in for a very tough game. With their second meaningful attack Bay went in front. This after only 9 minutes of play! A flowing passing move down the left flank with Luke Harvey putting Bremner free to send over a deep cross, which keeper Grant could only put away for a corner. Simon Brown appeared to mis-hit  the kick, which went low into the box. Dave Soutan stepped over the ball, dummying the defence leaving the ball to fall to Aaron Firth who stroked the ball into the goal from 2 yards.
Beckenham threw everything at Bay in an attempt to get back into the game and should have levelled the scores when John Paul Collier ran with the ball up to the edge of the area but for some reason chose to pass instead of shooting and the chance was gone.
Bay could have increased their lead with two great chances in the dying minutes of the half. Both chances falling to Harvey. A first time shot saw Grant failing to hold the fierce shot. Ben Brown, an early substitute, for the injured Firth, failed to get any power onto his flick shot.  A minute later Harvey raced through unopposed but slipped as he tried to place the ball past the keeper, subsequently hitting the ball wide.
As has happened in other games the half time whistle came at the wrong time with Bay on top.
Straight from the restart Beckenham changed their formation; playing three attacking players. Bay failed to deal with this and within 3 minutes of the restart they were level.
Substitute, Budgen running through a packed defence to fire a low drive across Delo into the far corner of the goal.
The rest of the half resembled something like the Alamo with Beckenham relentlessly driving forward. In the 55th minute a beautifully struck free kick smashed against the bar.
A minute later a great shout for a penalty was turned away. From the free kick, just outside the area, Delo was forced to turn the ball around the post. 
10 minutes later Delo produced a point blank save from Tommy Youle.   A minute later Youle did manage to beat Delo. Simon Brown tripped a Beckenham forward in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Youle to fire an unstoppable kick high into the top corner of the goal giving Delo no chance whatsoever, despite diving the right way!  Bay tried desperately to get back in the game but despite a number of good moves the Beckenham defence stood firm.
A much better performance today from Bay but they have to admit they were beaten by a very good Beckenham side, who with a brilliant second half display, deservedly took all three points.

Attendance: 102

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, GUIVER, CHANDLER, FORSTER,
S BROWN,  FIRTH, HARVEY, SOUTAN.
SUBS: B BROWN (Firth 29 mins)  MARSH (Eastwood 82mins)
Not used: BURRETT,  LAWSON,  KETTLE

Man of Match: Jack Delo

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 12th January 2008
Deal Town 3 - 2 Herne Bay

Bay were quickly out of the blocks in the game, forcing Deal deep in their own half for the first 5 minutes of play but Deal always looked dangerous with a front three of Roy Godden, Lee Jones and Marc Pollard. Slowly Deal got into the game with some good, free flowing football. Jones, in particular, giving Nathan Eastwood a very torrid time. Pollard; always a danger, with his ability to out-jump the defender and Godden, moving from Hythe, a very lively front runner.
Bay’s defence was ‘all at sea’ in the first half and it only took 15 minutes for Deal to take the lead. A poor clearance across the box found Pollard on the left. His cross found Godden totally unmarked a yard off the line in the centre of the goal and he made no mistake in tapping home.
Bay tried to get back in the game but their passing and ability to keep the ball was sadly lacking. Every time they attacked and gave the ball away, Deal counter-attacked with pace.
In the 24th minute , from one of these counters, Aaron Robinson took the ball down the right flank and fired in a harmless looking shot. Jack Delo, seeing the ball late, fumbled the ball on his line and the ball raced away to Pollard standing on the left flank. His first time cross/shot whistled over the luckless Delo into the back of the net.
Four minutes later Bay had reduced the deficit. From a Simon Brown corner, Dave Soutan headed against the bar. The ball dropped straight to Aaron Firth who smashed the ball into the back of the net from 2 yards.
Deal were still the more composed side and from another counter in the 35th minute, Delo was forced into making a good save at the feet of Pollard. Four minute later Deal extended their lead. Jones dispossessing Eastwood in his own half, raced down the line, ghosted past three Bay defenders and flicked the ball over the advancing Delo.
If Deal dominated the first half, then Bay controlled the second. Despite their dominance Bay never really looked like scoring. Far too many wasted passes and woeful finishing would cost them dear!  Jurgen Wild, in the Deal goal only had one real save to make; this a fine diving save to hold on to a Ben Brown shot.
In the closing minutes Firth got his, and Bay’s second goal, rising at the far post to head the ball in off the crossbar from a Simon Brown corner. This goal came far too late to enable Bay to exert some real pressure on the home side and to get something out of the game.
Both of Bay’s goals coming from corners and with so much reliance on Aaron Firth to score seems to be the Bay’s only hope of getting a victory.

Attendance: 132

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, KETTLE, BURRETT, GUIVER, CHANDLER,
HARVEY, S BROWN, FIRTH, SOUTAN, B BROWN .
SUBS: FORSTER (Chandler), KANE (Burrett) TODD (Kettle)
Not used: MARSH,  LAWRENCE

Man of Match:  Aaron Firth

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Kent League Premier Division Cup group 'A'
Tuesday 8th January 2008
Herne Bay 1 - 0 Tunbridge Wells

In a very entertaining game, played on a very wet and sticky Winch’s Field, Herne Bay moved into the quarter final of the Premier Division League Cup, courtesy of an Aaron Firth 88th minute penalty.
The visitors came played some excellent football and defended very well. It is difficult to see how this side were hammered 8-1 last weekend. Their keeper, Stewart Copeland, pulled off four top class saves and frustrated Bay throughout the match. Fortunately he chose the wrong way for the penalty!
Copeland was by far the busier of the two keepers and Bay failed to put the ball away in the early stages. On a quarter of an hour the two Browns, Simon and Ben, combined well down the right flank but the cross was well taken by the keeper.
Firth was next to squander a goal scoring opportunity when he slipped in the box after receiving a great through ball from Luke Harvey. In the closing minutes of the half Harvey was twice denied by two superb saves from Copeland. The first with Harvey racing into the area powered a shot towards the top corner but the keeper somehow stretched to palm the ball over the bar. A minute later Copeland again turned a fierce drive around the post. HT 0-0.
The 2nd period saw Bay piling on the pressure but had to be on their defensive guard as Wells constantly counter attacked with ex-Ashford player, Joby Thorogood always a threat. Ben Brown should have been dismissed in the 50th minute but his rash tackle only produced a yellow card. On 67 minutes Simon Brown fired a volley which looked destined for the top corner, but a diving Firth deflected the ball wide of the goal.  Five minutes later Nathan Eastwood on a forceful run broke into the area and appeared to be brought down. The referee waved away all of Bay’s protests.
After 80 minutes Harvey broke through again but this time unselfishly put  Firth in with a scoring chance. Firth’s shot was again turned over the bar by an inspired keeper.  As the game approached the final minutes it looked as if Wells would get the draw that would see Greenwich Borough into the next round, but as Bay pushed  forward into the box, Harvey was brought down. The referee had no hesitation this time in  awarding the penalty. Up stepped Firth to send the keeper the wrong way placing the ball to keepers left. The delight, and relief, was there for all to see. The Wells players didn’t deserve this but that’s football.
Bay now go to Croydon on Wednesday 30th January.

attendance: 91

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, KETTLE, BURRETT, GUIVER, CHANDLER,
HARVEY, S BROWN, FIRTH, SOUTAN, B BROWN .
SUBS: LAWSON (B Brown) TODD (Chandler) MARSH (Kettle)
Not used: FORSTER, KANE

Man of Match:  Luke Harvey

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Lee-Ray Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final
Saturday 5th January 2008
Herne Bay 1 - 2 Thamesmead Town

Thamesmead Town set their stall out straight from the kick off. No pretty football on a very sticky pitch , just clear their lines and keep pumping the ball up to their three front runners, ex Bay striker Richard Dimmock,  Super quick Curtis Williams and Rikki Cable. Bay on the other hand tried to play the flowing football.
For the first five minutes the visitors pushed forward, pinning Bay in their own half. Bay withstood this pressure and started to get into the game. In fact throughout the half Chris Conneally in ‘meads goal was the busier of the two keepers.
Despite the conditions both teams played really entertaining football. The best chance of the half went to Bay in the 38th minute. Good work from Luke Harvey in the penalty area saw the ball whipped across the face of the goal and falling to Christian Marsh, making his first full start for the team. Unfortunately he opened his body at the point of impact and side-footed the ball wide of the goal from 8 yards. From the resulting goal kick ‘Mead worked the ball forward and Jack Delo was forced into pulling off a fine save at his near post. Three minutes later Williams broke through the back line but again Delo was swiftly off his line to thwart the mead striker. HT 0-0.
Thamesmead started the 2nd period the same as the first, but this time they made the pressure pay. Within two minutes of the restart they forced a rash clearance in the Bay box. The ball raced away towards the corner flag. The Bay defence failed to react to the swift run of Williams who quickly got the ball, passed back to Rob Tarrant who sent in a cross to Dimmock in the area. Somehow Dimmock looped  the ball over his marker, Roy Guiver and Delo into the far corner of the goal. 0-1.
5 minutes later ‘mead doubled their lead. A long ball over the defence saw Cable burst through and flick the ball over Delo as he advanced forward 0-2.
Unlike the previous week Bay didn’t give up and raised their effort putting the visitors on the back foot.  On 63 minutes Bay looked to get back in the game. A flowing passing move from just inside ’meads half ended with Ben Brown ghosting past the last defender and slotting the ball wide of Conneally.1 –2.
For the next 5 minutes Bay threw everything at Thamesmead but the equalizing goal just didn’t materialize. As the game went into the final quarter Thamesmead again started to take control of the game, closing Bay down at every opportunity. Their delight was obvious as the final whistle went as they take their place in the semi-final, with a home draw against Deal Town.
Bay wasted too many attacking opportunities with balls pumped aimlessly into the box which suited ‘mead defence enabling them to easily clear the ball out of the danger zone.
Thamesmead’s tactics were perfect for this game; no messing, clear the ball out of the danger area, chase down the opposition and hit on the break. Bay have got to learn how to adapt their play to suit the conditions and the way the opposition are playing.

attendance:131

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, BURRETT, GUIVER, CHANDLER,
B BROWN, HARVEY, FIRTH, SOUTAN, MARSH.
SUBS: KANE (Burrett) TODD (Marsh)  Not used: FORSTER, KETTLE

Man of Match:  Dave Soutan

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 29th December 2007
VCD Athletic 4 - 2 Herne Bay

Bay gifted this result to their hosts. Leading 2-1 with 13 minutes left on the clock  basic errors made within thirty yards of VCD’s goal were cruelly punished by clinical finishing. This young side have got to learn how to defend a lead!
For the first five minutes VCD kept Bay in their own half, but  Bay, playing flowing passing football started to control the game. Both Luke Harvey and Aaron Firth went close with shots during these early encounters.
The first 45 minutes was a quite tempestuous affair with  the referee either not seeing the fouls  or choosing to ignore them. Despite VCD’s  physical approach, Bay still played the football and succeeded in pinning their hosts in their own half for long periods. Their reward was a penalty in the 40th minute when Ben Brown was unceremoniously brought down. Firth took the spot kick, hitting a low shot to keeper, James Tedder’s, right. Tedder guessed correctly and almost saved. But the ball trickled over the line. 1-0.
Bay were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the 2nd period. Getting a corner straight from the restart, Simon Brown curled a cross deep into the penalty area, Firth rose and hit a power header straight at Tedder, but the ball ricocheted off his body and away to safety. Then came the turning point of the came, two clear cut penalty shouts were turned down. Both times the ball being controlled by the arm! But for some reason the referee, who was in a superb position to see both incidents, failed to give them. Yet when a similar incident occurred on the halfway line 10 minutes later, he blew straight away!
On 60 minutes VCD were level. A long ball over the defence saw Kevin Spriggs raced through to slot the ball past Jack Delo.1-1. Their euphoria lasted only two minutes. From a throw-in, the ball was passed back to Ben Brown standing 30 yards out. He fired a shot towards 6’ 5”,Tedder who was standing six yards off his line. The ball flew on the wind over Tedder into the top corner. 2-1.
Despite getting deservedly in front, Bay pressed forward in search of more goals instead of protecting the lead. They were controlling the game with ease so it was needless pushing forward with 8 and 9 players!
From one of these attacks, with Rhys Lawson and Nathan Eastwood inter-passing the ball deep in the VCD half, they gave away possession with some sloppy play. The ball was passed swiftly to Spriggs who raced down the empty left flank and fired a cross into the box where Leroy Huggins rose to head the ball into the top corner. 2-2.
Five minutes from time, VCD lead for the first time in the game. From a free kick the ball floated into the area. Spriggs rose above the defence to smash a header against the bar. The ball dropped down and the assistant referee’s flag signalled the ball had crossed the line. 2-3. Bay pushed forward in search of the equalizer but on the stroke of time Harvey lost possession which left four VCD  players against two Bay defenders on the break. Bremner missed his tackle which left Ben Mitchell to fire past Delo . 2-4.

attendance 145

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, BURRETT, B BROWN, LAWSON,
S BROWN, HARVEY, SOUTAN, FIRTH.
SUBS: WARNER (Soutan) MARSH (Kane)  Not Used: SMITH, FORSTER

Man of Match: Aaron Burrett

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 22nd December 2007
Herne Bay 2 - 0 Holmesdale

Holmedale, on their first ever visit to Winch’s Field, can feel that they deserved more out of this game than they got. They forced 15 corners to Bay’s 1 and found Jack Delo in fine form pulling off at least four first class saves to maintain Bay’s early lead.
As always seems to be the case Bay started very slowly and it was the visitors who took the game to their hosts. Then with 5 minutes on the clock, with their first attack of the game, Bay took the lead with a stunning goal!  Martin Chandler drove forward deep into Holmesdale half and fired a fierce cross into the heart of the area. To the surprise of the Holmesdale defence, Simon Brown raced in to smash a first time volley  into the corner. So fast was the finish that keeper, John Paul Green, never even moved. 1-0.
Bay followed this with some very sloppy football, constantly giving the ball away in the visitors area and allowing them to race up the other end to pressurize Bay’s defence, in which Roy Guiver replaced Joe Kane at the back. (Guiver’s wife had gone into labour just before the kick off and he was replaced by Kane at the start of the second half) In fact between the 15th and 27th minute Delo produced four
diving, full stretch saves to prevent the visitors from going in at half time in front. Green also pulled off a fine save from a Guiver diving header after 35 minutes.
Two substitutes at half time Kane and Ben Brown, for Dave Soutan. Brown in particular  was very impressive with some fine forceful runs into the Holmesdale area.
Holmesdale started the 2nd period the same as the first, forcing three corners in quick succession. Despite this pressure Delo was not asked to make a save.
Bay started to get back more into the game and after 54 minutes Sean Bremner put Ben Brown through only to see him fire over the bar.
It took Bay 75 minutes to win their only corner of the game! Although they didn’t score from the corner a resulting play saw them extend their lead. Ben Brown pounced onto a loose ball and worked his way into the box. The defender seemed to be forcing him away from the danger area but somehow Brown still maintained control of the ball and hit a low drive from the tight angle to which Green could only parry into his own goal. 2-0 A minute later Luke Harvey fired a volley just over the bar and from this point Bay never looked like conceding their lead.
A disappointing performance, but two quality goals saw Bay take the points in a game where four Bay players found their names in the referee’s book.
An inconsistent performance from the referee! Really apparent when a Holmesdale player brought Harvey down after losing the ball, and he failed to produce a card for what was the worst tackle of the day!

Attendance: 129

TEAM: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, GUIVER, BURRETT, CHANDLER,
LAWSON, S BROWN, HARVEY, SOUTAN, FIRTH
SUBS: KANE (Guiver) B BROWN (Soutan) B WARNER (Forster)
MARSH, TODD (Not used)

Man of Match: Jack Delo

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 15th December 2007
Slade Green 3 - 3 Herne Bay

Herne Bay started this game very slowly and allowed Slade Green to dominate the early exchanges. But it was Bay who had the first scoring opportunity.  A Rhys Lawson cross caught the keeper unaware, the ball ricocheted off the bar to Roy Guiver. Unfortunately Guiver’s shot was just within the keeper’s reach and he managed to palm the ball away.
A minute later the hosts had a similar attempt, this time Lee Barnett lobbing Jack Delo, but again his effort struck the bar with Delo beaten. Bay should have learnt from this but Barnett followed this effort 4 minutes later with a thundering volley, from fully 40 yards, which dipped under the bar leaving Delo stranded. 0-1
This gave Green the impetus to pressurize Bay and this they did for the rest of the half.
Bay struggled to find the tempo of the game and just kept giving the ball away. The game turned in the 40th minute when keeper Chris Peck picked up the ball outside his area. From the free kick Simon Brown floated the ball towards the far post where Aaron Firth rose unmarked to head the ball home. 1-1.
Bay came out for the second half a different team, playing good football they camped in Green’s half. Dave Soutan should have put Bay into the lead in the 58th minute but somehow he just couldn’t connect with the ball when standing on the goal line! Luke Harvey substituted Firth and he had an immediate impact.
Unfortunately Ben Brown couldn’t get his shot away after being put through. In fairness it was a great tackle from the Slade Green defender which forced Brown to hit the ball wide.
Then in the space of three minutes the game was turned on it’s head. In the 68th minute Harvey chased down the defender, winning possession and firing a low drive into the bottom corner.2-1.
A minute later Green were back on level terms. A long ball over the back line found its way to Raphael Akala who gave Delo no chance from 10 yards. 2-2.
Straight from the restart another long ball over the defence allowing Akala again to run through and score. 2-3. 
After a further minute all 22 players were involved in a melee in the centre of the pitch. After the referee, who incidentally didn’t have a particularly good game, restored order, the game continued with end to end football.
With 8 minutes to go, man of the match, Simon Brown went on a solo run, ghosted past four of five defenders before unleashing a low drive which beat the diving Peck to give Bay a share of the points.
A very enjoyable 2nd half with plenty of action but Bay will be disappointed not to have gone home with all three points!

attendance 72

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, BURRETT, CHANDLER,
LAWSON, S BROWN, GUIVER, SOUTAN, FIRTH
SUBS: HARVEY(Firth) B BROWN (Chandler)   FORSTER (Not used)

Man of Match: Simon Brown

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 8th December 2007
Herne Bay 2 - 2 Erith & Belvedere

On a dreadful day with a number of games being called off, the Winch’s Field pitch stood up to the driving rain, and the 68 paying customers watched a very competitive football match.
Bay will be kicking themselves for surrendering a two goal lead within the last 12 minutes but In all fairness the visitors thoroughly deserved to finish the game with a share of the points.
Straight from the start Erith & Belvedere took the game to their hosts and piled on the pressure to the Bay defenders. The referee quite sensibly made full allowance for the conditions and the very sticky, slippery playing surface, giving players from both sides the benefit of the doubt after some strong tackles flew in. 
Despite their pressure the ‘deres failed to threaten Jack Delo in the Bay goal. Then on 19 minutes, with their first real attack on the visitor’s goal, Bay took the lead.
A great ball from midfield from Martin Chandler, found Aaron Firth on the right. Firth advanced down the line, ghosted past the defender and sent a fierce low drive into the penalty area. Roy Guiver jumped over the ball, selling a dummy to both defender and keeper, leaving Simon Brown with the simple task of forcing the ball over the line. 1-0.
5 minutes later the impressive Chandler saw  keeper, Grant Wallis, off his line and hit a fierce drive only for Wallis to get back and finger tip the ball over his bar. Bay continue to dominate the rest of the half but had to be very aware of the front running of ‘Deres Nicky Smith, who throughout the game was a constant threat.
Luke Harvey had replaced Firth at the start of the 2nd half; Firth suffering with a dead leg. The second half started much the same as the first with the visitors again forcing the pace and taking the game to Bay. But despite this Bay doubled the lead after 15 minutes into this period.
Harvey outpaced his marker and advanced towards the goal and the last defender. Noticing Guiver unmarked he unselfishly passed the ball across the penalty area. Guiver with his back to the goal pushed the ball back to Chandler who hit a thundering shot which crashed against the bar, ricocheting out. The defender tried to clear the ball but Chandler followed through to smash the ball home home 10 yards. 2-0.
Bay should have closed up shop at this point. ‘Deres pushed forward relentlessly at every opportunity and forced Delo into a number of fine saves. This relentless pressure paid off in the 78th minute.
From a promising Bay attack the ball was lost and the defender ran the ball back into the Bay half and sent Matt Johnson away, who unleashed a fine shot from 20 yards to leave Delo stranded. 2-1
Two minutes from time ‘Deres were level. Paul Gross pouncing on a loose ball in the 6 yard box to fire home. Wallis ensured the visitors shared the points when he produced a point blank save from Guiver just before the whistle.

Attendance 52

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, BURRETT, CHANDLER, LAWSON, S BROWN, GUIVER, SOUTAN, FIRTH
SUBS: HARVEY(Firth) VOTIER( Burrett) WARNER (Bremner)
MARSH, FORSTER (Not used)

Man of Match: Martin Chandler

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Kent League Premier Division Cup
Wednesday 5th December 2007
Herne Bay 3 - 1 VCD Athletic

Report by Barry Tracy

An important win on the night, that keeps Herne Bays interest in this seasons Kent Premier League Cup very much alive.  VCD turned out a team showing 6 changes from their previous match, with probably more than one eye on their 3rd Round FA Vase fixture away to Ampthill Town on Saturday. 
On a rain sodden pitch that played remarkably well considering its soggy condition, 'The Bay' were quickly out of the starting blocks. With just 4mins on the clock Sean Bremner hit a ferocious shot from 20yds out to the left of the box, which brought out a tremendous save from visiting keeper Daniel Burke, who tipped it over the bar.  A minute later Dave Soutan had another early opportunity to give the home side the lead but he headed over when well placed.   
As is the way when a side miss two early goal chances, VCD went up the other end in their first attack after 8mins and took the lead. Bremners clumsy challenge saw a free kick given to the visitors 20yds out dead centre of the pitch, where Ashley Probets punished this indiscretion  when he curled in a free kick that gave Jack Delo no chance into the top corner. 
This stunned the home side and the hardy 50 supporters who had braved the cold night, but on 16mins  Bay  were deservedly level.  A defence splitting through-ball from the back from Aaron Burret, sent Roy Guiver on a lone chase.  He was pushed wide by the defender but turned him inside and shot home from the edge of the box .
On 21mins a somewhat subdued on the night Aaron Firth nearly gave Bay the lead, but his shot just cleared the far post with the keeper struggling to reach it. 
VCD by now had started to show a little more interest in the game, and had a chance to re-take the lead but Kevin Winchcombe headed over from a good position. With 33mins on the clock a glorious effort from the visitors Kane Rice thumped back off the crossbar, much to the relief of the stranded Delo in goal. 
On 34mins with this escape in their favour Bay went straight down the other end and took the lead!  The lively Rhys Lawson sent Guiver away on the right, and his surging run into the box saw him unselfishly pick out the unmarked Simon Brown who slotted home with ease at the far post.  2-1 to 'The Bay' and probably just about deserved on the night.  5mins before the break the visitors had one more opportunity to go in level at half time, but after good interplay between Gary Ward and Ben Mitchell, it was the latter who screwed his shot wide. 

After the half time interval, it was VCD who came out with their proverbial tails up, and a succesion of goal scoring chances came and went, with  Bay defending resoloutly to keep their 2-1 lead intact. 
The visitors missed their best chance to equalise when, after good build up play, Ben Mitchell found himself in time and space 12 yds out, but his powerful shot was superbly turned away by Delo.
A succesion of corners for the visitors saw Martin Driscoll shoot over from the edge of the box, and some superb defending first from Joe Kane and then from Aaron Burret to keep Bays lead intact. 
Just before the hour mark VCD changed the ineffectual Stuart Abbot for Bradley Ryan to keep up their relentless pressure on the home goal. Mitchell, VCD's best player on the night, had another chance on 61mins but his lob sailed harmlesly over. 
In an 8min period of the second half, the match Referee dished out 3 yellow cards as the game became a bit fractious. Two bookings came in quick succesion for the home side when first  Firth saw yellow for stopping a quick free kick being taken, and then Simon Brown for a late challenge on VCD's Winchcombe who had to leave the game after a long period of treatment.
This period of the match saw a flurry of substitutions being made.  Eastwood and Firth made way for Votier and Harvey for 'The Bay' while the returning Gary Cook came on for the visitors to replace Winchcombe.
The game had turned scrappy now and another yellow card was issued to the visitors Kane Rice for a late tackle on Dave Soutan.
With 88mins showing on the game clock VCD thought they should have had a penalty. Jack Parkinson evaded the home defence to head firmly goalwards from a VCD corner, but Sean Bremner on the line was deemed by the officials to have cleared with his chest.  This was to turn out to be the defining moment of the match. 
With a minute left to play, Luke Harvey broke away from this incident and cut in from the right into the visitors box. His firm cross low down was not held by keeper Burke, and Roy Guiver supporting turned home the loose ball.  3-1 to 'The Bay' and effectively game over.
Marsh came on for Burret for the last few moments of injury time, but the job had been done.  3 hard earned points on the night, but hope springs eternal for 'The Bay' to still progress out of the group and into the last 8 of the competition.

Attendance 50.

Goal scorers;

Ashley Probetts 8mins (VCD) 0-1

Roy Guiver 16mins (Herne Bay) 1-1

Simon Brown 34mins (Herne Bay) 2-1

Roy Guiver 89mins (Herne Bay) 3-1

Bookings; Aaron Firth, Simon Brown (Herne Bay)

Kane Rice (VCD)

Man of the Match; Roy Guiver.

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 1st December 2007
Erith Town 2 - 4 Herne Bay

What an explosive start to this fixture. With two teams having the best defensive records in the league it was possibly going to be a single goal  that separated the sides at 5.00pm. This proved not to be the case!  With only 70 seconds on the clock Bay’s leading scorer, Aaron Firth had put Bay one up with a close range header. An early Bay corner from Simon Brown, was headed back across the goal by Dave Soutan and saw  Firth nipping in between the defender and keeper to head home.
Three minutes, later a rush of blood from an Erith Town player saw him dismissed for head butting Nathan Eastwood. Eastwood getting a yellow card for his part  in the incident. Despite this Erith got back on level terms in the 12th minute, when Mahama Cho toe poked home from 5 yards.
Following this By pressed forward relentlessly and could  have increased their lead many times in the next 10 minutes. Two free kicks from Martin Chandler; the first, a rasping shot well saved, the second a floated cross which Soutan power heading  straight at the keeper. Firth could have made it 2-0 in the 17th minute. A Brown corner again to the far post was turned back into the area where Firth slid in but hit the ball wide of the post.
10 man Erith struck back immediately and from a corner, only a fine save from Jack Delo, followed by a goal-line headed clearance by Sean Bremner prevented the hosts taking the lead. 10 minutes later a fluid passing move between Brown, Firth and Soutan saw Eastwood put through. His shot from 6 yards, unfortunately failed to trouble the keeper.
The course of the game changed completely in the 36th minute when Chandler floated a cross field pass over the defensive line to Roy Guiver, who appeared to be offside, but was not adjudged to be so by the officials who felt the full back on the other side of the pitch had played him on-side. Guiver made no mistake coolly slotting the ball wide of the oncoming keeper. 2-1. Four minutes later Firth, spotted the keeper off his line, floated the most sublime chip from 28 yards to leave the keeper flat-footed and increase Bay’s lead. 3-1.
The 2nd half saw a much more subdued Bay, seemingly content with their first half efforts. Two second half penalties, one for each team saw the game end  with Bay 4-2 winners. Aaron Firth getting his hat-trick after Chandler was upended in the box in the 73rd minute. Danny Twinn getting Town’s spot kick after Eastwood was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area in the 85th minute.  Erith could have levelled the scores in the last 5 minutes, hitting the bar and hitting the ball wide from one yard , but it was not to be.

attendance 45

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, BURRETT, CHANDLER, LAWSON, S BROWN, GUIVER, SOUTAN, FIRTH.
SUBS: VOTIER (Kane) HARVEY (Lawson) PERKINS (Chandler) MARSH (not used)

Man of the Match: Sean Bremner

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Kent League Premier Division Cup Group 'A'
Tuesday 27th November 2007
Sevenoaks 1 - 1 Herne Bay

Bay went to the inaptly named, Greatness Park,  needing a victory to keep their League Cup aspirations alive. Again  Bay were very slow out of the blocks and were put under severe pressure for the first 30 minutes. The defence seemed un-coordinated and continually kept losing possession. I think I counted only one serious threat on the  ‘Oaks goal in this period.
At the other end Jack Delo was kept very busy. As early as the 5th minute he pulled off a point blank save from the Sevenoaks forward who was left totally unmarked 6 yards out. Jack somehow blocked his fierce strike and the ball ricocheted away to safety. Despite their pressure  the hosts did not  really threatened Delo any  further .
From this Bay’s confidence grew and they started to get at the Sevenoaks defence, in which Darren Pearson was very impressive.  From a Ben Brown corner floated to the far post  first Roy Guiver headed towards the goal then Dave Soutan went bravely up and forced a good save from the keeper . The ball looked to be goal bound, but the save and a frantic clearance saw the ‘Oaks survive the attack.
Aaron Firth began to make some very good runs, causing all sorts of problems to the home defence. The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute, when  Soutan just managed to nick the ball from the defender on the half way line. His through ball to Rhys Lawson put Rhys away and as he advanced towards goal he forced Pearson into a rchallenge. The defender was so committed to the tackle that despite the ball being pushed away he was left with no option but to bring Rhys down. From the resultant penalty kick Firth sent the keeper the wrong way  to give Bay the lead, against the run of play.
The second half was a completely different story; Bay playing with much more confidence and assurance took the game to the hosts. In the 55th  minute a slick passing move down the left flank, involving Sean Bremner, and Lawson put Firth in the perfect scoring position. Unfortunately Aaron placed the ball wide of the target with the keeper well beaten.
Then after 72 minutes Roy Guiver was put through by Firth but his shot was well saved by the keeper.
For some reason Bay took their foot off the pedal and seemed to return to a 4-5-1 formation. This allowed Sevenoaks to push forward and Bay were under the cosh for this period of the game. Then in the 82nd minute Sevenoaks got the lucky break they sought. A harmless ball out to the left was swept in to Billy Manners on the edge of the box. Aaron Burrett tried to block his first time shot  but unfortunately the ball deflected off his outstretched leg over Delo to give them the draw which could ensure them a place in the draw for the quarter finals of the competition.
Bay have an outside chance of qualifying for the next round, but they must win both of their remaining fixtures against Tunbridge Wells and VCD, and hope that VCD lose their remaining game against  Sevenoaks. Highly unlikely but we can only hope.

Attendance 34

TEAM: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, VOTIER, SMITH, LAWSON, FIRTH, GYUIVER,  SOUTAN, B BROWN
Subs: BURRETT (Smith)  HARVEY (Guiver) MARSH (Bremner) CIANO (Not used)

Man of Match: Jack Delo

Kent F.A. Senior Trophy
Saturday 24th November 2007
Herne Bay 5 - 0 Tunbridge Wells

Report by Barry Tracy

Herne Bay's recent forward momentum was kept up in this Kent Senior Trophy 2nd round match, with a comprehensive 5-0 defeat of lowly Kent Premier league rivals Tunbridge Wells at Winch's Field on Saturday. 
Played on a sticky, sometimes cloying pitch after recent heavy downpours, the first 20mins of the match turned out to be run of the mill stuff lacking much in idea from either side. 
Herne Bay found themselves boosted by the return to the club of Roy Guiver from Folkestone Invicta, after a fortnight where he decided his footballing future lay at Winch's Field for the time being at least.  With forwards Aaron Firth and Luke Harvey both serving one match suspensions over the same weekend, Guiver was given the no 9 shirt to lead the front line with Rhys Lawson and Simon Brown in support.  It was on 21mins that this trio with a sublime ball from young Ben Brown feeding Rhys Lawson down the right flank, broke down an up till then resolute 'Wells' defence. Lawsons pace caused panic as he sped into the box squaring a pass to Simon Brown who calmly slotted home at the near post. 
With the opening goal secure 'The Bay' pushed forward in numbers and in the space of 5mins had two other opportunities to increase their lead spurned by poor finishing from first Lawson and then Dave Soutan who should have done better with a free header. 
It was'nt until 27mins had accrued on the clock that Tunbridge Wells  had their first scoring chance in the match.  The hard working Tommy Fuller swapped passes with Aaron Southard on the edge of the box, only to see Southard put his shot into the 'Stanley Gardens End' car park. A pity really for the visitors as a minute later they fell two behind. 
Good link up play down the right saw Lawson feed in overlapping fullback Nathan Eastwood, who was clumsily bought down by Sam Philips. The resultant penalty was converted on 28mins by Martin Chandler and, although 'Wells' keeper Stewart Copeland diving to his right got his hand to the ball, he failed to keep it out. 
3mins later it was 3-0 to 'The Bay'. Once again a feeble attempt at playing the off-side trap by 'the Wells' saw Martin Chandler slip Ben Brown away from inside his own half.  Brown showing good strength and pace went past the flatfooted 'Wells' defence and calmly slotted past the advancing keeper at the end of a 40metre charge. 
Herne Bay were now rampant.  Further chances fell to Chandler and Lawson before 'The Bay' suffered an injury blow on 37mins.  Chandler found himself fed through one on one with Copeland in goal by Lawsons pass, but following a coming together of both players it was Chandler who came off the worse having to leave the pitch after 5mins of treatment with a knee injury.
16 year old Christian Marsh came on for the stricken Chandler and with 4mins of the 5 added for the injury by the referee played, Rhys Lawson made it 4-0.  Dave Soutan picked up the ball in midfield and his defence splitting pass saw the spring heeled Lawson away, who converted easily to the keepers right. 
Half time saw Aaron Burrett replace Paul Votier in central defence, while Tunbridge Wells made a double substitution bringing on Justin Shea and Danny Jones for Danny White and Gary Clarke to try and spruce things up for the visitors. 
On 50mins the first booking of the game went to the visitors Tommy Fuller for a strong challenge on Nathan Eastwood with too many studs showing.
Shortly after this shots by Ben Brown (high) and Soutan (saved) threatened to extend the home sides lead.
'The Wells' made the odd half chance with probably their best player on the day Fuller spurning a rare opportunity by blasting over when reasonably well placed. Ben Brown continued to upset 'The Wells' defence with his marauding runs at their back line, and on more than one occasion he was stopped by some crude tackling.  One of these tackles, which incurred the wrath of the referee, was by Tony Rit on 72mins who deservedly earned himself the mandatory caution.
Sean Bremner had come on for Andy Forster by now at left back and his fresh legs saw Herne Bay continuing to press for further goals. With all three Bay subs now involved, crunching challenges from a now very commited 'Wells' back line left Lawson and Eastwood both struggling with injury. Lawson eventually gave up the ghost coming off with 5mins left on the clock, but not until 'The Bay' had made it 5-0.  On 81mins Christian Marsh celebrated his first goal at Senior level when he found himself bearing down on the visitors goal. Cool as a veteran he shot home from 12yds out and celebrated animatedly as such he deserved to do. At only 16 this boy is a very good prospect, and vindication of the club's policy of bringing on the youth at an early age to this level.
As someone once said, if you're good enough your old enough!  'The Bay' had one more glorious opportunity to score late on when Soutan shot from 6yds out after excellent play from man of the match Ben Brown, but somehow managed to hit the only 'Wells' defender standing on the line!  Overall a very sound performance by the home side, and with injuries being the only blot on the day, a welcome return from suspension at Sevenoaks in a league cup group game on Tuesday night by Firth and Harvey will be most welcome.

Goalscorers for Herne Bay;

21mins Simon Brown, 28mins Martin Chandler, 31mins Ben Brown, 45mins Rhys Lawson, 81mins Christian Marsh.

Bookings for Herne Bay none.

Bookings for Tunbridge Wells;

50mins Tommy Fuller, 72mins Tony Rit.

Attendance 80 (49 paid)

Man of the match Ben Brown

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 17th November 2007
Herne Bay 4 - 1 Faversham Town

A new look Faversham Town came to Winch’s today. With a new management team of Jimmy Stouts and Justin Lutchford and a number of new faces on the field. Bay did not know what to expect but went about this game with renewed vigour.
Good pressure straight from the start saw Town’s defence stretched to it’s limits. It was fortunate that this was the first time they had played together. Silly mistakes allowed Bay to dominate. In this early period  Aaron Firth hit wide of the post in the 2nd minute and Simon Brown also went close  from a quickly taken free kick.
In the 14th minute Dave Soutan smashed a volley which ricocheted away for a corner. From the corner kick Nathan Eastwood played the ball back to Martin Chandler  whose low cross into the box, found Firth who hit the ball on the turn from 15 yards, giving Rob Lindley no chance in the Faversham goal. 1-0.
10 minutes later Simon Brown sent a free kick just wide of the upright with Lindley nowhere.
It was on the half hour that Faversham made their first serious threat on Bay’s goal. A fierce shot from Tom Hickman, from 18 yards forced a great save from Jack Delo turning the ball over the bar. Bay struck back immediately and Firth found the back of the net, intercepting a Chandler cross, but he was adjudged to be offside.
Just before the interval Faversham nearly levelled the scores when Ricky Freeman headed just over. HT  1-0.
Straight from the restart Bay re-asserted their dominance and Firth doubled his, and Bay’s tally when he nipped in between the keeper and defender and forced a diving header over the line. 2-0.
Chandler got in the act with a stunning goal out of nothing. The ball was cleared out of  defence. Luke Harvey and Chandler both went for the ball but Chandler got there first and struck an absolute thunderbolt from all of 30 yards out which flew into the top corner. 3-0.
Bay were now cruising, but in fairness Faversham did not give up. Dave Lutchford chased down a ball and was up-ended by Delo. Delo saved the Freeman’s penalty shot but failed to hold the ball and from the rebound Freeman smashed the ball home. 3-1.
Not to be out done in the 88th minute substitute Christian Marsh was brought down by Lindley. The keeper receiving a straight red as Marsh was through on goal. Up stepped Firth to put the ball well wide of the substitute keeper to give him a well deserved hat-trick and Bay a morale boosting victory.

Attendance: 156

Team: DELO, EASTWOOD, FORSTER, KANE, VOITER, CHANDLER, B BROWN, S BROWN, HARVEY, SOUTAN, FIRTH
Subs:  LAWSON (B Brown)  BURRETT (Eastwood) MARSH (Harvey)
SMITH,  BREMNER (Not used)

Man of the Match: Aaron Firth

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Kent League Premier Division Cup Group 'A'
Tuesday 13th November 2007
Greenwich Borough V Herne Bay

Our third meeting this season. This time the return league cup fixture but the same result 1-1. This game followed the same pattern as the previous match with Greenwich Borough playing to their strengths; long balls over the defence for their very quick front line players to outpace the defenders.  In between the long balls Greenwich played some superb, quick passing football, which stretched Bays back line to the limit.
Bay looked the more likely to score in the opening encounters, but it was Greenwich who took the lead on 15 minutes. Greenwich leading scorer, Badur Mohammed picked up the ball just outside the 18 yard area drifted past Paul Votier and struck a low shot wide of Jack Delo.
Bay raised the tempo of their game and should have levelled the scores, in fact, should have put themselves in the lead, but poor finishing by Luke Harvey, Rhys Lawson and Simon Brown prevented them from taking control of the game.
As the first period drew to a close Bay were definitely on top. With a minute left in the half, Harvey broke through, passed to Lawson, who rounded the keeper and then somehow tripped over the ball with the goal at his mercy. HT  0-1.
The second half followed the same pattern with Bay pressing for the equalizer and Greenwich hitting back with fast counter attacks.
In the 60th minute the break-through came. From a Ben Brown free kick the ball was whipped into the box and headed away for a corner kick. From this Dave Soutan rose high above the Greenwich defenders to head the ball towards the goal. Keeper James Holder had the ball covered but defender John Samuel had different ideas and headed the ball away from him into the top corner of the goal.
From this point Bay seemed to lose momentum and Greenwich raised the tempo, putting Bay under severe pressure. Despite the home side’s players having superb pace and ball skills, as the final whistle approached Greenwich were awarded a free kick 22 yards out. The ball swung into the heart of Bay’s penalty area and despite several shots on goal the defence managed to prevent the ball crossing the line. It resembled a game of pin-ball as the ball flew around in the area. Bay’s defenders may have been frantic but they held out well to take a share of the points.

Attendance:38

Team: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, KANE, VOITER, SMITH, B BROWN, FIRTH, HARVEY, SOUTAN, LAWSON
Subs:  WARNER (Lawson), S BROWN (Smith), MARSH (Harvey)
CIANO (Not used)

Man of the Match: Paul Votier

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 10th November 2007
Sporting Bengal 0 - 2 Herne Bay

A much better performance today, only one booking and that for a fracas 6 minutes before the close of play, between Sean Bremner and Leon Ryan. A booking for Brems and a straight red for Ryan.
This was a potential banana skin game, since our previous visits to Mile End have always been very close, and with  our current dip in form it was never going to be easy to come away with a positive result. However all fears were allayed once the game started. Within the first minute Bay should have scored when a slick passing move ended with Luke Harvey firing a low drive from the edge of the box bringing out a smart save from keeper Matt Dilworth. 6 minutes later another attack involving Bremner,and Aaron Firth saw Roy Guiver volleying over the bar.
With added confidence, Bay pressed forward. Firth shooting just wide after being put through by Martin Chandler. Dave Soutan just failing to get on the end of a fierce low cross from Firth.
It wasn’t until the 25th minute that the hosts’ had their first serious attack on our goal, but their forward struck his shot into the side netting. Minutes later they had their best chance of the game but Jack Delo managed to block the shot with his feet and then see the rebound smashed wide of his goal.
After this scare Bay continued to dominate the half with Harvey, Firth, Soutan, Chandler and Forster all going close. Unfortunately the scoring gods were not looking down favourably on Bay and despite their total dominance the half ended 0-0.
Bay started the second period as they left off the first. Firth smashing a fierce drive from the edge of the box, only to see the keeper produce an acrobatic save tipping the ball over the bar. Then the outcome of the game turned in the 51st minute. Both Guiver and Firth were standing at least a yard offside when the ball was lofted over the defensive line. The Assistant referee, for some reason, didn’t raise his flag and as Guiver advanced on the Bengal keeper he coolly lobbed him from 25 yards. 1-0. The relief was evident in the players as they celebrated the breakthrough.  Bay should have been awarded a penalty 3 minutes later when the very impressive Chandler was brought down inside the area, but the referee considered it to be just outside.
From a series of corners in the 65th minute the ball fell to Firth 8 yards out, inside a packed penalty area. Instead of just hammering the ball, Firth looked up sold the keeper and defender a sublime dummy and stroked the ball just inside the near post to double Bay’s lead.
It was all one-way traffic now with goal efforts from substitute, Simon Brown, and Guiver, twice. Even defender Paul Votier with a power header tried to increase the lead. Just before the final whistle Ben Smith smashed a pile-driver shot just over the bar. A well deserved victory with a very disciplined performance by all.

Attendance 39

Team: DELO, FORSTER, BREMNER, KANE, VOITER, CHANDLER, SMITH, FIRTH, GUIVER, SOUTAN, HARVEY.
Subs:  B BROWN (Firth) WARNER (Harvey) , S BROWN (SOUTAN)

Man of the Match: Martin Chandler

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Kent League Premier Division
Wednesday 7th November 2007
Herne Bay 0 - 3 Hythe Town

Unfortunately Herne Bay have become a very ill disciplined outfit. Every week we are picking up absolutely needless bookings just because the players see fit to argue with the match officials. Tonight was no exception! Four bookings all for dissent and one sending off for a reckless challenge.
We all know referees differ in their approach to this, but what I have noted is the poorest referees dish out more cards to players, when they argue, than the better officials do. Maybe this is to distract from their own deficiencies!
It all started last night in the 30th minute when Hythe were awarded a dubious penalty. Players protested to the referee, not un-common in the circumstances, but it still ends up with one player being booked.
Other players got away with no caution at that time, but when it happened again those players found themselves in the book. The players have got to realise that the official will never change his mind once he has made his decision and by continually harping on only antagonises him further. The other effect is the players lose sight of what they are trying to achieve on the pitch and concentrate on going after the official at every opportunity.
Bay played all of the football last night; the visitors perfectly content to by-pass their own midfield with long balls over the defence for their forwards to chase.
Before the penalty Bay should have been at least three goals in front! If they had put away these chances the penalty decision wouldn’t have become so paramount to the way the game finished.
Luke Harvey is going through a desperate spell at the moment and appears to be trying too hard to score. Both early chances fell to Luke and neither found the goal. In fairness Keeper Paul Hyde pulled off a fantastic save against one these attempts. Nathan Eastwood volleyed high over the bar from 6 yards out when it looked easier to knock it in the goal.
Jack Delo chose tonight to put in one of his more scary performances, the worst example when he lost possession to Mike Smissen on the edge of his area, but fortunately the defenders were able to deal with the situation.  
Jason Brazier scored from the penalty kick, much to the relief of Hythe’s bench. With Bay really struggling to put the ball in the back of the net, you could understand their delight.
The second half continued in the way of the first, with Bay taking the game to the visitors. Three more bookings and then the dismissal of Ben Brown, who had substituted Ben Smith. Losing control of the ball Ben foolishly jumped in with a two-footed tackle leaving the referee with no option.
Minutes later from a poorly defended corner three Hythe players were left unmarked in the 6 yard area. Smissen bundled the ball over the line.  Bay to their credit still pushed forward but were punished in the 85th minute when Lee Winfield struck a third goal when he broke through the weaken back line.

Attendance:95

Team: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, VOITER, CHANDLER, SMITH, FIRTH, GUIVER, SOUTAN, HARVEY.
Subs:  B BROWN (Smith) LAWSON (Eastwood)
KETTLE, WARNER, FORSTER (Not used)

Man of the Match: Nathan Eastwood

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Kent League Premier Division Cup
Saturday 3rd November 2007
Herne Bay 1 - 1 Greenwich Borough

This game was totally ruined by, possibly, the worst display of refereeing seen at Winch’s Field. One should not let a referee’s inept display take away the commitment shown by both sets of players but the decisions witnessed today beggared belief. Five bookings all for dissent; four lunging tackles that deserved  a booking, but none. One player head butting another, right in front of the official! Again no action taken.  In the final minutes two ridiculous decisions. First Sam Warner brought to the ground by a reckless diving challenge. Martin Chandler rushed over to take a quick free kick was warned by the official for running over to him aggressively! No action taken over the foul.  A Greenwich Player was adjudged to foul  Andy Forster. The referee despite protests from almost every player on the pitch, cautioned the wrong player!
The game was stop—start throughout which really frustrated the players. No team could get any rhythm into their play. Neither keeper was troubled but this changed in the 38th minute when Aaron Firth lobbed the keeper from fully 35 yards. Firth, incensed by being repeatedly fouled and getting no protection from the referee, went into the book a minute previously for dissent. His response was immediate, putting Bay into the lead.
Bay held onto the lead right up to the 85th minute and had Jack Delo to thank for producing two top drawer saves in the 65th and 72nd minutes. Greenwich were pushing for the equalizer, forcing Bay to defend deep in their own half.
First Peter Smith, Greenwwich Borough’s most creative midfield player, broke through with only Delo to beat. Somehow Delo got his hands to ball as Smith went round him.  Then Badur Mohammed, Greenwich leading goal scorer, with 15 goals already this season, with the ball at his feet six yards out was taken by surprise as Delo again grabbed the ball away with a brave dive at his feet.
It looked as though Bay would hold out, but with 5 minutes remaining the visitors got the breakthrough. A goalmouth scramble saw the ball bobbing around the 6 yard box. Defenders tried to clear but it was Smith who, somehow,  flicked the ball wide of the keeper to give Greenwich a share of the spoils.

attendance: 96

Team: DELO, EASTWOOD, BREMNER, KANE, VOITER, CHANDLER, LAWSON, FIRTH, GUIVER, SOUTAN, SMITH.
Subs:  WARNER (Guiver), FORSTER (Smith), B BROWN (Lawson)
KETTLE, WOOD,(Not used)

Man of the Match: Jack Delo

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Kent League Premier Division Cup
Tuesday 30th October 2007
VCD Athletic 2 - 0 Herne Bay

Bay started where they left off on Saturday; taking the game to their hosts and playing scintillating football, putting VCD on the back foot, forcing them into desperate defending. Unfortunately none of this concerted pressure resulted in a goal, or real goal threat.
VCD relied on the quick counter attack but Bay’s defence, with both Roy Guiver and Joe Kane dominant, thwarted all their attempts to get the ball past Jack Delo.
That was until the dying seconds of the first half. Nathan Eastwood misjudged his attempted interception of a deep cross allowing the ball to fall to Darren Thomson, in acres of space on the edge of the box. Thomson coolly got the ball under control, advanced into the box and smashed the ball past Delo from 10 yards.
There was insufficient time even to restart the game before the referee blew  for the end of the first period!
Scoring at that stage of the game affected the way Bay played in the second period. Gone was the slick passing football and back came the losing possession and giving the ball away cheaply. Too many times trying the impossible, defence splitting long ball.
The game should have swung in Bay’s favour in the 70th minute. Kevin Winchcombe retaliated to a tackle, swung a kick at Sean Bremner, and was given the mandatory red card.
Bay pushed defenders forward in search of the equalizer, but  the players seemed to keep getting in each others’ way. As the game progressed it was clear that Bay were struggling to find a way of breaking down a very well organised VCD defence. In fact VCD looked the more likely to score with their forwards counter attacking at pace.
This they did in the 85th minute. Bremner was dispossessed in his own half when trying to bring the ball out of defence and while Bay’s defence dealt with the resulting attack they failed to clear effectively and the ball fell to Ashley Probbetts 30 yards out. Probbetts brought the ball forward and drilled a low shot through the legs of the defender into the bottom corner of the goal, beating Delo’s despairing dive at the near post, to secure a
2-0 victory for the home side.
A disappointing result. Bay played really well but seem to be ‘shot-shy’ in front of goal. Former Bay favourite, Gary Cook marshalled the home defence very well and unlike his time at Winch’s Field never received a booking despite the referee handing out 6 yellow and one red card!

Attendance: 91

Team: DELO, EASTWOOD, FORSTER, KANE, GUIVER, CHANDLER, LAWSON, FIRTH, HARVEY, SOUTAN, BREMNER .
Subs:  WARNER (Forster)  SMITH, VOITER, KETTLE (Not used)

Man of the Match: Dave Soutan

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 27th October 2007
Erith & Belvedere 0 - 0 Herne Bay

A much better performance today against a team who, like Herne Bay, have only been beaten once in the league this season.
A different formation with the introduction of Ben Smith in a five man midfield. Luke Harvey on the bench. It was good to see Aaron Burrett kicking a ball for the first time since his injury. He hopes to be back playing in a further three weeks, although the way young Joe Kane has settled in the back four Jason will have a difficult decision to make. Kane putting in another fantastic, mature performance for one so young.
On the superb playing surface at Park View Road Bay struggled for the first 20 minutes to find any rhythm as the ‘Deres took the game to them. Gradually, as with other games this season, Bay got stronger as the game progressed. Ben Smith, in his first start of the season took control of the midfield, breaking up the hosts play and putting Bay into many attacking positions. None better than when he put Sean Bremner through but his shot hit the upright with the keeper beaten.
Into the second half  and it was Bay who took the game to the Deres. Martin Chandler now the dominant force in midfield. Bay were finding much more space in the middle and they were using the complete width of field in an attempt to break down the stubborn defence.
Harvey was introduced in the 64th minute for Andy Forster but it wasn’t until Max Ciano replaced Rhys Lawson that things changed for Bay. Nathan Eastwood became an attacking force down the right and forced ‘deres keeper, Grant Wallis, into a terrific save, turning his fierce shot over