Match Report:
After rearranging fixtures Bay reserves faced Whitstable Bay at Winch’s Field today, with no fewer than ten first team players in the starting line up who were keen to impress the home fans with an energetic start to the game. The tireless Taylor Naessens made the breakthrough for Bay on twenty minutes after some good work by Josh Alger left Naessens with an empty net to slot home. Algar then got in on the act himself with a very good finish, slotting past the on rushing keeper to make it 2-0 on thirty five minutes. Whitstable managed to get a goal back just before half time after a great individual goal from Callum Gore, formerly of Herne Bay u18’s.
The second half saw eight changes as the majority of the first team players made way for the reserve players to impress. A sloppy early goal drew Whitstable level on forty six minutes, but this was followed by a spell of dominance from the young bay side. The midfield of Declan Wale, Connor Weatherall and Jake Page began to take control of proceedings looking to create chances at every opportunity. Some of the play was slightly forced but it was encouraging to see positivity which created an exciting end to end game of football! It didn’t take long for Sam Hallett to show his ability in the opposition box after he turned his defender inside out before finishing in the bottom corner on sixty minutes. Bay continued to create chances but it was Whitstable who scored next to make it 3-3 on eighty minutes. Whitstable continued to press forward looking for a winner, but Bay captain Reiss Crimmen had other ideas when he nearly took the goal posts out of the ground with an absolute screamer. A short corner found Crimmen 20 yards out on the corner of the box as he unleashed an unstoppable strike that arrowed into the top corner leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Bay controlled the final minutes of the game and overall can be pleased with more minutes in the tank and a positive performance.

Team (1st Half): Carey, Emery, C. Naessens, Crimmen (c), Wrigglesworth, Hyslop, Joe, T. Naessens, Miller, Algar, Mezine
Team (2nd Half): Barrow, Emery (Bensted), C. Naessens, Crimmen (c), Wood, Morgan, Page (Jemal), Wale, Weatherall, Hallett, Dale