Herne Bay started without captain Joe Theze and Eliseo Sands-Romero both on Duke of Edinburgh Award duty, so today gave a couple of other players the chance to start in their places.
Bay have not been starting matches on the front foot and today was no different, with one long ball catching them out and being finished smartly by the Bredhurst striker within the first 5 minutes. The Bay were being caught cold all round the pitch early on with Bredhurst's fast tempo and aggressive style stopping the home team from getting any time on the ball. Midway through the first half a cheap free kick was given away by Bay just inside their half and another long ball over the defence caught Henry Duley in no mans land and enabled the striker to bravely head the bouncing ball over him and into the goal; 2-0 Bredhurst.
A shell shocked Bay looked around for some inspiration and some well timed interceptions by Finn McGrath, Alex Redman and Ellis Sharman turning defence into attack seemed to do the trick. Max Hyde started to organise the defence better wining some towering headers and Oliver Gallantree started to dominate the midfield with some driving runs and solid challenges. Freddie Kemp and James Hatton started working well together and get Prince Adu-Boamah and Cameron Chamberlain into the game more.
Bay looked to have got back into the match after a set-piece was flicked on and James Hatton cooly volleyed into the goal, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
2-0 down at half time, a 'pep' talk (no pun intended) was needed and fair play to the boys they went out pumped up for the second half. Prince Adu-Boamah was using his pace to good effect in wide areas and Alfie Greatorex-Smith was on and calm in possession and winning the book back smartly. Alfie Lewis was on to add some pace and aggression to the defence and Lewis Douglas entered the fray to add a different passing dynamic to the centre of the pitch. Within 5 minutes of the restart, great combination play between Lewis Douglas and Freddie Kemp opened up the way for Euan Sallis to finish confidently and cheers from the players were cut short as they rushed to get the ball back on the half way line. 10 minutes later a well worked set-piece had the Bredhurst keeper flapping and with the defence failing to clear Cameron Chamberlain finished into the roof of the net from the penalty spot.
Sallis had the ball in the goal soon after, but again it was ruled out for offside. Herne Bay were dominating now and Bredhurst were giving away a lot of corners and free kicks, one of these free kicks was struck superbly against the bar 25 yards from goal by Max Hyde and the rebound was not pounced on quick enough by other Bay players. Sallis then broke down the right and crossed to the far post where James Hatton struck a sweet volley, but again the ball struck the bar and went off for a goal kick.
Sallis failed with an attempted lob over the onrushing keeper from another break away and then Cameron Chamberlain missed two 1v1 chances against the Bredhurst keeper after being put through by some precise Bay midfield enterprising passing. With a minute to go another ball through the middle saw Cameron Chamberlain beat his marker for pace and this time he finished into the corner.....only for the referees assistant to amazingly flag for offside for the third time!
2 points dropped or a point gained, you decide!