Brown Impresses On Debut

Brown Impresses On Debut

Maidstone United (0) 2
Collin 64 Brown A 84
Herne Bay (0) 1
Casey 74

Attendance: 808

Robert Dyas League Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 29th October 2013.
The Gallagher Stadium

by Peter Guise

“Better, much better,” declared the travelling Herne Bay supporters.

The Stones 3G pitch suited Herne Bay. It allowed for the passing and ground game that Herne Bay look their best at rather than the route one style deployed on some less football friendly surfaces.

United left out a number of first team regulars for this League Cup tie but still started with three principal players in Flisher, Saraiva and Andrew accompanied by a host of Ryman Premier experienced staff including a rare outing for one time Gillingham, Dover and regular Stones ‘keeper Charlie Mitten. For their part, Herne Bay gave a senior debut to U18 player Harry Brown who equipped himself well at left back.

Both sides had chances in the opening period; on the quarter hour mark Delo pushed Robertson’s shot around the post and two minutes later Charlie Mitten saved Stuart King’s effort following a smart one two with James Turner. Mitten had to be at his best again on the half hour to pluck King’s looping effort from beneath the angle of bar and left hand post. Bay might have gone behind when Jack Delo slipped coming out for a back pass a minute before the break but managed to regain his composure to scramble back to hook off his own goal-line. It might otherwise have been a candidate for ‘What happened next?’

After the break, Herne Bay had the better of the early play with Stuart King, undoubtedly eager to impress in front a sizeable former home crowd, having two chances that on another day might have yielded more reward. Frannie Collin, who came on midway through the first half for the injured Jack Harris, always looked lively for United. It was inevitable that his substantial experience at this and higher levels would tell. It was no surprise when on 64 he tucked away a through ball from Charley Robertson to put Maidstone ahead. Denly made a double substitution with 20 minutes to go bringing on Jordan Casey and Sam Hasler for James Turner and Ben Brown to liven up the Bay response. They settled to the task quickly and deservedly drew level on 74 when Casey turned Nelder’s cross in at the near post.

Jay Saunders response was to introduce Alex Brown and it was he who grabbed the Stones winner with 6 minutes remaining striking a sweet shot from the edge of the penalty area through a packed penalty area after Bay had opted not to take the easy option and clear their lines positively. It was ironic that this should be the method of Bay’s defeat as playing the ball out of defence and building from the back through midfield and onward had been a refreshing and pleasing sight for those Bay supporters among the 808 inside the Gallagher; an attendance greater than many midweek League Cup encounters partly due to the bold agreement between the two clubs to reduce admission prices.

“We played some good football tonight,” said Bay manager Sam Denly. They did indeed!

Herne Bay team: Jack Delo, Nathan Eastwood, Harry Brown (Dean Grant 84), Danny Walder, Connor Sanders, Joe Kennett, Ben Brown (Sam Hasler 70), Joe Nelder, James Turner (Jordan Casey 70), Stuart King, Michael Turner.

Subs not used: Jamie O'Connell, Steven Lloyd.