Bay Sink Swans

Walton & Hersham (0) 1
Hemmings 89 (pen)

Herne Bay (1) 2
King 3, Parkinson 47

FA Cup Preliminary Round
At Stompond Lane
Saturday 30th August 2014

Attendance: 80

by Ray Kelly

(Photo credit: Steve Barton - Stuart King celebrates his opening goal.)

Herne Bay reversed the 0-2 defeat last week against Walton & Hersham with a hard fought 2-1 win at Stompond Lane in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. This victory earned the Bay a 1st Qualifying Round tie away to Tonbridge Angels in two weeks time.

Two cracking goals at the beginning of each half from Stuart King and Dan Parkinson sealed the victory. The game was only 2 minutes old when Jordan Casey played in a marauding Dan Johnson down the left who sent over a great cross that Stuart King expertly converted past the Swan’s keeper Barry Marchena. On 5 minutes Bay should have increased their lead when a good cross from King was squandered by Jordan Casey.

Back came Walton following a Herne Bay corner, the ball was pumped up field for Andrew Mensah to run on to but he fired wide from 10 yards. A minute later Jack Delo tipped over a snap shot from Louis Glace-Palmer. Another chance fell to Jordan Casey in the 19th minute when he headed over after a good cross from Dan Johnson.

Jack Delo was in top form saving well at the feet of Palmer twice in two minutes. The home side started to push the Bay deep and only timely interventions from Liam Quinn and Nathan Eastwood prevented the Swans from getting back on equal terms. Just on half time Herne Bay got a scare when Josh Bonnett burst through the Bay defence but he fired high and wide.

The opening minutes of the second were action packed, firstly Nathan Eastwood had to clear off the goal line to prevent an own goal from Liam Quinn and then a minute later a good run by Steven Ita and a ball squared to Dan Parkinson who thrashed the ball past the hapless Marchena.

This goal woke up the Swans who piled forward in search of a goal but the Bay defence remained solid. Walton & Hersham’s Nathan Daly started to worry the Bay defence with his long throw-ins but Jack Delo punched clear at regular intervals. On 60 minutes the Swans brought on player Manager Tony Reid for Ashley Thomson. In the 65th minute Andrew Mensah hit a sweet shot that rebounded off the post following another Daly throw on and within a minute Delo saved once again at the feet of Andrew Mensah.

On 70 minutes Jack Battie replaced the dangerous Josh Bonnett for the Swans. Within 2 minutes Sam Staunton came on for Ben Brown for Herne Bay. In the 75th minute Walton’s Palmer missed a sitter from 6 yards, heading over the bar. In the same minute Sacha Mbaye was sent off for a foul on Dan Parkinson who had to come off injured, he was replaced by James Brown.

Kane Butler replaced Stuart King on 88 minutes. It’s true to say that the Bay were hanging on being put under great pressure by the Swans and when the referee Mr. N. Morrissey adjudged that Nathan Eastwood had handled the ball in the area and a penalty was given up stepped Tarome Hemmings who made no mistake from the spot.

A hard working display from the Herne Bay boys with heroes all over the field.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Dan Johnson, Michael Turner, Nathan Eastwood, Liam Quinn, Dan Parkinson (James Brown 83), Sam Hasler, Ben Brown (Sam Staunton 72), Jordan Casey, Stuart King (Kane Buttler 88), Steven Ita.

Herne Bay Man of the Match: Liam Quinn

Subs not used: Harry Brown, Elliot Cutts, James Turner, Ben Kitcherside.