Hartsdown Horror!

Margate (1) 3
Taylor L 16
Attwood 84 (pen)
Taylor J 90+1

Herne Bay (1) 1
Williams 34

at Hartsdown Park

Kent Senior Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 11th November 2014.

Attendance: 257

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Herne Bay FC – MOM Joe Nelder.)

A horror decision 6 minutes from time at Hartsdown Park undermined a spirited show from Bay and handed Margate safe passage through to the next round of the Kent Senior Cup. Dan Johnson powered his way over the half way line only, it appeared, to be unceremoniously chopped down within a few yards of the referee. Play was, however, waved on allowing Gate to stride forward and gain a penalty that buried Bay’s resistance. That it was a penalty is not in doubt but it would not have happened had the events of 60 seconds previously been seen in a different light.

The Premier Division side displayed their table topping prowess throughout. They were quicker to the ball, faster in attack with movement and passing that had their Division One opponents mesmerised at times. Equally, though, Margate were often caught napping by a spirited Herne Bay. Jack Delo was immense between the sticks, Danny Williams and San Hasler hustled the back four all night inducing errors and Joe Nelder’s purposeful runs from midfield drove Herne Bay forward.

In the 15th minute Jamie Stuart fed Jamie Taylor who brought out a top drawer save from Jack Delo but the Herne Bay ‘keeper couldn’t prevent Margate from taking the lead a minute later. He saved Lewis Taylor’s rasping shot but the Margate striker followed in to ran home the rebound. The home side surged forward and 5 minutes later a Sam Rents free kick deflected off the wall into the grateful arms of Delo.

This was not a Herne Bay side to give in to pressure though and in the 34th they got a deserved equaliser. Steven Ita pinched the ball off a defender down the right, got to the by-line, pulled the ball back and Danny Williams smashed it into the Margate net. Within a minute Ita might have put Bay ahead but his shot from an acute angle came back off the post.

After the break, Margate came forward with purpose and Bay had a lucky escape in the 58th when Attwood, breaking on the left, rolled a shot across the face of goal and inches wide of Delo’s right hand post.

With just 6 minutes to go in this enthralling cup-tie, Dan Johnson strode over the half way line and fell in a pincer movement from the Margate midfield. No foul said the man in black and Margate picked up possession working the ball forward quickly resulting in Lewis Taylor being tripped in the 18 box just as he was about to pull the trigger. Former Maidstone United player, Zac Attwood, made no mistake from the spot.

Now, Herne Bay went in search of a second equaliser and were caught on the break in stoppage time as Margate’s Jamie Taylor produced a wonder strike from long range that curled in off the angle of bar and post. It was a strike worthy of winning any match. The scoreline, however, flattered the Premier Division side and did not reflect the endeavour and energy of their one division lower opponents.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Nathan Eastwood, Gary Sayer, Harry Brown, Liam Quinn (Connor Partridge 79), Dan Parkinson, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder, Danny Williams (Jordan Casey 56), Sam Hasler (Dan Johnson 63), Steven Ita.

Subs Not Used: Michael Turner, James Brown.

Cautions: Jordan Casey, Dan Parkinson, Nathan Eastwood, Joe Nelder Sent Off: None

Man of the Match: Joe Nelder (Herne Bay)