Dyas Derby Win For Bay

Whitstable Town (0) 1
Guila 90+5

Herne Bay (0) 2
King 65, Johnson 90+8

at The Belmont

Robert Dyas Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 7th October 2014.

Attendance: 233

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Herne Bay FC – Dan Johnson scored Bay’s winner.)

Herne Bay left the Belmont with loads of pride and a pocket full of bragging rights after a dramatic 2-1 win over local rivals Whitstable in the first round of the league cup. The Bay seemed to be drifting to a 1-0 win after a superb Stuart King goal in the 65th minute but deep into injury time Town restored parity but a flying header from Dan Johnson (98th) won the tie for the Bay.

With several key players missing from both sides it was never going to be a classic but both teams played some exciting football. From the kick off both played with purpose, a real end to end encounter. On 11 minutes Jack Delo had to be on his toes, saving well from the oyster danger man Ian Pulman and from his clearance Steven Ita raced down the left, crossed to the lively Danny Williams whose shot was well saved by Luke Watkins. The game started to stagnate with both teams cancelling each other out but on 30 minutes following a free kick on the far left by Ashley Ulph, Luke Doherty headed over from 10 yards. Two minutes later Ulph was replaced by Josh Elgar due to an injury.

In the 34th minute Jack Delo saved well at the feet of Ian Pulman but with the Bay getting on top further chances fell to King and Williams but neither could convert. In the 44th minute Herne Bay were unlucky not to take the lead when a thumping shot from Danny Walder just grazed the cross bar.
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At the start on the second half Whitstable replaced Ollie Grey with Joe Lester and within two minutes the Whitstable goalkeeper Luke Watkins had to leave the field with a nasty head injury after colliding with Danny Williams, he was replaced by Charlie Hills. Hills was brought into action right away when he saved superbly from a rasping shot from Joe Nelder.

At the other end Jack Delo saved well from a snap shot from Peter Wedgeworth and a minute later Joe Nelder once again tested Hills in the Whitstable goal. With the Bay getting on top they opened the scoring following a great long throw by Connor Sanders on 65 minutes that Danny Williams headed on to Stuart King who finished with aplomb, scissor kicking into the net.

Manager Sam Denly then put on Dan Parkinson in place of Steven Ita and a few minutes later Jordan Casey replaced Stuart King. The Oystermen started coming into the game with chances falling to Joe Kennett and Ian Pulman but neither could find a way past the Herne Bay defence. On 85 minutes Harry Brown was replaced by Dan Johnson for the Bay.

With the game going deep into injury time Whitstable equalised when after a good run by Matty Guila the ball was crashed high into the Bay net leaving Jack Delo grasping air. With penalties looming and only seconds left of injury time another long throw from Connor Sanders found the diving Dan Johnson’s head who buried the ball in the Oystermen’s net. At the restart the referee blew for full time. Oh what bliss for the Bay faithful and the reward for this is an away tie against the mighty Maidstone United.

“A very mild tempered game for a derby,” commented Bay manager Sam Denly, “I’ve played a lot more fiercer games myself in Whitstable / Herne Bay derbies but second half we were superb and deserved the win.”

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Connor Partridge, Harry Brown (Dan Johnson 81), James Brown, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder, Danny Williams, Stuart King (Jordan Casey 77), Stephen Ita (Dan Parkinson 70).

Subs Not Used: Kane Butler, Oliver Lee.

Cautions: Joe Nelder, Danny Williams Sent Off: None

Man of the Match: James Brown