Frantic Finale as Bay Progress in Trophy

Witham Town (0) 2
Lewis Godbold 64, 88

Herne Bay (1) 4
James Turner 23
Elliot Cutts 61
Liam Quinn 74
Danny Williams 90

FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 3rd October 2015
at Spa Road

Attendance: 112

Photo credit: Steve Barton – Liam Quinn forces home for Bay’s 3rd goal

Herne Bay progressed safely enough to the next round of the FA Trophy against their Ryman One North opponents, although to do so they had to endure a frantic finale.

“It was a little bit more frantic than it needed to be”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “a little bit of naivety, we conceded sloppy goals because the game should have been out of sight. Second half we played some really good stuff”.

Herne Bay traveled into deepest Essex to play Witham Town in the F.A.Trophy preliminary round and after a workman like performance won the tie by a 4-2 score line. The Bay were a goal to the good at half time thanks to a well crafted goal from James Turner, second half goals followed from Elliot Cutts, Liam Quinn and Danny Williams to secure the £2500. prize money.

It was a lively opening to the game with both teams making inroads into the defences. After only 2 minutes Jack Delo had to be on his toes palming out a John Watson free kick but the ball fell to Daniel Emmanuel who thankfully fired over the bar from 18 yards.
Further chance fell to Kane Phillip and James Turner but Witham’s Lance Akins and Eamon Payne snuffed out the danger. At the other end Liam Quinn and Nathan Eastwood did likewise to prevent the danger duo of Shamido Pedulu and John Watson from getting on the score sheet.

On 24 minutes Herne Bay took the lead when Joe Nelder flicked the ball through to James Turner who had no trouble in side footing the ball past Lewis Down in the Witham Goal. Witham Town started putting on the pressure , looking for an equaliser and chances fell to Lance Akins who headed over the bar from a corner, Watson and Pedulu also fired over when well placed. Herne Bay weathered the storm and took control of the game. In the 35th minute Mark Lovell was withdrawn due to injury and was replaced by the speedy Danny Williams.

Witham Town made changes at the start of the second half, bringing on Michael Osei and Tom Cocklin for Ryan Charles and Mitch Hunter. On 47 minutes Herne Bay nearly doubled the lead when Giorgio Russo forced a corner . Sam Haslers corner was punched clear, with Kane Phillip closing in. In the 56th. minute Elliot Cutts replaced James Turner. This had an immediate effect ,and within 2 minutes
of coming on he doubled the Herne Bay lead when he received a great ball from Sam Hasler, shot in and the Witham custodian could only parry the shot and he slammed in the rebound.

Three minutes later Witham made the most of some sloppy defending and Lewis Godbold rammed in from close range. Herne Bay continued to put pressure on the Witham defence, with Ita, Nelder and Cutts in the thick of it and on 72 minutes a great run and cross by Joe Nelder resulted in Lewis Down pushing the ball away for a corner. Sam Haslers corner was poked in at the far post by Liam Quinn, giving the Bay a 3-1 lead.

Further chances fell to Elliot Cutts and Joe Nelder following a string of good crosses from Ita and Russo. On 86 minutes Danny Williams hit the bar with a cracking shot, the rebound was cleared up field and Lewis Godbold fired in from distance the ball hit the inside of the Bay post and over the line. With time running out Shamido Pedulu could have equalised but blasted over from 10 yards, from the resulting goal kick Giorgio Russo played in Elliot Cutts who squared to Danny Williams who in turn slammed the ball
past the Witham custodian.

“Another good performance and we finished with eleven players on the park”, said a smiling Denly, “today was about getting a result. One thing we’ve done this season is when we’ve had a defeat we’ve bounced back straight away. I always thought it would be difficult, I know Witham are struggling in the league, but they score goals, I’m pleased with the result, it was a good performance”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Giorgio Russo, Nathan Eastwood, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Joe Nelder, Dan Parkinson, Sam Hasler, Mark Lovell (Danny Williams 38), James Turner (Elliot Cutts 57), Kane Phillip (Steven Ita 71)

Subs not used: Kane Butler, Michael Turner.

Man of the Match: Joe Nelder (Herne Bay)

Sent Off: None Cautioned: Mark Lovell, Joe Nelder, Dan Johnson

Referee: George Laflin Assistants: Abigail Laflin & Anthony Coulter