Bay Exit League Cup

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2
Elder 73, 89

Herne Bay (0) 0

The Alan Turvey Cup sponsored by Robert Dyas 1st Round
Tuesday 18th August 2015
at Longmead

by Steven Barton

(photo credit: Steven Barton)

Sam Denly made seven changes to the opening line-up for the Alan Turvey Trophy sponsored by Robert Dyas (Isthmian League Cup) trip to Longmead to take on Premier Division Tonbridge Angels. Still smarting from the 6-0 drubbing received in the FA Cup last season Bay were determined not to be overawed by their higher-league opposition.

Georgio Russo, on his Herne Bay debut, was booked for a robust challenge in the 10th minute on Nick Wheeler who took no further part in the game and was replaced by Luke Blewden. Herne Bay displayed a competitive spirit but most of the chances in the first half were at the end of the visitors’ goal. The majority of the damage came from the left flank where Angels’ Jack Parter and loanee Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick combined well but the home side could not take advantage of their chances.

Bay came out in the second period full of commitment and enthusiasm and Kane Butler picked up a poor backpass and squared to Danny Williams whose shot went narrowly over the bar. Sam Hasler’s shot from distance also just cleared the bar.

Tom Pearson shot past Delo’s right upright and fell to the ground and became the second Tonbridge player to leave the field, this time on a stretcher, Tom Parkinson was introduced and for Bay Steven Ita came on for Kane Phillip. On 73 Angels made the first strike as a pinpoint accurate cross from Hippolyte-Patrick, who had switched to the right wing, found the head of ex-Dover Athletic hitman Nathan Elder who nodded past Delo. Harry Brown replaced the returning Danny Spiller on 82 and with a minute left of normal time Blewden ran onto a loose ball, evaded the on rushing Delo and crossed for Elder to score his second of the night.

On the whole it was a good performance all round with lots of positives to take from the game, and match minutes into the legs of some of the squad who had not featured so far.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, James Brown, Georgio Russo, Nathan Eastwood, Liam Quinn, Danny Spiller (Harry Brown), Danny Walder (Mark Lovell), Kane Phillip (Steven Ita), Kane Butler, Sam Hasler, Danny Williams. Subs not used: Michael Turner, Dan Johnson.

Cautions: Georgio Russo, Danny Walder, Steven Ita.

Herne Bay Man of the Match: Jack Delo.