Crucial Substitutions Turn Tide at Rochester

Rochester United (0) 1
Grundy 49

Herne Bay (0) 3
Butler 63, Walder 68, Russo 82

Attendance: 107

Emirates FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying
Saturday 12th September 2015.
(at Rede Court)

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Kane Butler forces home the equaliser)

Herne Bay reached the 2nd Round Qualifying for the first time in eight years but they had to do it the hard way coming with 2 men down and a goal behind.

Two red cards in the space of two minutes with half time approaching, captain Liam Quinn and defender Harry Brown, saw Herne Bay play against the odds. Their resolve was put further to the test when Ricky Grundy put Rochester ahead early in the second half. Nine man Bay made crucial substitutions and this paid dividends when Kane Butler levelled in the 63rd. A 25 yard strike from Danny Walder five minutes later swung the game and Giorgio Russo made certain of progress into the next round with 8 minutes to go.

Herne Bay progressed into the next round of the F.A. Cup after a 3-1 away win at Rochester but that only tells half the story . From the 36th. minute of this Cup tie , Herne Bay were reduced to 9 men having Liam Quinn and Harry Brown sent off by Referee Simon Finnigan, both for what were deemed to be dangerous tackles. A late display of heroic action saw the Bay over the lines. The introduction of Kane Butler and Elliot Cutts turned the game in Herne Bay’s favour for the final 30 minutes. Herne Bay made a sluggish start to the game with too many passes going astray but as the game progressed they settled down. Early chances fell to Steven Ita and Sam Hasler but both were well off target.

On 35 minutes ,disaster struck, Liam Quinn was ordered off by Mr.Finnigan for a foul tackle this was followed a minute later with the sending off of Harry Brown for a sliding tackle on Vince Collis. With two defenders off Manager Sam Denly was forced to make a change, bringing on Ben Emery for Steven Ita to shore up the back four. For the final 10 minutes of the first half Rochester swarmed all over Bay but the defence remained resolute with Connor Sanders and Ben Emery keeping the Rochester forwards at bay.

The second half started with Rochester well on top of 9 man Bay and it was no surprise that they took the lead in the 49th minute when an unmarked Ricki Grundy ran through and rifled the ball past Jack Delo. All looked doomed for Bay before Sam Denly made two changes that turned the game on its head, bringing on Kane Butler and Elliot Cutts for Joe Nelder and Kane Phillip. With fresh legs Bay started to push Rochester back into their own half, Sam Hasler and Danny Walder both went close for the Bay and when ,following a foul on Sam Hasler ,Vince Collis was red carded, from the resulting free kick Hasler found Kane Butler on the Rochester far
post and forced the ball in for the equaliser.

Elliot Cutts and Kane Butler both started to make inroads into the Rochester defence and only last ditch defending kept the score level. With 15 minutes left on the clock a draw looked on but on 68 minutes a Sam Hasler corner was played to Danny Walder ,30 yards out, he let rip with a screamer that flew into the Rochester net with the keeper Shaun Wicks not moving.

Herne Bay continued to press looking for a third to make the game safe and it came in the 81st minute when Kane Butler finished a great run by playing in Giogio Russo who ran through to score.

After 36 minutes with 9 men on the field Herne bay looked doomed but this young Bay side never gave up and battled well for this win. Another pleasing aspect of this game was the introduction of Ben Emery from the under 21s, thrown in at the deep end and didn’t look out of place.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Georgio Russo, Harry Brown, Connor Sanders, Liam Quinn, Dan Parkinson, Danny Walder, Kane Phillip (Elliot Cutts 54), Joe Nelder (Kane Butler 62), Sam Hasler, Steven Ita (Ben Emery 40).

Subs not used: Mark Lovell, James Turner, Michael Turner

Sent Off: Harry Brown, Liam Quinn Cautioned: none

Referee: Simon Finnigan Assistant Referees: Jason Down & Steven Tunnicliffe

Man of the Match: Danny Walder