Bay Press Self Destruct Button

Hastings United (2) 3
Sam Crabb 12
Billy Medlock 42
Sam Cole 55 (pen)

Herne Bay (0) 2
Mark Lovell 77
Sam Hasler 88

Emirates FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying Reply
Tuesday 29th September 2015
at The Pilot Field

Attendance: 301

Ray Kelly writes,

Herne bay lost the F.A.Cup replay at Hastings' Pilot Field but can only blame themselves. Once again ill discipline cost them dear, having two players sent off. Joe Nelder and Kane Phillip.

Things started badly for the Bay when before the kick off they lost Gary Sayer in the warm up with a thigh strain. Hastings United hit the ground running forcing Herne Bay well back inside their own half for the first half hour, in fact Bay were indebted to Liam Quinn for three goal line clearances in the first 10 minutes from Jack Harris, Sam Cole and Zac Attwood and it was only a matter of time before United scored, that came on 12 minutes when Sam Crabb latched on to a cross and slammed the ball past Bay’s Jack Delo.

On 20 minutes Jack Delo did well to tip over a shot from Sam Adams. This was followed up by Jack Harris twice missing out by hitting the cross bar and firing high and wide when well placed to score. Herne Bay’s only chance in the first half fell to Mark Lovell in the 35th. minute when he met a Danny Johnson cross but headed too near to the United keeper, Josh Pelling who made an easy save. Steven Ita
posed the only threat to Hastings but most of the time he was isolated up front. Three minutes before half time Billy Medlock doubled the United lead when he turned on a sixpence and thrashed the ball past Jack Delo from the edge of the box.

Manager Sam Denly made two second half changes , bringing on Elliot Cutts and Kane Phillip for Steven Ita and Giorgio Russo and within a minute the Bay should have pulled a goal back when Elliot Cutts scuffed his shot from 6 yards out. In the 55th. minute disaster struck for Herne Bay when Joe Nelder brought down Sam Cole in the Herne Bay penalty box, the Referee Mr. M.Lowe pointed to the spot and booked Joe Nelder for a second time and he was off. Sam Cole made sure from the spot to put Hastings 3-0 up.

As in other matches this season ,being reduced to 10 men spurred the Bay on and gradually they became more of a handfull to Hastings and on 77 minutes Mark Lovell headed in a hotly disputed goal at the far post. The game started to sway Herne Bay’s way and 5 minutes later Sam Hasler blasted in a screamer from 30 yards , giving Josh Pelling no chance. A minute later all thoughts extra time vanished when Kane Phillip had a rush of blood to the head and clattered into the back of a Hastings forward, the Referee produced a red card and Kane had an early shower.

Herne Bay can only rue what could have been and Manager Sam Denly must surely read the riot act to all the players to stop this waste of matches that are getting away from us after such a good start to the season.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Georgio Russo (Elliot Cutts 46), Joe Nelder, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders (Dan Parkinson 66), Danny Walder, Sam Hasler, Mark Lovell, Danny Williams, Steven Ita (Kane Phillip 46).

Subs not used: Gary Sayer, Michael Turner, Kane Butler, James Turner

Sent Off: Joe Nelder, Kane Phillip. Cautioned: Joe Nelder (2)