Nelder At The Double

Walton Casuals (1) 2
Luke Medley 35
John-Prince Rylah 90

Herne Bay (2) 3
Joe Nelder 20, 44
Mark Lovell 75

Attendance: 46

FA Trophy 1st Round Qualifying Replay
Wednesday 4th November 2015.
(at The Moatside)

by Ray Kelly

In contrast to Saturday’s game this was a pulsating match, littered with five superb goals. Bay started off with forceful attacking play and with both teams seemed hell bent on getting the early goal. The first attempt on goal came from Casuals forcing a corner straight from the kick off but Jack Delo continued where he left off on Saturday, taking the high ball well. Minutes later Sam Hasler fired a free kick just over the bar. Joe Nelder made a couple of surging runs down the left flank and then back came Casuals with Scott Day blasting over when well placed. This was all in the first five minutes. The game continued in this vein with end to end play and something had to give.

On 20 minutes, another forceful run from Nelder, jinking through Casuals defence, he cut in and drilled a hard, low shot past keeper, Tom Wellham to give Bay the lead. Casuals forward, the ever dangerous, Luke Medley tried his luck from 30 yards but his effort screamed over the bar and followed this forcing Delo into a good save, getting down low and holding on to the ball. Medley was not to be denied when on 35 minutes his low drilled shot was too good for Delo to save. Good work from Nassim Dukali whose inch perfect cross found Medley unmarked and with time to spare allowing him to pick his spot. It was Nelder again just before the half time whistle who put Bay back in front. Awarded a free kick on the half way line Hasler's 40 yard free kick was floated into the area and Nelder was the first to react, heading in at the far post.

Walton Casuals started the 2nd period with gusto, forcing Bay to defend deep. Chances fell to Peter Wedgeworth and Jack Sammoutis but Bay defended well. Bay were under the cosh, and just could not get out of their half. A great shot from John Prince-Rylah smashed against the post and rebounded into Delo’s arms. A minute later Max Fitzgerald swivelled and shot from 10 yards only to see the Bay custodian superbly tip the ball onto and over the bar. Nathan Eastwood replaced Danny Walder and Mark Lovell for Danny Williams and this seemed to settle the side down, allowing them to get back into the game. Bay had "weathered the storm" and Nelder was unlucky not to get his hat trick when a carbon copy of his first goal just grazed the post.

From a corner Bay increased their lead; Hasler's cross to the far post was met by Lovell who headed in from close range. Casuals never gave up and piled forward in an attempt to reduce the arrears and chances fell to Day, Medley and Sammoutis but all missed the target. They were rewarded with a consolation goal in the last minute when Prince-Rylah raced down the right flank and with Delo off his goal line his lob found the net. A couple of minutes’ injury time were seen out to see Bay through to the next round where they travel to play Bury Town.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder (Nathan Eastwood 60), Joe Nelder, Danny Williams (Mark Lovell 66), Elliott Cutts, Sam Hasler (Georgio Russo 75).

Subs not used: James Turner, Kane Phillip.

Sent Off: none Cautioned: Gary Sayer, Sam Hasler