10 Man Bay Pay Penalty

Herne Bay (1) 1
Liam Quinn 14

Bury Town (0) 1
Matthew Collins 54

Bury Town won 4-3 on penalties

Attendance: 131

FA Challenge Trophy 2nd Round Qualifying Replay
Tuesday 17th November 2015.
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

(photo credit: Herne Bay FC Library photos – Liam Quinn)

Herne Bay suffered the heartache of going out in the lottery of penalty shoot outs having battled with a man down for nearly an hour and against the backdrop of a colourful but noisy firework display in a neighbouring garden.

“When we went down to 10 men, we were the better side by a country mile”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “we’ve had some good chances. The game was won & lost on penalties which is very cruel. It’s frustrating, we had opportunities and we gifted them a goal as well. It should have been won 1-0, job done, move on. I’m gutted for the lads”.

Ray Kelly writes: Herne Bay finally exited the F.A. Trophy after an epic battle against Bury Town but it took extra time and a penalty shoot out to decide this tie. After the 1-1 draw at Bury on Saturday it was the same score line at the Altira Stadium Tuesday night but in the dreaded penalty shoot out the Bay went down 4-3.

In gale force winds both teams were up against the swirling conditions that made good football nearly impossible for much of the game. With the wind behind them Herne Bay opened the scoring in the 14th. minute when a Danny Walder corner was headed in at the far post by Liam Quinn. Herne Bay went in search of another goal with full backs Georgio Russo and Dan Johnson constantly getting down the flanks , sending in a stream of crosses that kept the Bury defence on their toes. On 28 minutes Herne Bay almost doubled the lead when Sam Hasler let a shot go from 30 yards that skimmed the Bury cross bar with the Bury keeper rooted to the spot.

Bury Towns Ollie Hughes should have restored parity in the 37th minute when he shot across the goal ,shaving the post. Alfie Beddingham and Dan Hammett both tested Jack Delo before the Half time whistle.

Bury Town started the second half well in command , forcing Herne Bay to defend deeply , constantly attacking down both wings and using the wind to their advantage and on 54 minutes they gained the reward when a corner was only partly cleared by Jack Delo and Matt Collins slammed the ball back past Jack to equalise. Now Bury went in search of a winner with Hughes and Hammett both going close.

On 70 minutes ,disaster for the Bay when Gary Sayer was red carded for a tackle just outside the box. With the Bay down to ten men manager Sam Denly with drew Mark Lovell in favour of Connor Sanders. Bury continued to attack the Bay and on 75 minutes Alfie Beddingham skimmed the bar with a rasping shot that Jack Delo could only watch go over.

Herne Bay's best chance of the match came a minute later when Danny Williams raced through the Bury defence and O’Sullivan in the Bury goal came out and saved at his feet. Five minutes later it was Jack Delo who kept the Bay in the tie when he saved shots from Hughes and Miller.

In the extra time period both teams huffed and puffed but neither could add to the score sheet, then came the dreaded penalties . Georgio Russo , Elliot Cutts and Danny Walder scored for the Bay but the tie was won by Bury when they converted four with there Captain Phil Weavers slotting in the 4th. winning 4-3 in the shootout. Had the Bay taken the chances on offer during the match, well who know’s.........

“I’m proud of the lads tonight, we had 10 men for an hour and we were the better side”, said Denly, “it’s a competition we were never going to win but we all wanted to get on in it and we should have done but it’s all about bouncing back now in the league. We’re playing catch up now and if we win those games we’ll be right up there”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Giorgio Russo, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Danny Walder, Danny Williams (James Turner 95), Mark Lovell (Connor Sanders 69), Kane Phillip (Elliot Cutts 34), Sam Hasler.

Subs not used: Joe Nelder, Steven Ita.

Sent Off: Gary Sayer Cautioned: Sam Hasler.

Bury Town: Neil O’Sullivan, Tevan Allen, James Patterson, Matthew Collins, Phil Weavers, Darcy De’ath, Alfie Beddingham (Cameron Nicholls 105), Craig Nurse (Alex Steed 34), Ollie Hughes, Justin Miller, Daniel Hammett.

Subs not used: John Kennedy (only three subs named).

Sent Off: None Cautioned: Justin Miller

Referee: Ryan Whitaker Assistant Referees: Peter Cruise & Isaac Searle.

Man of the Match: Phil Weavers (Bury Town)