Sunny Stroll In Final Pre Season Game

Herne Bay (3) 5
Mark Lovell (2)
Stuart Zanone (2)
Giorgio Russo

Lewisham Borough (0) 0

Pre-Season Fixture
The Eddie 'Titch' Willett Memorial Trophy
Saturday 6th August 2016

by Steve Barton

(photo credit: Steve Barton - Danny Walder is presented with the Eddie 'Titch' Willett Memorial Trophy)

The countdown to the season has commenced following the visit of Southern Counties East First Division Lewisham Borough and the gulf in class was evident in the blistering heat. A straightforward win with a brace apiece for Mark Lovell and Stuart Zanone and one for Giorgio Russo. Seven days to go before the real business begins.

Ray Kelly writes: For the final preseason friendly Herne Bay entertained Lewisham Boro. for the ‘Titch’Willett Memorial Trophy.
On a blistering hot afternoon Bay ran out worthy 5-0 winners . No disrespect to Lewisham this was a stroll in the park for Bay who were a class above them, in saying this Lewisham never stopped trying.

Herne Bay started very quickly and left Lewisham chasing shadows and were soon a goal up when Sam Hasler found Michael Turner in acres of space who in turn crossed for Mark Lovell to bundle the ball over the line. For the next 20 minutes Herne Bay swarmed all over Lewisham’s defence and only good work by Jarvey and Coulibaly kept out the Bay’s rampant forwards. On 30 minutes Herne Bay increased the lead when, once again Sam Hasler picked out James Turner who in turn crossed to Mark Lovell who prodded the ball past Owusu in the Lewisham goal. Just before half time Joe Nelder set up Stuart Zanone who had the simple task of tapping the ball home.

As in the first half Herne Bay continued to push forward and counter attacks from Lewisham’s Zarifi and Lacaze were few and far between, rarely bothering Herne Bay's debutant central defender Kobini Bernasko who did not look out of place in this role. On 65 minutes Stuart Zanone raided down the left before crossing to Gergio Russo who finished with aplomb.

With five minutes left on the clock Stuart Zanone scored his second goal of the game , rounding Owusu ,and tapping
the ball home.

Although Lewisham never threatened, to their credit they never stopped playing.

Herne Bay squad: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Connor Sanders, Kobi, Joe Nelder, Danny Walder, James Turner, Sam Hasler, Giorgio Russo, Mark Lovell, Stuart Zanone, Toby Wood, Travis Jackson, Harry Brown, Adam Woollcott.