Williams Wins It

Herne Bay (0) 1
Danny Williams 48

East Grinstead Town (0) 0

Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 20th August 2016

at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch's Field

Att: 172

(photo credit:Steve Barton - Danny Williams fires the winner)

"It was a bit of a scrappy affair, we'll take the win", said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, "we've created a lot of chances today which is pleasing but with the windy conditions it was hard to get the ball down and play".

It ought to have been simpler after Bay battered the Wasps in the opening 20 minutes. A bucket load of chances were spurned and the scoreline flattered the visitors but a win is a win especially in the FA Cup. In mitigation Bay will point to the swirling wind but they will know that finishing will need to be sharpened if further progress is to be made in the most revered domestic cup competition in the world. On a bright note it was a clean sheet, for which Jack Delo was revered in song by the UniLads. On an even brighter note, the Financial Director was smiling at the round winners cheque and brighter still the next round will also be at home against Southern League (Central) side Ashford Town (Middx) who won 2-0 at Shortwood United.

Ray Kelly writes Herne Bay progressed into the 1st. Qual. round of this seasons F.A.Cup. after a narrow 1-0 over a workmanlike East Grinstead side. A Danny Williams goal early in the second half was enough but the Bay never scaled the heights they attained on Tuesday night against Hastings United. Herne Bay started the game in total command and after only 2 minutes Stuart Zanone should have done better with a cross from Danny Williams that did not test the East Grinstead keeper Hafed. Three minutes later Bay were awarded a free kick 30 yards out, Sam Hasler’s thunderbolt of a kick crashed against the post and away. On 8 minutes , a Danny Walder free kick was headed off the line by the ‘Wasps’ Callum Emptage ,this was followed up with a great run from Michael Turner whose cross was deflected into the arms of Hafed by Connor Sanders. East Grinstead started to get back into the game and on 25 minutes Jack Delo got down well to thwart a Dave Botterill shot. The game was rapidly becoming a stale mate with both sides cancelling each other out in mid-field. In the 40th. minutes Mark Lovell should have done better in front of goal after a long throw on from Connor Sanders.

The second half was only 3 minutes old when another long throw from Conner Sanders caused panic in the ‘Wasps’ defence and Danny Williams pounced to put Bay ahead. On 53 minutes Herne Bay had a scare when the ‘Wasps’ Alex Gagin got behind the Bay defence and fired in a hard low shot that smashed against the post with Jack Delo well beaten. East Grinstead pushed forward in search of an equaliser but could find no way past Liam Quinn’s tight defence but Will Thomas and Callum Emptage both went close for the ‘Wasps’. On 68 minutes the Bay were indebted to Liam Quinn who headed against his own cross bar when making a goal line
clearance. During the final 15 minutes Stuart Zanone had the ball in the net twice but both efforts were ruled off side and Joe Nelder
and Adam Woolcott both went close.

"I said to the boys it was always going to be a tough game, the'ye lost their first couple and would be looking to bounce back. But we started the game really well, we should have been out of sight after the first twenty minutes. We've got to learn that when we dominate games like that we've got to take our chances. An early goal would have made it a lot more easy for us"., said Denly.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Nathan Eastwood (Adam Woolcott 72), Kenny Sanders, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Danny Williams, Mark Lovell (Joe Nelder 64), Stuart Zanone, Sam Hasler (Kane Phillip 76)

Subs not used: James Turner, Sam Hallett, Toby Wood

HBFCSA Man of the Match: Danny Williams