FA Cup Run Comes to an End

Herne Bay (1) 1
Danny Williams 15

Hemel Hempstead Town (3) 5
Danny Williams (og) 12
James Potton 19
Mitchell Weiss 38, 68
Sam Corcoran 90

Emirates FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying Replay
Tuesday 20th September 2016
at Winch's Field

Attendance: 262

(photo credit: Peter Guise - Bay celebrate Danny Williams equaliser)

"It was very harsh, not a 5-1", said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, "the Hasler sending off has killed us".

It is oft said that a side playing a team two levels above them will normally only have once crack at getting through and that will be in the first game. So it proved as Bay tumbled out of this Emirates FA Cup replay on Tuesday evening. Having started brighter than in the first encounter Bay fell behind to a cruel slice of luck, only to equalise within minutes. But the Tudors' slick Conference South level passing and fleet footed movement eventually spoke volumes.

Ray Kelly writes: After the heroics by Herne Bay last Saturday at Hemel Hempstead, (drawing 1-1), Bay went down 5-1 in the replay at Winch’s Field on Tuesday night. The gulf in class was there to see by all although the score line rather flattered the ‘Tudors’. Herne Bay’s task was further hampered by playing with only 10 men for most of the second half with Sam Hasler being sent off for kicking out at Oliver Thorne after a foul.

The game kicked off with both teams intent on attacking football and it was end to end stuff for the first 10 minutes. In the 12th. minute the ‘Tudors’ took the lead when Danny Williams sliced the ball into his own net following a Graeme Montgomery corner. The Bay continued to press forward in search of an equaliser and they were rewarded on 15 minutes when Danny Williams crashed a shot in from 20 yards after a good cross from Stuart Zanone. The game ebbed and flowed with the ‘Tudors’ looking dangerous on the attack and in the 19th. minute a Graeme Montgomery cross found Potton unmarked and he fired in from close range giving Jack Delo
no chance. Hemel Hempstead gradually took control of the game and chances fell to Weiss and James Potton but neither could convert. Herne Bay continued to counter attack and on 30 minutes Stuart Zanone had the ball in the net but it was ruled off side.
The ‘Tudors’ increased the lead on 38 minutes when after a defensive mix up the ball fell to Weiss who side footed the ball past Jack Delo. Herne Bay battled back ,looking to reduce the arrears and a minute before Half Time the ‘Tudors’ goal keeper Jamie Butler saved three point blank efforts from Danny Williams ,Stuart Zanone and Williams again.

The second half was only 5 minutes old when the Bay were reduced to ten men , with Sam Hasler was sent off for kicking out at Oliver Thorne after he appeared to have been elbowed. On 67 minutes Jack Delo came to the Bay’s rescue, superbly saving a stinging shot from Luis Taaffe and a few minutes later Adam Woolcott went on a mazy run through the Hemel Hempstead defence before his final shot hit the side netting of the goal. In the 68th minute Herne Bay went further behind when Mitchel Weiss ran through the Bay defence and fired home. Jack Delo was very busy for the final 10 minutes but in the last minute of the game Sam Corcoran latched on to a
free kick and hammered the ball home to give the score line a rather fortunate 5-1 look. The gulf in class was evident between the sides but Herne Bay never stopped attacking throughout the two games.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Joe Nelder (Nathan Eastwood 66), Kenny Sanders, Adam Woolcott, Mark Lovell, Danny Walder, Danny Williams, James Turner (Kane Phillip 59), Stuart Zanone (Sam Hallett 77), Sam Hasler

Subs unused: Joshua Wood, Kobina Bernasko, Casey Tucker, Toby Wood.

HBFCSA Herne Bay man of the match: Danny Williams