No Disgrace

Herne Bay (0) 0

Dover Athletic (1) 1
Tyrone Marsh 40

Kent Reliance Kent FA Senior Cup 2nd Round
Monday 16th January 2016
at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch's Field

Att: 220

(photo credit: Peter Guise)

Dover’s Manager, Chris Kinnear, paid Herne Bay a compliment by fielding a very strong side for this Kent Senior Cup match and although Bay went down by the only goal of the game, Dover were given a severe testing by a Herne Bay side who were missing several key players, writes Ray Kelly. In fact the Man Of The Match went to Danny Williams, the Bay’s top goal scorer, who played at full back and he gave a superb defensive display.

The first half kicked off at a rapid pace with Dover spraying the ball around but Bay soon adapted to the pace and the first chance fell to Danny Walder in the 10th. minute but his effort was well saved by the Dover custodian, Mitch Walker. A minute later Jack Delo sprung into action to deny Jim Stevenson. On 15 minutes Kane Phillip forced a corner after surging down the left, Dover's defence were pinned in their 18 yard box and conceded a further two corners before clearing the ball. The game ebbed and flowed with Dover’s Tyrone Marsh and Chris Barnard becoming a thorn in the Bays defence but Ben Gorham and Liam Quinn stood firm. At the other end Kane Phillip and Ian Pullman did likewise to the Dover defence but a goal just would not come. In the 40th minute though, Dover took the lead when a shot from 25 yards from Tyrone Marsh eluded Jack Delo and slithered in via the right hand post despite Delo getting a hand to it.

Herne Bay started the second half on top and on 50 minutes James Turner was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the cross bar with Walker well beaten. Herne Bay continued to look for an equaliser but the Dover defence snuffed out any danger. On 62 minutes James Turner was replaced by Izzy Adebayo (debut for Izzy) . A minute later Kane Phillip went on a mazy run through the Dover defence only to see his final effort saved by Mitch Walker. For the final 15 minutes Dover's fitness began to show, forcing the Bay to defend deeply, twice Jack Delo pulled off great saves to prevent Dover from increasing the lead and, in the process, frustrating Jim Stevenson and Mitch Pinnock.

Travis Jackson also made his Herne Bay debut by replacing Kane Phillip in the 90th. minute. Try as they might, Bay couldn’t find the net before the referee Mr. Paul Yates blew to end the game. The whole of the Herne Bay team gave their all and put in a good shift and in my opinion deserved to get an equaliser but it wasn’t to be.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, James Turner (Isiaq Adebayo 62), Danny Williams, Ben Gorham, Liam Quinn, Danny Walder, Taser Hassan, Ian Pulman, Mark Lovell, Kane Phillip (Travis Jackson 90)

HBFCSA Man of the Match chosen by matchday sponsors Exclusive Household Staff: Danny Williams