Bright Home Start For Bay

Herne Bay (1) 1
Sanders 11

Hythe Town (0) 0

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Tuesday 12th August 2014
at Winch's Field

Attendance: 168

by Ray Kelly

(Photo credit: Steve Barton) - Stuart King's header cannons off the Hythe crossbar)

Herne Bay manager Sam Denly must be delighted with Herne Bay’s start to the season after a Connor Sanders goal in the 11th minute was enough to defeat Hythe Town at Winch’s Field. Bay were first out of the blocks and with only a minute on the clock Nathan Eastwood charged down the right wing and fired in a cross cum shot that almost caught former Herne Bay goal keeper Dan Eason asleep but the ball just cleared the crossbar.

On 10 minutes Stuart King forced a corner that Danny Walder played short to Joe Nelder but he fired over from 18 yards. Following a free kick on the half way line by Walder, the Cannon’s defence dithered and Connor Sanders nipped in and slid the ball past Dan Eason to put the bay 1-0 up.

In the 16th minute Herne Bay almost doubled the lead when a shot from Stuart King was only parried by Eason but Craig Cloke cleared off the Hythe goal line. The away side started to get into the game with Sam Conlon at the centre of most good moves.

Back came the Bay when Jordan Casey sent over a great cross, Stuart King dived to head the ball only to see it strike the crossbar and into the arms of Eason. On 26 minutes Hythe had two good chances to square the match. Laurence Harvey first blazed over from 12 yards and then the same player fluffed the ball from close in. In the 31st minute Herne bay keeper Jack Delo was almost caught out when an attempted clearance rebounded off of Sam Conlon but Liam Quinn was on hand to clear the ball.

Hythe Town started the second half in a more determined mood and put the bay defence under pressure from the start with chances falling to James Morrish and Sam Conlon but neither could convert. On 46 minutes Herne Bay were forced into changes when Connor Sanders suffered a rib injury and was replaced by Michael Turner and a minute later Jordan Casey pulled up with a tight hamstring and was replaced by Steven Ita.

Hythe powered forward and good chances fell to Morrish and Thompson but they could not finish in the 65th minute Nathan Eastwood cleared off the goal line to thwart Thompson. Phil Stephenson replaced Dave Pilcher for Hythe in the 70th minute and 60 second later he should have done better when heading in a cross from Conlon, into the arms of Jack Delo.

Fit again Sam Hasler came on for the last 15 minutes, replacing Stuart King and on 75 minutes Steven Ita should have doubled the Bay lead, heading over a good cross from Michael Turner. In injury time Craig Thompson missed a golden chance when he fired wide when well placed. It’s fair to say this Bay side are going to be hard to beat with a superb defence and tonight Nathen Eastwood played his heart out and was an inspiration to the rest of the team.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Daniel Johnson, Gary Sayer, Nathan Eastwood, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders (Michael Turner 46), James Brown, Joe Nelder, Danny Walder, Stuart King (Sam Hasler 75), Jordan Casey (Stephen Ita 48).

Subs not used: Sam Staunton, Kane Butler

Man of the Match: Nathan Eastwood