A Bridge Too Far For Bay

Three Bridges (2) 3
Carney 28, Garrod 39, Whitehead 75

Herne Bay (0) 2
King 53, 61

at Jubilee Field

Attendance: 71

by Ray Kelly

Herne Bay have only themselves to blame for the 3-2 loss at the hands of Three Bridges. Bay’s first half performance was below par and only Steven Ita and Stuart King can take any credit on the play.

From the kick off Three Bridges attacked down both wings with Abu Touray and Matt Daniels putting pressure on the Bay’s defence. The Bridges’ captain Lee Carney made mid field his own and was instrumental in most good moves by Three Bridges. Herne Bay looked a yard off the pace and couldn’t hold their shape but it was the Bay that so nearly went a goal up in the 22nd minute when Steven Ita skinned the bridges full back Williams Peauroux, cut in and fired in across the keeper only to see his shot deflect off a defender and hit the far post and rebound to safety.

On 28 minutes Three Bridges took the lead following a foul on the edge of the box by Liam Quinn,
up stepped Lee Carney to thunder in a low shot past the wall and the unsighted Jack Delo. Herne Bay were reduced to the occasional counter attack. On 39 minutes Three Bridges doubled the lead when a long ball was launched over the Bay defence and Tony Garrod nipped in to lob over the advancing Delo. Further chances fell to the Bridges but Delo was on hand to mop up.

Herne Bay manager Sam Denly had a ‘word or two’ with his charges at the interval and they returned to the field with added gusto and soon found themselves only one goal down. Following a foul on King on the edge of the box he thumped in the free kick giving Thorp in the Bridges’ goal no chance. Bay were getting back into the game and putting Three Bridges on the back foot and should have restored parity when a Hasler free kick was headed wide by Joe Nelder with the
goal at his mercy.

On the hour, they were level when Nelder played in Ita who in turn unselfishly played the ball into the path of King who hammered home from 12 yards. Ten minutes later disaster struck when Harry Brown was booked for the second time and was sent off. Against ten men Three Bridges piled forward and soon after, Matt Whitehead burst through the bay defence and smashed the ball past Delo.

With only minutes left on the clock the Bay forced a series of corners but could not convert. At the final whistle Herne Bay can only rue what could have been if they had started the game as they finished it.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Dan Johnson, Harry Brown, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood (Kane Butler 90), Samuel Hasler, James Brown (Sam Staunton 72), Joe Nelder, Stuart King, Steven Ita.

Subs Not Used: Ben Kitcherside, James Turner, Ben Brown.

Herne Bay Man of the Match: Steven Ita