Draw at Woodstock Park

Sittingbourne (0) 1
Nwoko 51

Herne Bay (1) 1
King 29

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South
At Woodstock Park
Tuesday 2nd September 2014

by Ray Kelly

Herne Bay came away from Sittingbourne’s Woodstock Park with a well earned point. After a bright first half, the Bay were made to dig in and grind out this result. Both teams were guilty of errors and missing vital chances that came their way, so in the end a draw was a fair result.

As early as the 3rd minute Jack Delo had to be on his toes when the Brickies’ Gary Webb burst through the Bay defence but Delo saved well at his feet. Two minutes later Steven Ita was fouled by Sittingbourne’s Ollie Brown 30 yards out but Ben Brown’s free kick was headed clear by George Crimmen. Goal scoring chances were falling to both sides but neither team could convert. David Abe and Joe Nwoko for Sittingbourne both squandered chances in front of goal as did Stuart King and Steven Ita for the Bay.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Stuart King slammed in a great goal after Dan Parkinson fed Jordan Casey who squared the ball to King who gave Adam Molloy no chance in the Sittingbourne goal. Herne Bay were resolute in defence and Delo pulled off a series of great saves to make sure Herne Bay went into the half time break with the lead.

The Brickies started the second half at pace and it was no surprise that they found an equaliser in the 51st minute when Joe Nwoko waltzed through the Bay defence and slotted past Delo. Both King and Ita went close in the ensuing minutes as the Bay looked for a winner with Dan Johnson and Michael Turner giving them the ammo down both flanks. On 63 minutes Joe Nelder came on for Jordan Casey and within minutes he played a great ball into the path of Brown whose pile driver of a shot just grazed the out side of the upright with Adam Molloy well beaten.

In the final 10 minutes both teams had chances to win the game, Delo saved well at the feet of Elie Kayembe and the Brickies’ David Abe fired wide from 10 yards when put through with only Delo to beat. For Herne Bay Ben Brown and Dan Johnson both had efforts cleared but both teams settled for a point.

Man of the Match: Michael Turner.