Fightback Earns Away Point

Worthing (3) 3
McCreadie 11
Dawes 26
Dodd 40

Herne Bay (1) 3
King 45, 51, 84

at The Woodside

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Wednesday 29th October 2014.

Attendance: 194

by Ray Kelly

The old adage ‘A game of two halves’ was certainly evident at Worthing on Wednesday night. Herne Bay’s defending was abysmal in the first half as the Rebels ripped into the Bay, going 3 goals up in the first 40 minutes, it could have been more but for some great goalkeeping by Jack Delo.

In the second half it was the Bay who were well on top and could have nicked all three points at the death. Herne Bay fought for every ball and a great hat trick from Stuart King secured a point that looked very unlikely at the half way stage.

Right from the kick off the Rebels surged into the Bay defence and in the first minute a rasping shot from Brannon O’neill was tipped over the bar by Jack Delo. Worthing’s left winger Lloyd Dawes started causing havoc in the Bay defence and forced four corners in the first 8 minutes. On 9 minutes the Bay countered and could have taken the lead when Jorden Casey played in Stuart King who went one on one with the Rebels keeper Jack Fagan but he cleared with his feet.

A minute later Worthing took the lead when Dawes played a short corner to Trevor McCreadie who ran through a static Herne Bay defence to slot past Jack Delo. On 12 minutes the Bay should have squared the match when Stuart King shot wide after a good cross from Dan Johnson.

Worthing continued to create havoc in the Bay defence with Dawes looking unplayable and a Brannon O’Neill shot was well saved by Delo. In the 25th minute Dawes scored the goal of the match when he picked up the ball on the half way line and ran through before unleashing a thunderbolt shot from fully 30 yards leaving Jack Delo no chance.

In the 34th minute Jorden Casey thought he had pulled one back for the Bay but his effort was ruled off side. More misery for the Herne Bay faithful came in the 40th minute when Terry Dodd waltzed past a non-existent Bay defence before placing the ball past Delo.

Herne Bay countered again on 42 minutes and Dan Walder went close from a corner ,with Fagan pushing the ball round the post. Manager Sam Denly made a surprise substitution by bringing on Steven Ita in place of Nathen Eastwood this move gave Bay more width and pace and this showed within two minutes when Joe Nelder’s good run and cross found Stuart King who glided through the
Rebels defence before slotting past Fagan.

The second half started with a scare for the Bay when Michael Turner had to head off the goal line from a shot from Lloyd Dawes but within a minute Stuart King pulled another goal back when he sauntered through the Worthing defence and slammed the ball past Fagan. Herne Bay now had the upper hand but Worthings Dawes was still putting the Bay to the test and on 60 minutes Jack Delo pulled off a great save from a Dawes shot to keep Herne Bay in the game.

In the 61st minute the Worthing Manager Adam Hinshelwood stunned the Worthing crowd by withdrawing Lloyd Dawes in favour of Curtis Gayler and Omar Bugiel was replaced by Billy Franks. Worthing started to get back into the game with Franks and MaCreadie both going close and on 72 minutes Bay made a double substitution bringing on Sam Hasler and Dan Parkinson for Jordan Casey and Danny Walder.

In the 82 minute the Bay could have squared the match only for a good save from Fagan to prevent Sam Hasler’s effort. With only 5 minutes left on the referee’s watch Herne Bay equalised when Stuart King collected a cross from Steven Ita and out-paced the Rebels defence before slamming the ball home from 6 yards.

At the final whistle a well earned point that could have been three but what a fight back. Pick of the Bay team ,Jack Delo/Stuart King. A hat trick for Kingy puts him on course for the golden boot.

“It’s frustrating, we seem to be playing two different halves each week”, said Denly, “it’s something we’ve got to address. We’re sitting mid-table, comfortably, and that’s about where should be. We had enough spirit today to get ourselves back in the game.”

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Danny Walder (Dan Parkinson 78), Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Dan Johnson, Joe Nelder, Nathan Eastwood (Steven Ita 43), Stuart King, Jordan Casey (Sam Hasler 77).

Subs Not Used: Harry Brown, James Brown.

Cautions: Gary Sayer, Joe Nelder

Man of the Match: Stuart King