AT LAST!

Guernsey (1) 3
McGrath 14
Williams o.g. 62
DeLaMare 90

Herne Bay (2) 4
Hasler 9
King 33, 59, 84

at Footes Lane

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 8th November 2014.

Attendance: 711

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Herne Bay FC – players remember the fallen.)

At long last Herne Bay have an away win in the league this season although they have won twice on the road in cups. “Yes, it is a relief,” said Bay manager Sam Denly, “the more games go past the more it becomes an issue. If you’re going to do it there’s no better way than to come all the way to Guernsey and get the first win.”

A minute’s silence was held prior to kick off in remembrance of the fallen, especially poignant given Guernsey’s occupied status during the last world war, then Herne Bay set about creating an afternoon to remember for the hardy souls who had made the trip across land and sea and those watching a buffering relayed internet feed back in the Winch’s Field clubhouse.

Bay opened the scoring with a training ground move in the 9th minute. Danny Walder’s corner from the left was hit purposefully toward the outer edge of the Green Lions’ penalty area where Daniel Johnson dummied allowing the ball to pass to Sam Hasler who smote the it in through the crowd off Tardif’s right hand post. The lead lasted a mere 5 minutes. Hasler lost the ball in midfield, Kieron Mahon played in Marc McGrath and he struck his 10th of the season to level the match.

The visitor’s then enjoyed the best of the possession as they sought to regain the lead. Tardif spilled a Walder free kick but no-one was in striking distance to tap home the loose ball then Liam Quinn, in space inside the six yard box, put the ball wide before Stuart King entered the stage, front and centre. In the 33rd minute he found space in the left hand channel and chipped the Guernsey ‘keeper, celebrating the first of his three goals even before it had entered the net and despite Tardiff getting an upstretched paw to it to reduce the pace of its net bound trajectory.

A goal down at the break it was inevitable that the Green Lions would come out roaring in the second period. 8 minutes after the restart they really ought to have been level again, and would have been, had Dave Rihoy’s goal bound header not been so forceful that Marc McGrath could not remove himself from its path. The ball struck the Guernsey striker and rebounded to safety.

Just before the hour mark Herne Bay increased their lead. Danny Williams played in Stuart King and he cut in from the right before dummying the ‘keeper and tapping into an unguarded net. But Guernsey were still in this, indeed, it was never truly ‘over’ as a contest until the final whistle. From a corner from the right 3 minutes later, Danny Williams, back helping his defence, had one of those decisions to be made that would either result in hero or villain status. He moved to intercept the corner on its way to a well positioned Sam Cochrane but only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own net. The Green Lions had reduced the arrears. Now it would be end to end football.

King put Williams in but his shot was saved with his feet by Chris Tardif then Luke Winch’s fierce drive was tipped over the bar by Jack Delo. Finally, it looked as though Herne Bay had put the game to bed when Dan Parkinson’s excellent right wing cross was deftly guided home with his head by Stuart King who claimed his second hat-trick of the season in the process but, no, Guernsey set up a nerve jangling finish with substitute Tom DeLaMare scoring a third for the Green Lions.

Cue extended stoppage time as a result of an injury to Luke Winch who had, it was confirmed later, popped a knee, in an unfortunate twisting of the leg on the slippery Footes Lane surface. Guernsey finished with 10 men as a result (all three substitutions having been made) and Bay finished with all 3 points making their long trip worthwhile and the journey back to the mainland the more enjoyable for it.

“It was a long way to come but I’d do it every week if I’m going to get a result and performance like that out of the players,” said Denly, “I thought they were superb today, one of the best performances they’ve given me. Thoroughly deserved the win.”

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Dan Parkinson, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (Nathan Eastwood 76), Sam Hasler (Harry Brown 69), Stuart King (Kane Butler 90), Danny Williams.

Subs Not Used: Connor Partridge.

Cautions: Joe Nelder, Dan Parkinson, Nathan Eastwood, Harry Brown Sent Off: None

Man of the Match: Danny Williams (Herne Bay)

Referee: Daniel Leach Assistants: Kevin Norris, Robin Cox.