Bay Bow To Arrows

Herne Bay (0) 0

Hastings United (1) 2
Hussain 41
Farmer 71

at Winch’s Field

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 20th December 2014.

Attendance: 171

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Respect for the Fallen & Christmas Truce 1914.)

For the third successive home game Herne Bay were beaten. Bay were missing four key players in Liam Quinn (suspended), Michael Turner (ill), Connor Sanders (injured) and Sam Hasler. Added to this due to an administration error Danny Williams should not have started the match as he is suspended for the three games over the Christmas period. As soon as this was realised he was taken off (on 8 minutes) to be replaced by Dan Parkinson. On the bench was new signing Mark Lovell from Maidstone United.

The game was only 5 minutes old when Hastings’s Tom Vickers had a great chance to put his side one up but fired wide when well placed. Herne Bay tried to get back into the game but were guilty of giving the ball away far too often. On 25 minutes Steven Ita made a good run down the left but his final ball was well off target. 5 minutes later only a good save from Jack Delo prevented Hastings going one up when he saved at the feet of Tom Vickers. The Arrows took the lead on 41 minutes when Taser Hassan raced down the right, cut in, and slammed the ball past Jack Delo.

Herne Bay started the second period in better fashion, starting to get on top of Hastings with Steven Ita and Joe Nelder raiding down both wings but the final balls were woeful. On 50 minutes Steven Ita pounced on a loose ball that was spilled by the Hastings keeper Josh Pelling but the stopper recovered well and saved the effort. Changes were made on 60 minutes with Hastings replacing Tom Vickers with Kenny Pogue and the Bay replaced Jorden Casey and Ben Brown with Mark Lovell and James Brown.

Herne Bay went further behind in the 71st minute when Fraser Logan delivered a free kick which Charlie Farmer, unmarked at the far post, nodded in. Bay tried to hit back and Nelder was unlucky to see his rasping shot just skim the crossbar in the 75th minute. Lovell should have done better in the 90th minute when he headed over from 6 yards following a cross from Stuart King.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Joe Nelder, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson Connor Partridge, Danny Williams (Dan Parkinson 8), Danny Walder, Ben Brown (Mark Lovell 62), Jordan Casey (James Brown 62), Stuart King, Steven Ita.

Subs Not Used: Nathan Eastwood, Kane Butler.

Cautions: Danny Walder. Sent Off: none

Herne Bay Man of the Match: Joe Nelder

Referee: Stuart Franklin Assistants: Alexander Clark & Ollie Butcher.