The Rot Stops Here!

Horsham (0) 0

Herne Bay (1) 2
Danny Williams 16
Michael Turner 55

at Gorings Mead

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 17th January 2015

Attendance: 251

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Peter Guise – Williams opens the scoring.)

“I’m delighted”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “not to have a game for two weeks when you are on a losing run is frustrating, but, we were excellent today. I wanted a professional performance and I got it.”

Herne Bay took full advantage of a basement Horsham side bristling with new signings to keep them up that had not yet gelled into a unit. Indeed, it was the Hornets who started the brighter on a squelchy pitch taking boot as well as stud. The home side might have scored twice before Bay opened their account. First Liam Quinn denied George Branford then Tony Nwachukwu fired wide when well placed.

Bay made them rue those misses when after good work in mid field from the excellent Ben Brown set Stuart King up, but with his path to goal blocked, he slid the ball to Danny Williams who fired a low shot past Gareth Williams in the Horsham goal.

There was more fluidity about the visitors’ play and despite the heavy pitch a greater reliance on passing football. Horsham, meanwhile, squandered good possession and could not quite piece together their passes; perhaps too many not have the benefit of knowing each others’ game.

Within a minute of the restart, Herne Bay ought to have increased their lead. Danny Williams’ low effort ricocheted to Steven Ita but his looping effort flew wide. In the grand scheme of things it mattered little as Bay did score a second in the 55th minute. Again, the hard working Ben Brown played his part. Combining skilfully with Joe Nelder and Michael Turner, the latter strode forward and sent a speculative ground hugging effort goalwards from the edge of the box. Inexplicably, Williams let the shot creep under his body and in at his right hand post.

Despite their best endeavours, the Hornets could not force their way back into the game. Gary Sayer and Liam Quinn held firm in the centre of defence, Bay’s midfield formed a second rank of four and Stuart King, despite being flagged for offside on numerous occasions, kept the Hornets back line occupied when Bay did come forward.

Three points away from home for only the third time this season, a clean sheet and the end of five match losing run. What more could a manager want on a cool January afternoon? “We slightly tinkered with the formation. We wanted to play on a high press, we wanted to push up and our first goal came from Ben Brown pushing up”, said Denly, “the lads worked hard, Kingy (Stuart King) didn’t get a lot of the ball today but he put a shift in. We’re a good side and as long as we give a good honest performance then our qualities will come through.”

Herne Bay: Jack Delo , Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Harry Brown (Dan Johnson 80), Liam Quinn, Nathan eastwood, Joe Nelder, Ben Brown (James Brown 83), Danny Williams, Stuart King, Steven Ita (Sam Hasler 71).

Subs Not Used: Jordon Casey, James Turner.

Cautions: None Sent Off: None

Man of the Match: Ben Brown

Referee: John Pike Assistants: Jamie Gilham & Christopher Hamilton.