Bay Keep Play Off Hopes Alive

Ramsgate (0) 0

Herne Bay (0) 2
Danny Walder 73, Danny Spiller 80

at Southwood

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 14th February 2015.

Attendance: 182

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Steve Barton - Danny Spiller slides in to net on debut.)

“It was hard, it was a local derby, they’re down the bottom and scrapping”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “we always felt that we would have more opportunity in the second half. We played with a bit more quality in the final third and deserved the two nil. Danny Spiller showed his quality when he came on. If we can keep him injury free he just wants to play football and enjoy himself, he’s been out of the game for a while, he’s got a few of his mate’s playing here and he’s a great asset to the club”.

After this, Herne Bay have their sights firmly set on a play off place by the end of the season but for the first 70 minutes of this match both teams seemed incapable of getting the ball in the net.
The introduction of Stuart King on 65 miniutes and debutant Danny Spiller from the bench in the 70th minute gave the Bay the desired urgency and thrust that was missing.

Right from the kick off Herne Bay took the game to the Rams. with Sam Hasler and Steven Ita
putting the Rams defence under pressure but time and again the final pass was woefull. On 10 minutes Ramsgate had a rare chance in front of goal but Macca Murrey’s shot was
blocked by Gary Sayer.

In the first half hour half chances fell to Sam Hasler, Steven Ita and Joe Nelder but they could not
convert. The game started to get littered with petty fouls and it wasn’t long before referee
Garry Maskell got his book out, in went Freeman Rogers(Ramsgate) and Nathan Eastwood(Herne Bay) and this seemed to settle the teams down. For the remainder of the first half both teams huffed
and puffed but with no end product.

Herne Bay started the second half with more purpose and on 50 minutes a good run and cross
from Sam Hasler found Mark Lovell’s head but he headed wide. The same combination almost
put the Bay in front on 65 minutes but Lovells shot was well saved by Adriano Varnier.

On 70 minutes Steven Ita ran through the Rams defence only to be brought down in the box,
the Referee pointed to the spot, up stepped Danny Walder but his spot kick hit the post.

Straight away Herne Bay manager rung the changes ,bringing on Stuart King for Joe Nelder and
a few minutes later Danny Spiller made his debut, coming on for Mark Lovell.
In the 73rd minute Danny Walder made amends when he fired in a great free kick from 30 yards
that nestled in the top of the Ramsgate goal, the ‘keeper only able to parry it there as it curled across him. .

Cue the introduction of Danny Spiller for his debut, coming on for Mark Lovell. He made an almost immediate impact. Bay doubled the lead after a bit of King magic ,chipping a great ball into
the Rams.area for Danny Spiller to slide in and slot the ball past Varnier.

Just before the final whistle Stuart King had the ball in the net again but was ruled off side.

“Steve Ita’s had a round of applause from the whole squad in the dressing room today, he was outstanding, man of the match by a mile”,. said Denly. “We’re there or thereabouts, we haven’t got carried away all season, with games to go we’re knocking on the door, why shouldn’t we get to the play offs? Let’s see where we are with 2 or 3 games to go, if we keep putting in performances like we have, there’s no reason why we can’t be there”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (Stuart King 65), Steven Ita, Mark Lovell (Danny Spiller 74) , Sam Hasler (Jordan Casey 88).

Subs Not Used: James Turner, James Brown.

Man of the Match: Steven Ita (Herne Bay)