Chips Downed

Chipstead (1) 3
Tre Mitford 23, Will Turl 60, Farzad Bidgood 85

Herne Bay (4) 4
Ban Bent 6, Danny Walder 17 (p), Steven Ita 45, Joe Nelder 45

at High Road

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 28th February 2015.

Attendance: 111

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Steven Ita scores the third.)

Herne Bay continue to push towards a play off place (now only 2 points adrift of Whyteleafe) after a nervy 4-3 win against Chipstead.

The Bay were 4-1 up at half time and in control but the Chipstead team had other ideas for the second half and to be honest they came out and battered the Bay but they hung on to the end.

From the kick off Steven Ita and Joe Nelder attacked down both flanks putting a steady stream of crosses in and it was no surprise that they took the lead in the 6th.minute. Following a Danny Walder free kick, some 30 yards out, Chipstead ‘keeper Milan attempted to gather the high ball but collided with his own centre half and spilled the ball into the path of Daniel Bent who had no trouble in slotting into an empty net. The Chipstead ‘keeper was down for 6 minutes and had to leave the field, he was replaced by Steff Joeseph in goal and they brought on Kay Osei.

Chances fell to both sides over the next 10 minutes with Tre Mitford going close for the Chips and Mark Lovell missing out for the Bay but on 17 minutes Herne Bay doubled the lead when Mark Lovell burst through the Chips defence, was tackled from behind in the box, and the referee Alex Blake had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Danny Walder stepped up and crashed the ball into the net.

Within 6 minutes Chipsted pulled a goal back when Andy Dallhouse combined well with Tre Mitford who drilled the ball past Jack Delo with the Bay defence flat footed. Chipstead started to get back into the game and only good saves from Jack Delo prevented them from equalising with Will Turl and Mark McCleod both going close.

Just before half time Steven Ita put the Bay 3-1 up after a good solo run he rounded the Chipstead substitute ‘keeper and stroked the ball into an empty net. Herne Bay made it four within seconds of the restart when Joe Nelder chased down a ball and fired in from an acute angle, a stunning goal.

The second half started with a great chance to increase the Herne Bay lead but Mark Lovell fluffed his effort in front of goal. From that moment on Chipstead surged forward in search of a goal and it wasn’t long in coming. Manager Sam Denly made a double change , bringing on Danny Spiller and Stuart King for Mark Lovell and Sam Hasler in the 60th minute. A minute later Chips reduced the arrears when Will Turl found himself unmarked 10 yards out and made no mistake blasting in . Herne Bay were getting penned back in their own half and once again it was Jack Delo who saved the day for the Bay with some superb saves from Will Turl and Andy Dallhouse but on 85 minutes he could do nothing to stop Farzad Bidgood from firing in from close range.

Herne Bay held out and in the end it was a good three points in the bag.

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

Cautions: Dan Bent, Nathan Eastwood

Subs Not Used: Harry Brown, Jordan Casey.

Man of the Match: Gary Sayer (Herne Bay)