And Now It’s Nine.

East Grinstead Town (0) 0

Herne Bay (0) 1
Steven Ita 74

at East Court

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 7th March 2015.

Attendance: 97

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Steven Barton – Steven Ita scores Bay’s winner.)

Herne Bay’s superb nine match unbeaten run continued with a workman-like performance at the GAC Stadium against a well drilled East Grinstead Town. In a game of very few chances it was a moment of sheer skill from Steven Ita that secured all three points, late in the second half.

Both teams got off to a sluggish start with neither producing any fluent football. As the half wore on Steven Ita and Danny Williams started to get behind the Wasp’s defence and caused a few problems but East Grinstead’s Guy Harding and John Sinclair mopped up well. The Wasps’ new signings, former Bay player Andy Irvine and Richmond Kissi, endeavoured to keep the Herne Bay defence on their toes. With chances at a premium both defences remained solid. The Wasps best chance fell in the 43rd minute when Kissi launched himself at a cross from Kristian Campbell but Bay’s keeper Jack Delo was relieved to see it go wide.

The second half started with Bay looking more fired up and they were quickly into the swing of it and forced several corners but the duo of Marc Pelling and John Sinclair cleared all danger. On 53 minutes Steven Ita made a great solo run through the Wasp’s defence but his finishing was weak with the ’keeper, Sam Johnson-Freeman, smothered the ball with ease. Three minutes later Mark Lovell was put through but a last ditch tackle from Guy Harding prevented him going on the score sheet.

Over the next 10 minutes both Managers made changes in an attempt to liven things up, East Grinstead brought on Kareem Boyle and Emiliano Hysi for Richmond Kissi and Steve Sargent, whilst Sam Denly put on Jordan Casey and Ben Brown for Sam Hasler and Danny Williams. Bringing on Jordan Casey was an inspired choice because within 5 minutes he fought for the ball down the right before sending over a good cross for Steven Ita to swivel and thump past the Wasps’ keeper. That goal put the Bay in dream land, a goal to the good with 15 minutes left.

While all this was going on Ben Brown lay injured with a nasty looking ankle injury and he was replaced by Dan Bent. The last ten minutes belonged to former Bay player Andy Irvine, firstly on 79 minutes Jack Delo saved well from his rasping shot, then Liam Quinn deflected a goal bound effort from Irvine and then deep into added time Irvine hit the post with Jack Delo well beaten. Herne Bay played out the final minutes with no more scares and fully deserved the 3 points. A win at south Park on Tuesday night would put the Bay into the last play off place.

Cautions: None

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Danny Walder, Danny Williams (Jordan Casey), Steven Ita, Mark Lovell, Sam Hasler (Ben Brown (Dan Bent)).

East Grinstead Town: Sam Johnson-Freeman, Mathew Harden, Guy Harding, John Sinclair, Marc Pelling, Zak Henry (John-Paul Collier), Richmond Kissi (Kareem Boyle), Steve Sargent (Emiliano Hysi), Andy Irvine, Nick Wybrow, Kristian Campbell.

Man of the Match:. tba