Play Off Push Continues

Corinthian Casuals (0) 0

Herne Bay (1) 1
Sam Hasler 43

at King George’s Field

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 21st March 2015.

Attendance: 278

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Sam Hasler nets the winner just before half time.)

Herne Bay stay in contention for a play-off place after this victory. This was a workmanlike performance but it lacked a clinical finisher. Bay took control of the game from the kick off, restricting the Casuals to the occasional counter attack with much of the first half played in the middle of the park.

The first real chance fell to Sam Hasler in the 10th minute when his rasping shot was well held by Casuals ’keeper Danny Bracken. With Steven Ita and Dan Johnson raiding down both wings, providing a string of crosses, Mark Lovell and Dan Bent lacked that clinical finish. On 18 minutes Joe Nelder burst through the Casuals’ defence but his finish was well saved by Bracken. Two minutes later the Casuals centre forward, Max Austin ,crashed in a shot that brought the best out of Jack Delo, tipping the ball onto the bar and out safely. Further chances fell to Steven Ita and Sam Hasler but neither could convert. Back came the Casuals in the 35th minute when Dave Hodges broke through the tight Bay defence but fired over from close range.

With half time looming, Liam Quinn was brought down on the edge of the box by Ross Defoe, up stepped Sam Hasler who fired in an unstoppable free kick that left Bracken in the Casuals’ goal grasping thin air, top left hand corner.

The second half started with Casuals in a more determined mood and Carl Wilson-Denis and Dave Hodges both had efforts well saved by Jack Delo. The Casuals were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute when Ross Defoe was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul. With 10 men Casuals were forced back deep with Steven Ita coming into his own down the left.

Further half chances fell to Mark Lovell and Steven Ita over the next 10 minutes and these changes did the trick for Casuals as they went on the attack straight away. Surging forward for an equaliser Carl Wilson-Denis headed over from close in following a good cross from Andy Mills. They continued to pepper the Bay goal but Liam Quinn and Gary Sayer cleared their lines well. Even keeper Danny Bracken came up to take the free kicks in Bay’s half.

Herne Bay’s outside chance of a play off place lays in their own hands, they must win all of the last six games and hope that Whyteleafe drop a point or two. Herne Bay’s last fixture? Whyteleafe away. What a finish that could be!

Cautions: Gary Sayer, Dan Bent, Jordan Casey

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Joe Nelder, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Dan Bent, Danny Walder, Danny Spiller (Harry Brown 90), Steven Ita, Mark Lovell (Jordan Casey 65), Sam Hasler

Subs Not used: James Turner, Nathan Eastwood, Michael Turner.

Man of the Match:. Steven Ita