Five Unbeaten For Bay

Merstham (0) 0

Herne Bay (0) 0

at The Moatside

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

Attendance: 151

by Steve Barton

(photo credit: Surrey Mirror – man of the match, Gary Sayer, clears.)

On the back of four games without defeat (3 wins and one draw) Herne Bay travelled to the Moatside Stadium to meet Merstham who were five places above Bay in third place. The Moatsiders themselves were in a rich vein of form which had seen them taste defeat just once in their previous 21 league outings. Both sides managed to keep their records in tact after a 0-0.

The first chance of the game fell to Herne Bay after just five minutes when a mistake by Osa Obamwonyi let in Joe Nelder but his weak effort was comfortably gathered by Merstham keeper Brannon Daly. Five minutes later and it was Merstham’s turn when a nice move by Tom Howard put through Aaron Rhule but the winger’s shot went just over the bar. Then came a chance for Dean Gunner but he fired Tommy Hutchings’ cross high and wide.

There was then a period of scrappy midfield play with neither side looking in control until a clever breakthrough from Howard set up Hutchings but his powerful shot skimmed the bar and went out for a goal kick. Merstham began to look the sharper of the two teams with chances falling to Hutchings, Rhule and Howard before in the dying minutes of the half Bay’s Danny Williams had a great chance to put the visitors ahead but his tame effort went yards wide of the target.

Herne Bay looked more determined at the beginning of the second half but it was Merstham who had the first chance when a Hutchings cross was met by the head of Obamwonyi but ball was cleared off the line by Herne Bay’s skipper Liam Quinn. The game reverted to the scrappy play with both sides losing the ball far too often. In the 73rd minute Merstham’s best chance of the game occurred when substitute Omar Folkes carved his way through the Herne Bay defence and neatly slipped the ball to Rhule whose fine shot was well saved by Jack Delo.

Then came the incident that could have turned the game in favour of the visitors when Rhule was yellow carded then five minutes later he got a second yellow for using bad language at referee Mark Lucie giving the official no choice but to send him off. This was Rhule’s fifth dismissal of the season, including the reverse fixture at Winch’s Field, and the 11th for the Surrey side. However this only served to boost the Moatsiders’ resolve and with almost the last kick of the game they got their final chance when Taurean Roberts set up substitute Mario Quiassaca but the young midfielder’s overenthusiastic effort saw the ball go high over the bar.

Herne Bay remain 8th ahead of next Saturday’s visit to Ramsgate.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (Steven Ita 63), Danny Williams, Mark Lovell, Sam Hasler (Jordan Casey 80). Subs not used: Ben Brown, James Turner.

Cautions: Michael Turner, Nathan Eastwood

Man of the Match: Gary Sayer