Nelder Nails Ninth

Whyteleafe (0) 0

Herne Bay (0) 1
Nelder 48

Saturday 25th April 2014
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)

at Church Road

by Ray Kelly

(Photo credit: Steve Barton: Nelder explains his goal to those who will listen)

Herne Bay travelled to Church Road for the final match of the season and produced one of their best performances of the season. Playing on a 3G pitch, Bay were the far better side for most of the match and every player came out of the game with credit, none more so than Liam Quinn who was superb in both defence and attack.

First on the attack was the ”Leafe” when Sam Clayton tested Jack Delo with a shot from just outside the box in the 2nd minute. Back came the Bay with Michael Turner testing the Whyteleafe keeper Sheikh Ceesay with a similar effort 5 minutes later. Herne Bay started to get on top with Steven Ita, Joe Nelder and Dan Bent all going close and on 25 minutes Joe Nelder burst through the “Leafe” defence and only a great save from Ceesay, denied the Bay going one up.

On 30 minutes Whyteleafe’s Greg Andrews was thwarted by Liam Quinn when he looked odds on to score and 5 minutes later Jack Delo saved well from a stinging shot from Jason Thomson. Just before half time Joe Nelder surged down the right and crossed to find Mark Lovell but once again Ceesay saved his shot with aplomb.

Herne Bay started the second half on fire, forcing a corner from the off but this was headed clear by Osa Obamwonyi and within 3 minutes of the restart Bay took the lead when Joe Nelder chased down a loose ball and smashed it past Ceesay, giving him no chance.

Whyteleafe upped their game and pushed for an equaliser and on 51 minutes Greg Andrews should have done better when well placed to score, firing well off target. Back came Bay with Mark Lovell ‘s shot well saved by Ceesay again. On 57 minutes Michael Turner left the field with an injury and he was replaced by Herne Bay’s England Schoolboy International Elliot Cutts.

Further chances fell to Whyteleafe’s Jason Henry and Greg Andrews but both players failed to find the target. In the 67th minute Elliot Cutts showed his class weaving past the Whyteleafe defence before playing in Jordan Casey but his shot was superbly saved by that man Ceesay.

In the 70th minute a fracas broke out between both teams after a hard tackle from Mark Lovell , but to be honest it was only “hand bags” with a lot of huffing and puffing. The Referee Mr. M. Hayden controlled the situation well. Both Managers decided to make changes in the 71st minute with the “Leafe” withdrawing Jason Henry and Greg Andrews for Roscoe DSane and Tom Pratt. Herne Bay Manager Sam Denly also put on James Turner for Jordan Casey.

For the final 15 minute’s Whyteleafe threw everyone forward in search on an equaliser but they hit a brick wall with the Bay defence as solid as ever. On the occasional counter attack the Bay could have double the lead but for the Whyteleafe custodian Ceesay who saved the efforts of Danny Walder’s Free Kick, tipping over the bar and a Liam Quinn shot that looked goalbound.

With the clock ticking down Harry Brown replaced Mark Lovell and received a yellow card for his first challenge. Just before the final whistle Osa Obamwonyi headed over from a corner and Roscoe DSane fired wide when well placed. This game was a credit to Sam Denly with every player receiving an A + mark from the travelling fans.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (Elliot Cutts), Gary Sayer, Dan Bent, Liam Quinn, Dan Johnson, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder, Jordan Casey (James Turner), Mark Lovell (Harry Brown), Steven Ita.

Cautions: Dan Bent, Liam Quinn, Mark Lovell, Harry Brown.

Man of the Match: Liam Quinn.