Cannons Misfire as Bay Bag Brace

Hythe Town (0) 0

Herne Bay (1) 2
Ita 43
Lovell 78

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Tuesday 11th August 2015
at Reachfields

Attendance: 278

(photo credit: Steve Barton - Steven Ita celebrates the opening goal of the game)

Herne Bay brushed aside their Kent rivals who had two former Whitstable Town players dismissed in the second half, Laurence Harvey for retaliation and James Morrish for flooring Connor Sanders in an off the ball incident.

Steven Ita put Herne Bay ahead just before the break when he shrugged off a robust challenge to fire past the Hythe 'keeper and Mark Lovell converted a Michael Turner cross from the right 12 minutes from the end. Bay were denied a penalty seconds from the final whistle when the referee adjudged Ita to have siimulated a dive, for which he was booked, as he threaded his way skilfully through three Cannon's defenders, the last of which appeared to have tripped him.

It was Bay's second successive victory of the campaign and they now sit in 3rd place in the early season table with a 100% record.

Ray Kelly writes

Herne Bay’s early season good form continued with a convincing 2-0 win at Hythe. A goal in each half from Steven Ita and Marl Lovell tells only half the story . After an even first half , Hythe’s ill discipline came to the fore with Laurence Harvey and James Morrish both being sent off for violent conduct, in the first 10 minutes of the half.

From the kick off both teams played some good football with Shaun Welford and James Morrish looking dangerous for the
Hythe side but Liam Quinn and Gary Sayer kept them quiet. The first real chance fell to the Bay when a long throw by Connor Sanders was cleared off the line by Harvey with Mark Lovell in attendance looking likely to score. On 15 minutes Lovell burst through only for former Herne Bay goalkeeper to save at his feet.. A minute later Hythe should have gone in front when Morrish fired in but hit the inside of the post the ball rebounded to Shaun Welford who’s goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Gary Sayer.

With the action going from end to end over the next 15 minutes chances fell to Elliot Cutts but his efforts were saved by Dan Eason and Welford, Morrish and Jordan Wells all fired wide for the Hythe team. On 38 minutes Herne Bay lost Gary Sayer through injury and he was replaced by Harry Brown. In the 43rd. minute Steven Ita chased down a long clearance out pacing Hythe’s Ollie Lee he calmly fired past the advancing Dan Eason to put the Bay 1-0 up.

The second half started with Hythe Town all ‘fired up’ with some tough tackles flying in all over the park, within 5 minutes
Laurence Harvey was sent off for lashing out at James Turner and 5 minutes later James Morrish also saw red after throwing
a punch ,off the ball, at Connor Sanders. With Hythe down to 9 men Herne Bay pushed forward in search of another goal but desperate defending from Hythe kept them out. On 60 minutes Manager Sam Denly made changes , bringing on Danny Williams for Elliot Cutts and a few minutes later Nat Eastwood was replaced by Kane Phillip.

It wasn’t long before the Bay doubled the lead when Kane Phillip ran through the Hythe defence before playing in James Turner
who in turn chipped a great ball across the defence for Mark Lovell to head past Eason . Herne Bay continued to press and on 80 minutes Harry Brown went close when his shot was cleared off the line by Phil Stevenson. Five minutes later Mark Lovell was thwarted by Dan Eason ,saving well at his feet.

Hythe were left to rue the ill discipline having to play the last 30 minutes with 9 men. Take nothing away from the Bay side, a convincing win and a clean sheet with Liam Quinn in superb form and keeping his defence as tight as a drum and up front Mark Lovell and Steven Ita never stopped running. Full time result 2-0 to Herne Bay.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer (Harry Brown), Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Nathan Eastwood (Danny Williams), Connor Sanders, Elliot Cuts (Kane Phillip), Mark Lovell, James Turner, Steven Ita.

Subs not used: James Brown, Kane Butler.

Man of The Match: Steven Ita