Oysters Off The Bottom As They Survive a Bay Battering

Whitstable Town (0) 2
Charlie Smith 76
Sam Bewick 90 (pen)

Herne Bay (2) 2
Danny Williams 22
Mark Lovell 41

Attendance: 374

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Monday 31st August 2015.
(at The Belmont)

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Mark Lovell doubles Herne Bay’s first half advantage)

On a wet and gloomy Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, Whitstable ‘entertained’ Herne Bay in the traditional local ‘Derby’.
As a derby match, it matched the weather.

The first 45 minutes was a one sided affair with the Oystermen only making two attempts on the Herne Bay goal. Two goals from
Danny Williams and Mark Lovell put the Bay firmly in charge.

The first chance of the game fell to Whitstable in the 2nd minute when Charlie Smith fired wide from a Scott Heard cross. Herne Bay then dominated the first 15 minutes before Michael Turner was scythed down by Callum McGeehan. The Referee Mr.S.Butler played on with Michael laying prone on the field , eventualy the ball was played out for a throw on. Michael was carried off and was replaced by Joe Nelder. From the resulting throw on Joe Nelder raced up the line before putting Danny Williams through who out paced McGeehan and thumped the ball past the advancing Adam Highstead.

Two minutes later Danny Williams could have doubled the Bay’s lead when Highstead tipped over his snap shot from 15 yards.
Whitstable lost Ollie Gray in the 30th. minute through injury and he was replaced by Josh Algar. Sam Hasler went close for the Bay in the 35th. minute but his effort just grazed the upright but 4 minutes later Herne Bay went 2-0 up when Mark Lovell went on a good solo run before placing the ball past the advancing Adam Highstead.

On 41 minutes the Oystermens' second chance of the half fell to Keiron Campell who squandered an easy chance from 10 yards
firing wide with only Jack Delo to beat.

Whitstable started the second half much brighter and after only 3 minutes on the clock Jack Delo had to be on his toe’s to palm over a Scott Heard corner. For some reason Herne Bay started to sit back and defend deeply and only attacked on the counter leaving the dangerous looking Mark Lovell very isolated up front and on 67 minutes he should have put the game to bed when he didn’t connect with the ball 6 yards out.

Whitstable started to press the Bay defence and in the 76th minute they pulled one back when Charlie Smith headed in a pin point
Josh Algar cross. On 85 minutes Sam Hasler made way for Dan Parkinson and two minutes later Danny Williams received a second yellow card and was sent off.

Deep into time added Whitstable got an equaliser when the Linesman flagged for handball in the area, this was hotly disputed but the referee pointed to the spot. Sam Bewick slammed the ball past Delo who managed to get a hand on the ball. Within seconds the Ref. blew for full time.

How ever players feel about the Ref’s decisions , no amount of berating will change his mind. Frustrating as it seems teams just have to get on with it and make sure they score more than the other side, that wins matches not moaning at the Ref.

Herne Bay manager Sam Denly was not happy. Speaking afterwards he said, “There’s a lot of factors gone against us today, I feel sorry for the lads, Michael Turner may have a broken ankle, we’ve got to get it x-rayed, we didn’t get anything today. At two nil up the game should be dead and buried, we’ve got to take our chances, that’s one thing I’ve said to them they’ve got to learn, we battered Whitstable in the first half. But that’s what happens at this level of football. If you don’t take your chances and you don’t get decisions going your way it’s going to cost you, and that’s what’s happened. It was a terrible tackle on Michael Turner. Callum McGeehan didn’t mean it, he stopped immediately to see if Turner was alright, but the referee has waved play on. It was an awful tackle”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (Joe Nelder 20), Nathan Eastwood, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Sam Hasler, Mark Lovell, Danny Williams, Steven Ita (Elliot Cutts 67).

Subs not used: Kane Butler, Harry Brown.

Sent Off: Danny Williams Cautioned: none

Referee: Stuart Butler Assistant Referees: Scott Rudd & DeQuincey Bailey.

Man of the Match: Danny Williams (Herne Bay)