Bay Battle Back To Bag Point

Herne Bay (0) 1
Frannie Collin 66

Guernsey (1) 1
Ross Allen 16

Attendance: 151

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Tuesday 13th October 2015.
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Charlotte Guise – Jack Delo punches clear during an early Guernsey attack.)

An honest draw in a windswept and rain lashed encounter on a cold autumnal evening.

“In terms of chances created, we had the most and we had the most possession”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “in the second half we were excellent again, we dominated that half and for me it feels like two points dropped to be honest.”

A good battling second half performance form Herne Bay earned them a point against Guernsey at
home on Tuesday night. Guernsey took the first half honours, going in up at half time, with a goal
from goal machine Ross Allen. The second half showed Herne Bays fighting qualities with loanee Frannie Colin leading the way with a superbly taken equaliser. A little more luck and Bay might well have taken all three points.

For the first 15 minutes Herne Bay took the game to Guernsey with Danny Williams and Elliot Cutts constantly making inroads into the Guernsey defence but the defensive pairing of Sam Cochrane and Tom Strawbridge cancelled out their efforts. On 16 minutes Guernsey took the lead when Ross Allen wriggled his way through the Bay defence before slamming the ball past Jack Delo. Guernsey piled forward in search of another goal and two minutes later Jack Delo made three finger tip saves from corners, each time tipping the ball over the bar. Herne bay weathered the storm and in the 25th minute Elliot Cutts ended a good solo run with a low hard shot that the Guernsey custodian, Chris Tardif, did well to collect. A minute later Giorgio Russo surged down the right but his cross was played out for a corner. Harry Brown’s corner was headed inches wide by Connor Sanders. Further efforts from Guernsey‘s Mark McGrath, Josh Steel and Ross Allen were rebuffed by the Herne Bay defence before the half time whistle.

Herne Bay started the second half in a more resolute style, taking the game to Guernsey with chances falling to Giorgio Russo and Danny Williams both going close in the opening minutes. On 60 minutes Guernsey withdrew Mark McGrath in favour of Luke Winch. Herne bay continued to put pressure on the Guernsey defence and in the 66th minute they were rewarded when Frannie Colin took down a high cross, superbly, swivelled and slammed the ball past Tardif in the Guernsey
goal ,giving him no chance.

With Bay searching for a winner Herne Bay manager Sam Denly put on Steven Ita for Elliot Cutts and a minute later they almost achieved this when a good cross from Danny Williams found Steven Ita who in turn chipped the ball to Frannie Colin who headed just wide. In the 75th minute Jack Delo saved superbly on the goal line from a shot from Ross Allen. With Herne Bay going forward looking for the winner Kane Butler joined the fray, replacing James Turner and two minutes later he almost headed the Bay in front but his effort went into the side netting, following a corner from Harry Brown. Half chances fell to Steven Ita, Kane Butler and Connor Sanders in the closing minutes but they couldn’t convert. In the final minute of the game Jack Delo saved well by tipping over a Ross Allen shot and right on the final whistle Steven Ita missed a good chance, shooting at the goal keeper when well placed.

“Debut goal for Frannie Collin and what a great goal it was too”, said Denly, “great touch and finished it well and that’s what we lacked tonight, that bit of quality in the final third. We were knocking on the door and no-one had that bit of quality to go bang, and he did then, and I thought at that point we were going to go on and win the game.”

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Georgio Russo, Nathan Eastwood, Dan Johnson, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Harry Brown, Danny Williams, Frannie Collin, James Turner (Kane Butler 76), Elliott Cutts (Steven Ita 66).

Subs not used: Dan Parkinson, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer.

Sent Off: none Cautioned: Georgio Russo, Harry Brown

Referee: Neil West Assistant Referees: Jason Down & Marcin Indyk

Man of the Match: Danny Williams