Confident, Comfortable, Comprehensive!

Herne Bay (2) 4

Danny Williams 8
Connor Sanders 42
Elliot Cutts 80
James Turner 88

Walton Casuals (0) 0

Attendance: 127

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Wednesday 21st November 2015.
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

(photo credit: Steven Barton – celebrations as Connor Sanders scores Bay’s second goal).

Herne Bay banished any thoughts of their FA Trophy exit in midweek by returning to winning ways in the league with this confident, comfortable and comprehensive performance to record their best win of the season.

“That was a complete performance today, from start to finish we dominated the game”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “We’ve got a very good squad this year, Connor Sanders switched to centre half in Quinn’s absence and was outstanding, Elliot Cutts came off the bench to score a ‘worldy’ and JT (James Turner) came on and took his chance very well”.

Ray Kelly writes: Herne Bay produced their best home performance of the season against Walton Casuals. Two goals in each half showed the total domination they had over the ‘Stags’. In very tricky conditions (gale force winds and a heavy pitch), Herne Bay played against the wind in the first half but they soon took control of the game.

As early as the 5th minute Stags defender Osa Obamwonyi cleared a Danny Walder free kick off the goal line and a minute later Connor Sanders long throw on was headed inches over the Casuals bar by Danny Williams. The writing was on the wall for the Stags when in the 8th. minute Bay took the lead .Good inter play between Mark Lovell and Giorgio Russo set up Danny Williams who had no trouble in slotting home from close range.

Herne bay continued to push forward in search of another goal. Joe Nelder went close in the 14th. minute with a snap shot from the edge of the box that only just cleared the Casuals crossbar this was followed by another Sanders long throw on that Russo headed over. In a rare attack from the Stags Nathen Eastwood was on hand to head off the Bay goal line following a shot from Malik Ouani and 2 minutes later Gary Sayer saved the day by doing the same.

Further half chances fell to the Bay side with Mark lovell and Danny Williams both having efforts cleared by Quincey Rowe and the Casuals’ stopper Luke Badiali but just before half time Danny Walder curled in a 20 yard free kick that Connor Sanders headed past Badiali with aplomb to put the Bay 2-0 up.

Walton Casuals Manager , Anthony Gale, made two changes at half time in a bid the stem the tide.
Herne Bay continued to put pressure on the Stags defence ,forcing several corners in the process but were unable to get further in front. On 64 minutes Jack Delo was brought into action , producing a superb save to prevent Waltons ex Spurs player Jake Nicholson going on the score sheet. This was the only real chance that fell to the Casuals side in the second half such was the Bays domination of the game. Then came a bizarre moment for the Casuals custodian when he attempted to clear a ball but the wind took it back over his shoulder and out for a Herne Bay corner.

Elliot Cutts scored the goal of the match when he received a good ball from Dan Parkinson, he swivelled and crashed in a great shot from 20 yards that gave Luke Badiali no chance of stopping it.
Herne Bay added to this when James Turner hammered in the Bays 4th goal in the 88th minute to put the game to bed.

This was a good all round team performance by a Bay side that was missing several key players including Liam Quinn ,Sam Hasler and Kane Phillip. It just shows the Bays strength in depth and that all bodes well for the second half of the season.

“We were more clinical today, especially in the final third”, said Denly, “the last couple of months we have been playing some good stuff and we’ve hit our straps at a good time. If we can repeat this performance a bit more then we will win more games than not”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Connor Sanders, Nathan Eastwood, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (James Turner 81), Mark Lovell (Elliot Cutts 64), Giorgio Russo (Dan Parkinson 75), Danny Williams.

Subs not used: Harry Brown, Kane Phillip.

Sent Off: none Cautioned: none.

Walton Casuals: Luke Badiali, Quincy Rowe, Peter Wedgeworth (John-Prince Rylah 46), Liam Collins, Scott Day, Osa Obamwonyi, Malik Ouani (Samual Bello-Balogun 46), Jake Nicholson, Billy Dunn, Jack Sammoutis, Luke Medley.

Subs not used: Dan Newman, Marcel Barrington, Anthony Gale.

Sent Off: None Cautioned: Quincy Rowe, Jake Nicholson, Jack Sammoutis.

Referee: Jack Packman Assistant Referees: Jack Hobs & Zoltan Konkoly.

Man of the Match: Nathan Eastwood (Herne Bay)