Bay in Play Off Mood

Herne Bay (1) 2

Joe Nelder 45
Danny Walder 90

Hastings United (0) 0

Attendance: 202

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 5th December 2015.
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

by Peter Guise

(photo credit: Steven Barton – Mark Lovell turns to celebrate Joe Nelder’s skilful chip).

Herne Bay avenged their FA Trophy exit earlier in the season at the hands of The Arrows with this their first ever Ryman League victory of the South Coast side.

“I thought we were fantastic today, another excellent performance”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “We dominated the second half, we haven’t conceded now in over 600 minutes and that’s some stat”.

In truth it was a game of few chances as two teams, who both ought to be in contention for a play-off spot come season’s end and who enjoy similar current form over the last six matches, cancelled each other out for large periods of the game. Ryman One South November Golden Gloves ‘keeper Jack Delo between the home sticks had a largely quiet afternoon although that is not to say the visitors did not look likely to score on a number of occasions. A combination of poor discipline and poor finishing against a back four and ‘keeper with currently the second best defensive record in the league prevented any damage and stretched Bay’s non conceding of a league goal to 602 minutes.

Playing into the wind in the first half, the home side might have settled for not being behind at the half time whistle. But fortune favours those who seek it with purpose. In stoppage time at the end of the first period, Jack Delo released a long kick that Danny Williams flicked on and Joe Nelder, spotting Pelling off his line, sent a cheeky chip over the Hastings’ net minder to give Bay the lead.

After the break, neither side could gain a clear advantage although United enjoyed a purple patch of some seven minutes midway through the second half but with no end result. With the clock running down and an additional four minutes having already been signalled, Mark Lovell broke through the middle only to be pulled back just outside the visitors’ penalty area by Ollie Rowe; a straight red card flourished. Danny Walder stepped up and drove the resulting free kick into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The afternoon had finished as it had started for Hastings; their goalkeeper Josh Pelling causing the kick off to be delayed whilst he changed socks having been advised by the referee earlier that he would be required to change them. A wardrobe malfunction at the start, a defensive malfunction to finish with and with it went an unbeaten 3 month away run for the Arrows whilst the Bay bus continues on the road to the playoffs.

“Great finish from Nelder right on the stroke of half time”, said Denly, “and the goal at the end killed any last minute jitters although I don’t think Hastings looked like scoring today, that was a really strong performance today that backs up the previous ones”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Connor Sanders, Harry Brown (Liam Quinn 87), Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (Elliot Cutts 69), Mark Lovell, Sam Hasler (Dan Parkinson 82), Danny Williams.

Subs not used: Kane Phillip, Nathan Eastwood.

Sent Off: none Cautioned: Danny Walder.

Hastings United: Josh Pelling, Sam Crabb Chis Cumming-Bart 73), Liam Wilson, Ollie Rowe, Sean Ray, Sam Cruttwell, Billy Medlock, Sam Adams, Jack Harris (Zac Attwood 69), Simon Johnson (Tyrell Richardson-Brown 47), Sam Cole.

Subs not used: Bright Temba, Max Hollobone.

Sent Off: Ollie Rowe Cautioned: Liam Wilson, Sean Ray, Billy Medlock.

Referee: Daniel Bonneywell Assistant Referees: Ollie Butcher & Michael Chard.

Man of the Match: Danny Walder (Herne Bay)