Bay Extend Run

Carshalton Athletic (1) 1
Miller 9

Herne Bay (2) 3
Harry Brown 26 (pen), 33
Elliott Cutts 89

(photo credit: Steve Barton - Harry Brown equalises from the penalty spot)

Ray Kelly writes:

Herne Bay travelled to the War Memorial Sports Ground , Home of Carshalton Athletic,on Saturday and returned to Kent with all three points and went second in the League. Playing on the new 3G pitch it took the Bay 20 minutes to settle down on the superb surface by which time they were a goal down but a brace by young Harry Brown before half time put Bay in the ‘driving seat’. Elliot Cutts made the game safe in the final minutes with a well taken goal.

From the kick off the ‘Robins’ came at the Bay and thoroughly tested the Herne Bay defence with the tricky Mickel Miller causing all sorts of problems and linking up well with Tommy Bradford, indeed it was these two players that inter played to score the first goal in the 9th minute when Miller lashed in a low shot that beat Jack Delo.

Herne Bay picked up the pace and really grew into the game with Michael Turner and Dan Johnson both attacking down both flanks , feeding Elliot Cutts and Mark Lovell who created several half chances. On 26 minutes Dan Johnson sped down the left , cut into the box and was chopped down by Jake Downs, the Referee Mr.Jim Paterson had no choice but point to the spot. Harry Brown stepped up and thumped the ball past Luke Colquhoun in the Robins goal to restore parity.

Herne Bay started to control the game and push Carshalton back but they had to be mindful of the tricky Mickel Miller who was a constant threat on the counter. Another half chance fell to Mark Lovell but the Robins custodian Colquhoun smothered the ball well.
On 33 minutes Herne Bay went in front , following a foul on Danny Parkinson on the edge of the ‘Robins’ box , Harry Brown once again stepped up to take the free kick and hammered in an unstoppable shot past the hapless Colquhoun. Carshalton tried to get back into the game but solid and resolute defending from Nathan Eastwood , Gary Sayer and Liam Quinn prevented any scares for the Bay.

At half time the ‘Robins’ replaced Paris Hamilton Downes with Daniel Summers in an effort to inject more pace into the Carshalton side.
Herne Bay continued to ‘Boss’ the game and in the 53/54th. minutes the Turner twins (Michael and James) were both unlucky to see their efforts saved. In the 60th minute the ‘Robins’ made another change, bringing off Bobby Price for Ricky Korboa. Carshalton
pressed hard for an equaliser with Billy Marshall being at the centre of most movements for the ‘Robins’ but they could find no way through the Bay defence. On 70 minutes Kane Butler replaced Dan Parkinson and Carshalton put on Kingsley Aikhionbare for Alex Summerfield.

In the 78th minute the Bay should have increased the lead when Kane Butler put in Elliot Cutts but he somehow managed to fire over from close in. Herne Bay made the game safe on 89 minutes when Kane Butler took on Colquhoun in the Robins goal , he smothered Kane's effort but the ball fell to Elliot Cutts who blasted in from 10 yards. Kane Phillip replaced Mark Lovell for the final few minutes.

Herne Bay’s promotion credentials were well proved today with an all round team performance and with several players missing that shows that every one of the squad is a first team player in the eyes of the Manager Sam Denly.

Team ; J.Delo M.Turner D.Johnson G.Sayer L.Quinn N.Eastwood H.Brown D.Parkinson M.Lovell E.Cutts J.Turner.

Subs ; Used Kane Butler and Kane Phillip.

Man of the Match: Harry Brown