Battling 10 Men Bay Denied Victory

Herne Bay (0) 0

Tooting & Mitcham United (0) 0

Attendance: 215

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 6th February 2016.
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Parkinson sees his shot cleared off the line)

Herne Bay battled for over two thirds of this game a man down following the dismissal of Mark Lovell and can feel aggrieved at not picking up all the points.

“The boys worked really hard for the point and with 10 men I thought we were the better side”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “we can consider ourselves unlucky not to get the win but with the sending off we have to settle for the point and move on”.

Ray Kelly writes - Herne Bay knew they were going to have a difficult match against Tooting & Mitcham United after being held to a 1-1 draw at Tooting 10 days earlier and hard it turned out.

For 70 minutes the Bay had to play with 10 men after Mark Lovell was sent off for a two footed tackle. The well drilled defence and poor finishing by the Tooting front men contributed to the point the Bay deserved. Herne Bay remain in 4th place in the League after other results went the Bay’s way.

Herne Bay were first on the attack and in the second minute Michael Turner opened up the Tooting defence with a surging run and cross but Dan Parkinson just failed to get his foot on the ball in front of goal. The play went from end to end with Chace O’Neil being at the centre of most of Tooting’s moves. On 21 minutes Jake Baxter went close for Tooting but his shot was deflected wide for a goal kick. A minute later , it was disaster for Herne Bay when Mark Lovell was sent of by referee David Spain for a two footed tackle.
On 30 minutes Chace O’Neil’s stinging shot hit the post and rebounded into Jack Delo’s arms. Two minutes later , following a Sam Hasler free kick, Dan Parkinson’s shot was cleared off the goal line by Tenny Taino. As the game became bogged down chances were at a premium with both keepers becoming redundant.

Herne Bay were first on the attack in the second half and on 47 minutes Sam Hasler shanked his shot in front of goal, after a good cross from Michael Turner. Tooting went close in the 55th. minute when Chace O’Neil blazed over the bar following a free kick 25 yds. out. All of the Tooting attacks were snuffed out by the Herne Bay defence well lead by Liam Quinn and half chances from Sam Hasler and James Turner came to nothing.

Herne Bay came so close to winning the game in the 90th minute when a Sam Hasler corner was tipped over the bar by Shiekh Ceesay when it looked a certain goal.

“We worked hard without the ball and looked dangerous going forward, we were solid at the back, big and strong, we dominated the game and to do that with 10 men against a good side for me is a good performance”, said Denly, “we’re disappointed we’ve not taken all three points, every single player put an absolute shift in today, the performance was there”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quin, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder (Danny Williams 86), Dan Parkinson (James Turner 60), Mark Lovell, Elliott Cutts (Joe Nelder 60), Sam Hasler.

Subs not used: Nathan Eastwood, Kane Phillip.

Sent Off: Mark Lovell Cautioned: Dan Parkinson, Connor Sanders.

Tooting & Mitcham United: Shiekh Ceesay, Sol Patterson-Bonner, Tenny Taiwo, Adriano Moraes, Kurtis Pykes, Matt Price (Sergio Makofo 67), Ashley Robinson (Gavin Quintyne 76), Jake Baxter, Chace O’Neill, Macel Barrington.

Subs not used: Leo Lalor-Dell, Owen Roberts, Matt Pierson.

Sent Off: none Cautioned: Ashley Robinson, Kurtis Pykes.

Referee: David Spain Assistant Referees: Jamie Humphries & Joe Kasper.

Man of the Match: Michael Turner (Herne Bay)