So Simple for Soaraway Bay

Herne Bay (3) 3
James Turner 31
Dan Johnson 34
Joe Nelder 41

Walton & Hersham (0) 0

Attendance: 156

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 5th March 2016
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

(photo credit: Steve Barton –James Turner celebrates opening the scoring)

Herne Bay made it three wins in three with this simple victory over relegation threatened Walton & Hersham, might have scored three times that, and consolidated fourth place in the bargain.

“I thought we were excellent today, especially first half, we played some great stuff against a side that are down the bottom and struggling and it probably should have been more”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “once we got the first goal we didn’t really look back. We started well which was important. I said to the boys let’s go hard early on and we did that and it was a complete dominant performance”.

Ray Kelly writes: Seldom have the Herne Bay faithful seen such a one sided affair than this first 45 minutes. The ‘Swans’ conceded 16 corners in the first 30 minutes but Bay could not convert a single one. From the kick off the Bay surged forward , attacking down both flanks with Kane Phillip and Dan Johnson on the left and Joe Nelder and James Turner buzzing down the right but Herne Bay came up against a resolute Walton defence.

On 27 minutes the Bay were almost caught cold when Mark Corbett latched on to a lazy clearance from Liam Quinn and scooted through with only Jack Delo to beat but his shot well wide. This was the only ‘Swans attack of the half. On 31 minutes Herne Bay took the lead following a long clearance from Jack Delo that James Turner picked up and ran through the defence before coolly slotting past Liam Beach in the ‘Swans’ goal.

Shortly after Herne Bay went 2-0 up after a free kick on the edge of the Walton penalty area. Dan Johnson curled a superb kick past the ‘Swans’ keeper. In the 41st minute the Bay went 3-0 up when Lee Browning linked up well with Joe Nelder who jinked his way through the Walton and Hersham defence before slamming the ball past Liam Beach.

The ‘Swans’ , who had ‘Parked the bus’ in the first half did the same in the second half. Chances fell to the rampaging Herne Bay forwards but they could not find a way through the resolute ‘Swans. defence. On 62 minutes Walton and Hersham mounted an attack , only their second of the game, with Gian Franco Mici getting the ball in the Bay’s net but his effort was ruled off side. Herne Bay were still making chances but somehow the ‘Swans’ defence kept them out in what could only be described as the ‘Alamo’.

On 76 minutes Herne Bay gave a debut to the exciting under 21 player Sam Hallett and he did not look out of place, in fact he netted but it was ruled out for an earlier foul. The game ended as it had started with the Bay encamped in the Walton half. Throughout the game Referee Mr Jamaal Horne controlled the match superbly , a treat to say the least.

“I’m pleased with the performance but if I’m going to be critical it wasn’t good enough second half because when you are playing teams that you are not going to have so many chances against, we’ve got to be more clinical. But I’m not going to be over critical, we had an outstanding first half”, said Denly, “there’s more positives than negatives, Sam Hallett has come on and made his debut, he looked sharp, he might have got on the score sheet, he’s a goalscorer, he will develop and mature and become better as he gets more experience at this level. All round there were some very good individual performances”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Liam Quin, Connor Sanders (Danny Williams 61), Danny Walder, Joe Nelder, James Turner (Mark Lovell 67), Lee Browning, Kane Phillip (Sam Hallett 76).

Subs not used: Nathan Eastwood, Elliott Cutts.

Sent Off: none Cautioned: none.

Walton & Hersham: Liam Beach, Connor Channon, Veejay Miller, Adriano Moraes, Lea Van Sullivan, Dylan Casey, Gareth Chendlik, Prince M’ Bengui (Vincent Smith 81), Mark Corbett, Gianfranco Mici, Kambo Smith Cristano Goncalves 86).

Subs not used: Mark Hamms. (only three subs named).

Sent Off: none Cautioned: none.

Referee: Jamaal Horne Assistant Referees: Zach Jacquart & Mark Edwards.

Man of the Match: Danny Walder (Herne Bay)