Sucker Punch Denies Win

Herne Bay (0) 1
Danny Walder (pen) 76

Carshalton Athletic (0) 1
Tommy Bradford 90

Attendance: 189

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 16th April 2016
(at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch’s Field)

(photo credit: Steve Barton – Danny Walder scores from the spot).

Herne Bay completed their home league fixtures by falling foul of a sucker punch in stoppage time that denied them all three points.

“It’s frustrating and that performance and that result reflects our season”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “we haven’t been good enough in front of goal and to not come away with three points today is absolute schoolboy and not good enough because to dominate a game like that, create that many chances and then to concede in the 90th minute is frustrating”.

Ray Kelly writes:

In Herne Bay’s final home league game of the season they entertained Carshalton Athletic , the result , a 1-1 draw in a game that Herne Bay should have won with ease but like so many matches this season , home and away , the Bay dominated the proceedings but were toothless in front of goal , chance after chance went a begging.

From the kick off Carshalton were fast off the mark , forcing Bay to defend deep in their own half. On 7 minutes a Ryan Healy corner was cleared by Dan Johnson and a minute later the over lapping full back Bobby Price squandered a great chance to put Carshalton in front, fluffing his effort with the goal at his mercy. From that moment on Bay awoke from their slumbers and proceeded to dominate the game.

On 15 minutes James Turner almost out witted the Carshalton keeper, Luke Colquhoun, when he tried to chip him with a cheeky lob but just managed to get to the ball. A minute later , after a foul on James Turner 30yds. out , Sam Hasler fired in a thumping free kick but a superb save from Colquhoun prevented Bay from going ahead. Further chances fell to Kane Phillip and Joe Nelder but neither could convert.

On 35 minutes Danny Walder was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the post when a goal looked a cert. James Turner and Dan Parkinson also went close before the Referee Aji Ajibola brought the first half to an end.

For the opening 10 minutes of the second half Carshalton took the game to the Bay and on 50 minutes Bay were indebted to Harry Brown who headed a goal bound shot off the goal line following a Ricky Korboa corner that the lively Tommy Bradford lashed in.
Herne Bay gathered themselves and then proceeded to dominate the rest of the half . Dan Parkinson should have done better when he shot wide when well placed and a Sam Hasler shot flew over the bar.

The breakthrough came on 76 minutes when Elliot Cutts was brought down in the penalty box by Carshalton’s Tony Sinclair.Danny Walder crashed the ball past Colquhoun with aplomb to put the Bay ahead. This was Danny’s 10th. penalty goal of the season also making him the Bay’s top scorer with 15 goals this season.

Herne Bay continued to press Carshalton but efforts from Joe Nelder and Sam Hasler all coming to nothing. in the 82nd minute Sam Hasler cursed his luck when his shot hit both uprights before bouncing away to safety , then came the miss of the match when Elliot Cutts breezed through the Carshalton defence sending the Keeper the wrong way and with the goal at his mercy , fired well wide.

Herne Bay were to rue all the chances they had during the game when with only a minute left on the clock Tommy Bradford bundled the ball in following a goalmouth scramble to secure an unlikely share of the points.

Herne Bay’s last game is at Hastings United on Saturday. this Game Hastings must win for a shot at the play offs so a real humdinger is on the cards.

“The problem is not in creating chances, we’ve always been a good side going forward, the problem is getting the ball in the back of the net and today it’s been highlighted even more so”, said Denly, “It’s been a good season, we’ve improved on last year, we’ve been in contention for the play-offs and this last month we’ve fallen short. It’s disappointing but we’ve done well, the lads have worked hard. It’s been frustrating today but by and large if you look at the season as a whole we’ve done well and it’s a platform to build on for next year”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Harry Brown, Dan Johnson, Dan Parkinson, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Joe Nelder (Ben Emery 79), James Turner (Elliott Cutts 62), Sam Hasler, Kane Phillip (Georgio Russo 70).

Subs not used: Nathan Eastwood, Gary Sayer

Sent Off: none Cautioned: Elliott Cutts.

Carshalton Athletic: Luke Colquhoun, Bobby Price, Paris Hamilton-Downes, Peter Adeniyi, Matthew Males, Tony Sinclair, Ryan Healy (Estaban Salgado 72), Brendan Murphy-McVey, Michael Campbell (Kingsley Aikhionbare 72), Tommy Bradford, Ricky Korboa.

Subs not used: none (only two named)

Sent Off: none Cautioned: Michael Campbell.

Referee: Aji Ajibola Assistant Referees: Wally James & Joe Kasper.

Herne Bay Man of the Match: Dan Johnson