Bay Beaten at Borough

Herne Bay (0) 0

Greenwich Borough (1) 2
Michael Power 15
Mohamed Eisa 90 (+3)

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 10th September 2015
at DGS Marine Stadium

Att: 163

(photo credit Steve Barton)

by Steve Barton

Herne Bay could feel aggrieved with not coming away from Badgers Sports Ground without at least a point. Bay dominated the opening exchanges but when Michael Power exploited a gap in the Bay defence in the 15th it was an uphill struggle for the rest of the first half. Injuries forced Mark Lovell to take his place at the heart of the defence and he acquitted himself well alongside Joe Kennett. Bay peppered the extremities of the Borough goal during the second period with only a Sam Hasler free kick and a Sam Hallett close-range effort really testing home keeper Craig Holloway. Deep into time added on Greenwich added an undeserved second.

Ray Kelly writes: Herne Bay travelled to Badgers Mount on Saturday to play Greenwich Borough but alas were beaten 2-0.
Despite a rousing second half display they could find no way past the ‘Boro’ defence. The Herne Bay team were down to the bare bones with players out injured ,Liam Quinn ,Connor Sanders ,Kenny Sanders , Gary Sayer and Danny Williams all injured so the line up looked rather strange. Joe Kennett and Mark Lovell took over in the centre of defence and Josh Wood , Jake Page and Sam Hallett filling the bench.

Herne Bay started brightly but as the half progressed ‘Boro’ started to pen Bay back into their own half with Mohammed Eisa and Michael Power testing the Herne Bay defence. On 15 minutes Michael Power muscled his way through the Bay defence before drilling the ball past Jack Delo to put Greenwich 1-0 up. Two minutes later only a superb save from Jack Delo , at the feet of Mohammed Eisa ,prevented the ‘Boro’ going two up and then the same player skied a simple chance with the goal at his mercy. Although Herne Bay were penned back for long periods of time when they countered they looked impressive with Sam Hasler and Stuart Zanone fully testing the ‘Boro’ defence.

On 28 minutes Jack Delo pulled out another great save to prevent Bradley Pritchard from scoring a 30 yard free kick and a minute later Joe Kennett cleared his line with a header from a Eisa goal bound shot. Herne Bay’s best chance of the half came from a Danny Walder 35 yard free kick that just skimmed the Greenwich cross bar.

Herne Bay upped the tempo at the start of the second half and took the game to the ‘Boro’ but on 53 minutes they were given a scare when Rob Denness burst through the Bay defence but fired well over with only Jack Delo to beat. On 56 minutes Herne Bay so nearly restored parity when a Sam Hasler 30yd. free kick was superbly saved by Craig Holloway in the Greenwich goal. Herne Bay continued to create chances but a mixture of good Goal keeping and solid defending by Greenwich kept the Bay out with Sam Hasler and Stuart Zanone both going close.

In the 78th. and 80th. minutes Greenwich hit the Herne Bay cross bar twice with shots from Lewis Spencer and Michael Power. With only a minute of normal time left on the clock a Sam Hallett effort was again superbly saved by Holloway in the ‘Boro’ goal but in stoppage time Greenwich made the game safe when Mohammed Eisa tapped in a simple chance after a cross from Gary Alexander found him unmarked at the far post.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Joe Nelder, Adam Woolcott (Sam Hallett 82), Joe Kennett, Mark Lovell, Danny Walder, James Turner, Kane Phillip (Joshua Wood 72), Stuart Zanone, Sam Hasler.

Subs not used: Jake Page (only 3 subs named)