Not Good Enough

Godalming Town (2) 3
Jake Kempton 15
Jack Warburton 40
Chris Musgrove 68

Herne Bay (1) 2
Stuart Zanone 38
Mark Lovell 55

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 15th October 2016
at Wey Court

Att: 115

(photo credit: Steve Barton - Zanone chips Bay's first equaliser)

Herne Bay's miserable start to the league season reached new lows when they gifted basement Godalming Town their first win of the season with this below par performance. Despite goals from Zanone and Lovell, Herne Bay contrived to concede three for the seventh time this term with a worryingly defensive frailty that negated efforts at the other end of the pitch. The result leaves Bay rooted in the bottom three amid concerns that a long, hard season is unfolding.

Ray Kelly writes: On Saturday, Herne bay left Wey Court, home of Godalming Town, with there tails firmly between their legs after going down 3-2 to the league basement boys. Herne Bay made a sluggish start to the match and seemed incapable of winning the ball and when they did they gave the ball away at regular intervals. It came as no surprise that Godalming took the lead on 15 minutes when a high cross was fumbled by the normally reliable Jack Delo and the ball fell to Jake Kempton to tap in from 6 yards. Godalming continued to push forward and chances fell to Will Hutton and Luke Perkins but neither could find the target. Herne Bay huffed and puffed but could not find any way to get behind the Godalming back four until the 30th minute when James Turner went on a solo run but his final shot was tipped over the bar by Oneal Garnes. From the resulting corner Connor Sanders blazed over from 15 yards.
On 38 minutes Herne Bay restored parity when Kane Phillip found Stuart Zanone who ran through and chipped the advancing Garnes.
Within 2 minutes Godalming retook the lead after some woeful defending by the Bay defence and Jack Warburton took advantage, slotting in from 5 yards.

Herne Bay started the second half with a little more gusto but still couldn’t find away through the Godalming back four. On 56 minutes a Danny Walder corner hit the back post and away to safety but a minute later Kane Phillip sent in a great cross that Mark Lovell dived full length to head past Garnes to equalise. On 68 minutes Godalming took the lead again when a high cross was sent in by Warburton and Chris Musgrave who was totally un-marked on the far post had the easy task of heading in with the Bay defence all looking on.

This was a very lack lustre performance from this Bay side and we all know they can do much better than this and will need to if they are going to avoid a relegation struggle this season.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (Josh Algar 73), Gary Sayer, Chris Elliott (Josh Wood 81), Adam Woollcott, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Kane Phillip, Mark Lovell, Stuart Zanone, James Turner (Allan Bangura 73)

Subs not used: Toby Wood (only four subs named)

Herne Bay Player of the match: Adam Woollcott