Dripping Pan Defeat

Lewes (1) 3
James Hammond 7, 68
Jack Dixon 90 (pen)

Herne Bay (0) 1
Danny Walder 49 (pen)

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 14th January 2017
at The Dripping Pan

Att: 535

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

If points were given for coming close then Herne Bay would be climbing up the table, writes Steve Barton, but as it was the scores on the doors all went Lewes’ way. An early chance fell to the Bay but Danny Walder’s free-kick did not beat the first man and the writing was already on the wall. The ball struck Michael Turner’s hand on seven and referee Simon Finnigan rewarded Lewes for the possible indiscretion with a set piece just outside the box. James Hammond stepped up, “It was a bit of a worldy of a free kick” said Barry Tracy from the terraces and the home side were 1-0 to the good.

The game was increasingly entertaining for the 535 present, Brighton were away at Preston, and when Walder’s superb corner was met at the far peg by Ben Gorham it looked like Bay would restore parity, but the ball bobbled across the face of the goal. Chris Elliott limped off just before the end of the first period to be replaced by Joe Nedler (as the announcer called him), but more commonly known as Nelder, and moments later Jack Delo produced a world class save. Delo was later declared Man of the Match, marginally ahead of the Duracell Bunny Danny Williams.

Four minutes after the break Lewes stopper Adria Munoz Fernandez had the opportunity to make it two penalty saves within five days against Herne Bay when Adam Woollcott was felled. Ian Pulman had chosen the keepers’ right on Tuesday but Walder struck to his left and the scores were level. It was Herne Bay who pushed on and looked the likeliest to take the advantage, with Delo again diving to his right to save the day, until on 68 a cross from the left deceived Turner and Hammond tucked away his second of the game.

The blue troops surged forward once again, Taser Hassan had come on for Pulman and Kane Phillip for Connor Sanders, but the rub of the green was just not going Bay’s way. With the game quivering on a home win or a Bay leveller a Rook’s forward went down from a challenge from Liam Quinn in the box and Jack Dixon stepped up to net from the spot. Lewes moved up into the play-off places but on the balance of play there is not too much between the teams.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Liam Quinn, Ben Gorham, Chris Elliott (Joe Nelder 42), Connor Sanders (Kane Phillip 71), Danny Walder, Danny Williams, Ian Pulman (Taser Hassan 62), Mark Lovell, Adam Woollcott.

Subs not used: James Turner, Josh Wood.

HBFCSA Man of the Match: Jack Delo.