A Tale of Two Halves

Herne Bay (3) 3
Mark Lovell 6, 30
Danny Williams 27

Godalming Town (0) 2
Darren Wheeler 49 (pen)
Graeme Purdy 63

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 18th February 2017
at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch's Field

Att: 218

(photo credit: Peter Guise - 30 minutes in and Lovell makes it 3-0)

Herne Bay entertained basement team Godalming Town at the Altira Stadium last Saturday, writes Ray Kelly, and after the first 45 minutes of total domination and a 3-0 score line, Bay looked like racking up a cricket score but after the second 45 minutes it was they who were hanging on to the 3-2 win. Godalming pulled two goals back in a great effort to get on terms, forcing Herne Bay to defend in depth for long periods of the second half.

Herne Bay started the first half at pace with Danny Williams, Mark Lovell and James Turner running riot in the Godalming defence and after only 6 minutes the Bay went ahead when following a corner Kenny Sanders played in Mark Lovell who forced the ball home. Herne Bay kept Godalming pegged back and only good defending by Oneal Garnes, the Godalming goalkeeper and Chris Musgrove kept the Bay out. In the 27th minute they could do nothing to stop a Danny Williams thunderbolt from 25 yards screaming into the back of the net. Within three minutes Herne Bay were further ahead after Mark Lovell scored at the second attempt. Godalming breathed a sigh of relief when Referee Mr. Daniel Cook blew for half time.

Godalming came out for the second half a revitalised side and within 4 minutes they pulled a goal back from the penalty spot when the referee adjudged that Connor Sanders had fouled Graeme Purdy. Darren Wheeler crashed the ball past Jack Delo. Two minutes later Ben Goram thought he had increased the Bay’s lead when he headed home from six yards but the referee ruled it out. The game was turned on its head in the 63rd minute when a free kick from Darren Wheeler found Graeme Purdy unmarked who headed past Jack Delo from close range. Godalming were eager to find an equaliser, forcing Bay to defend deep for long periods but in the 80th minute Godalming's centre half,Chris Musgrove, was sent off for a second yellow card. Three minutes later Bay had a glorious chance to put the game to bed when Danny Williams out paced the Godalming defence but a great save by Garnes at the feet of Williams kept his side in the game. The final 5 minutes were played out and it was Herne Bay that breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew for full time. The main objective of this game was to get the three points and move away from a relegation struggle, objective achieved.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Liam Quinn, Ben Gorham, Connor Sanders, Joe Nelder, Kenny Sanders, Danny Williams, Mark Lovell, James Turner (Adam Woollcott 61).

Subs not used: Kane Phillip, Isiag Adebayo, Caleb Afoke, Chris Elliott.

HBFCSA Man of the Match: Mark Lovell