Herne Bay: George Kamusari, Ryan Cooper, Patrick Nzuzi, Laurence Harvey, Callum Adonis-Taylor, Daniel Lawrence, Tushaun-Tyreese Walters, Tom Carlton, Zac Ansah, Anthony Edgar, Keiron Campbell
Subs Used: Simon Kabamba (Nzuzi 26) Mobolaji Dawodu (Lawrence 82)
Chis Saunders (Edgar 86)
Subs not used:, Kyron Lightfoot Dan Carrington

This was a very important game today. Chichester had been steadily climbing the table as they caught up with their postponed fixtures. In 8th place, three points behind and a game in hand it was game both teams needed to win but it was Bay who took the honours with a very impressive performance.

Making his debut, after completing the registration late Friday night, Anthony Edgar proved an instant hit with the Bay faithful with a goal and an all round battling performance in the midfield which earned him the man of the match.

The visitors were very quick out of the blocks and dominated possession for most of first half, unfortunately for all their possession they never really threaten keeper, George Kamusari.

Bay’s attacking threats looked the more dangerous and this proved to be so in the 17th minute when from a quick counter-attack the ball found Edgar twenty five yards out. His quick one-two with Zak Ansah saw him break loose on the righthand side of the box to rifle a low drive across keeper Steve Mowthorpe into the bottom far corner.

Chichester were stunned but kept driving forward but their attacks kept breaking down in the final third due to some poor crosses and solid defensive play from Bay. Pat Nzuzi suffered an injury in the 26th minute and was replaced by Simon Kabamba, who played an absolute blinder in thwarting the attacks from Josh Clack down the right flank.

Tushaun-Tyreese Walters went clear through and only a brave save from Mowthorpe, diving at his feet preventing him from increasing the lead. Edgar went close in the 40th minute; his shot from the left just going the wrong side of the post. Chichester had their best chance of the game minutes from the break. From a corner the ball was worked into the box and ran loose to Connor Cody in the box, who blasted the ball high and wide over the bar from close range.

Bay were far more dominant in the second period, with their rock-solid defence they built up a number a good attacks but it wasn’t until the 67th minute that they took full control. Walters took on the defender, working his way in to the penalty area before slotting the ball through for Ryan Cooper to pick up on the overlap. A low drive through a packed goalmouth eluded everyone to nestle in the bottom corner.
Bay were now dominant with Chichester unable to break down Bay’s back line. Kieron Campbell shoots across the face of the goal just wide. Ansah dispossesses the defender races through only for his shot to smash against the bar and then in the last minute three good chances to increase the lead; another Ansah shot is brilliant saved by Mowthorpe.

Campbell hits a full blooded drive which Mowthorpe fumbles but Chris Saunders blasts the rebound over the bar. Tom Carlton, still looking for his first goal since returning to the Bay has his goal bound effort turned around the post by Mowthorpe.

A really good performance from the whole team today and a thoroughly deserved victory with a clean sheet and no bookings.

Ben Smith talked to Steve Barton after today’s win over Chichester City.

The train is rolling on, the momentum from last week has carried on this week. Probably a bit of a different performance, I thought we were more disciplined today. They (Chichester) are one of the best sides in this league and it made for a tight battle. It wasn’t free flowing but on a pitch at this time of the season it was never going to be. It was a battle and we were the ones with that bit of quality to finish it off. I’m delighted, it puts a bit of a gap between us and them and we know that we are in for a tough test when we go down there on a Tuesday night.

We will have to work hard again on Tuesday night with Hastings and try and get some points on the board there because it is a tough place to go.

I thought Anthony Elgar was excellent. There were times early on when he was trying things that weren’t quite coming off for him, but you could see that he oozes quality and he made the finish look easy. It was a tight angle; the ball was bobbling up and he showed great composure with a great finish. He has seamlessly fitted in with us. Patrick (Nzuzi) was feeling it a little bit and we didn’t want to risk it. We’ve got Simon (Kabamba) who has been very patiently waiting. He was one of the best players at the club last year and he’s here on merit.

We have two tough games coming up, away at Hastings and Hythe. Both sides have shown some intent this week with the transfers they’ve made. Hastings is the side that everyone looks at as maybe running away with the league, so we will be heavy underdogs. We need to go there with the confidence that we have at the minute and show the belief. Its exciting to be in those type of games. Hythe have been resurgent recently. Steve Watts has pretty much got the squad that he wants now, I think you can say that it is his team now after a transitional period and it will be one of the tougher games. They showed here that they have class and they have players that have been playing two or three leagues above. We can’t get carried away, we just have to enjoy it as it is at the minute, there’s no point in worrying and over thinking things. We are winning games of football, so we have to be happy and celebrate. It’s been a long time coming for this football club.

The fans today were very vocal which is fantastic and that’s what you need when it’s a tight game, it gets an extra 10% out of people. I know it’s the biggest cliché in the world, but they are our 12th man. Not every club has fans like we have at this level. And long may that support continue. The relationship between the players and the fans is growing. We as a side are growing and growing, the club is growing and growing, it’s a good place to be. We need to keep ourselves grounded and keep working hard because that’s what gets you performances like today.