Away point for Herne Bay, at Hythe Town

Straight from the kick-off it was Hythe who forced the play pinning Bay in their own half. Bay’s first attack came after 5 minutes as Tushaun-Tyreese Walters got the better of defender Nathan Gordon but fired over the bar. Hythe came straight back with Frannie Collin getting past Dan Carrington pulled the ball back for Alex Flisher but his effort was well blocked and deflected for a corner. From the corner kick the ball fell to Tom Murphy whose first time volley went wide of the target. Two minutes later Zak Ansah broke away down the right flank and put a low cross towards Kieron Campbell at the far post but the defender did enough to force him to push the ball the wrong side of the post.

Hythe then had a strong ten minute spell with goal attempts from Collin, Murphy Charlie Webster and Jamie Rogers but Bay were defending well. On the half hour a good one /two between Ansah and Walters resulted in a corner. Tom Carlton hit the corner kick right into the heart of the goal area where Mobolaji Dawodu was pushed by the Hythe defender and fell into keeper Will Godman. The ball deflected off Flisher into his own goal. Despite protests the referee after consulting his assistant signalled goal to Herne Bay.

This spurred Bay on to pressing hard for another goal. Walters broke through the back line but being under pressure from Jamie Coyle wasn’t able to get a shot away. A minute later Carlton shoots from range that beat Godman but hit the bar and bounced away to safety. This was followed with Walters racing down the left side crossing to Dawodu but his shot was mis-hit, bouncing tamely into the keepers arms. Just before the break Hythe had two good attempts on goal, Ex Bay, Danny Walder hit a shot straight at George Kamusari and from a corner kick Kamusari saved well at the far post from Coyle’s header.

Bay started the 2nd half well with Campbell causing problems with his forceful runs into the box. A pass back to Ansah to shoot but his attempt went the wrong side of the upright with the keeper beaten. Hythe then started to press. Good work from Webster saw the ball fall to Murphy but his shot went high and wide over the bar. Collin was put through but a last ditch challenge from Laurence Harvey prevented any shot on goal. Bay hit back with attempts from Walters; pulling the ball back to Ansah whose effort just missed the target and Campbell low shot was well saved by Godman at the near post. Dawodu then goes on a mazy solo run but slice his shot well wide of the goal.

Hythe were still looking dangerous and deservedly drew level with a well worked goal. Ross Ibbertson threaded a defence splitting pass to the far post where Collin duly accepted the chance, scoring from close range. Bay were not giving up and further chances fell to Carlton whose free kick went agonisingly wide and Ansah saw his volley go high over the bar. Campbell carries the ball swiftly down the left flank but his shot goes harmlessly wide for a goal kick.

Hythe again threaten in injury time but Collin hits his attempt over the bar. Both sides had opportunities to win the game but at the end both had to settle for a share of the points.

Saturday 1st February 2020
Isthmian League Division One South East
Hythe Town 1-1 Herne Bay
Att: 302

Herne Bay: George Kamusari, Ryan Cooper, Dan Carrington, Laurence Harvey, Callum Adonis-Taylor, Tushaun-Tyreese Walters, Anthony Edgar, Tom Carlton, Zak Ansah, Mobolaji Dawodu, Keiron Campbell
Subs Used: Simon Kabamba (Carrington 64), Daniel Lawrence (Edgar 75)
Subs not used: Kyron Lightfoot, Chris Saunders, Joe Nelder