Whitstable Town 1 Herne Bay 1

Herne Bay were very unlucky not to get all three points in the Boxing day Derby match at the Belmont against local rivals Whitstable Town. Only a 93rd minute goal by Scott Heard earned the Oystermen a point.

Herne Bay started the much brighter of the two sides with Nathan Eastwood and Rhys Lawson attacking down both flanks. On 10 minutes, Byron Walker had a good chance to put Bay in front when he burst through with only Nick Shaw to beat but Shaw saved well with his feet.

5 minutes later Town's Buster Smissen should have done better after being put through by James Morrish but he fired into the side netting from a acute angle. Herne Bay went ahead in the 23rd minute when, following a good save and clearance from, Dan Eason he found Walker who in turn played in Tunji Agbajae who sped through and slammed the ball
past Shaw.

Minutes later Bay could have doubled their lead when Eastwood out paced the Oystermen's defence but again Shaw came to the rescue with another good save.

Whitstable struck back and were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, Jake Beecroft fired into the wall and the rebound was fired high and wide by Scott Heard. Just before half time Shaw saved well from a Calum McGeehan free kick after Walker was pulled down on the edge of the area.

Throughout the first half the Bay defence looked impregnable with the Steven Lloyd / McGeehan partnership in superb form. Herne Bay started the second half the better side ,forcing Whitstable deep into their own half with Tunji and Walker probing the Town's back four but when Tunji pulled up with a hamstring injury he was replaced by Aaron Millbank. Whitstable also made a change, bringing on James Brown for Dan Ellett. Whitstable had a good chance to equalise in the 61st minute, following a free kick from Beecroft a powerful header from Heard head brought a superb save from Eason.

Further chances fell to Walker and Millbank but the hosts defence kept the ball away from their goal.

A double substitution by Whitstable saw Tom Brunt and Stuart Vahid replace Morrish and Dan Hanshaw.

This livened up the Oystermen but once again Lloyd and McGeehan snuffed out any danger from the Whitstable front men.

Bay then replaced Walker and Dan Wisker with Joe Nelder and Billy Bennett.
On 80 minutes Stuart Vahid hammered in a rasping shot that crashed against the Bay crossbar. Whitstable started to exert real pressure on Bay's defence and on 84 minutes Bay were indebted to Lloyd for a crucial goal line clearance.Three minutes later Eason tipped over a shot from Dan Williams. This was Williams last effort as he was sent off for a reckless tackle on Eastwood.

Then with 2 minutes of added time played Whitstable equalised: Heard slammed in from close range through many legs to grab a share of the spoils.

Congratulations to both teams for playing in testing conditions.

Att: 433
Team; Eason Sayer Bryant McGeehan Lloyd Wisker Eastwood Bewick Walker Agbajae Lawson

Subs: Millbank (Agbajae 53mins) Bennett (Wisker 71mins) Nelder (Walker 75mins)
Not used: Grant, Turner M.