Bay continue with winning ways

Sat. 2nd February 2013.
Ryman Division 1 South.
Merstham 2 Herne Bay 4.

Herne Bay's good away form continued with a well deserved 4-2 win at Mersthams Weldon Way ground.

3-1 up at half time and looking comfortable, Merstham had other idea's after the break, fighting back strongly forcing Bay to defend for long periods of time before they extended the lead to run out winners by that 4-2 score line.

Right from the start Herne Bay forced their hosts deep into their own half with Byron Walker and Jordan Agbajae running them ragged but on 7 minutes Rhys Lawson pulled up with a Ham String injury and was replaced by Michael Turner.

Then on ten minutes, Merstham took the lead following a fine piece of passing football. Joe Holland who was allowed acres of space outside the area fired in a shot, low and hard, that beat Rob French at his far post.

It took only 38 seconds for the Bay to get level, with Jordan Agbajae smashing in a cross from Gary Sayer, which gave keeper Anderson no chance. Herne Bay continued to take the game to Merstham and they were rewarded in the 20th minute when Billy Bennett played in Byron Walker down the left who in turn crossed into the quagmire, that was the Merstham goalmouth, allowing Dean Grant to stab home from close range 2-1 up.

In the 24th minute Merstham should have levelled when Jack McLeod was put through with only Rob French to beat but he fired well wide. Over the next 10 minutes Turner, Agbajae and Walker all went close but the game was made more comfortable in the 37th minute with a bizarre goal from Tom Bryant. Having been fouled on the half way line, he lumped the free kick deep into the penalty area. Bay's three forwards raced in, un-sighting the keeper, allowing the ball to bounce harmlessly into the net. 3-1 to the Bay.

On 40 minutes French was brought into action, pulling of a fine save from Fabio Saravia's stinging shot and just on half time he pulled of an even better save preventing Joe Holland's effort from 6 yards. Merstham flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half and within a minute of the restart they pulled a goal back when Saravia, who was in acres on the right, received a good ball from Jake Hessentaller to crack the ball past French.

For the next 20 minutes it was one way traffic with Merstham pinning the Bay deep in their own half. Jack McLeod, Holland and Adam Moriarty all went close but a mixture of good defending and luck prevented another Merstham goal. Bay were causing a lot of their own problems by needlessly clearing the ball straight back to Merstham's midfield.

On 64 minutes Agbajae was replaced by Dan Wisker and it was a great run by him in the 70th minute which nearly brought about Bay's fourth. But good defending by Merstham's centre back, Justin Hemmings, saved the day.

Then 5 minutes later Bay made the game save when Walker got the better of his marker and raced down the left before laying off to Billy Bennett, who seemed to lose control of the ball but somehow lobbed the ball t out of the reach of Lloyd Anderson to put Bay 4-2 up.

Nathan Eastwood replaced Grant for the final eight minutes and within 4 minutes of overtime being played Merstham should have pulled a goal back but Peter Wedgeworth after being put through, and with only French to beat, shot high and wide.

Both teams must take credit for this game, good football and played in the right spirit.

Att: 128
Team: French Bryant Sayer McGeehan Campbell Bewick Grant Bennett. Walker Agbajae Lawson.

Subs; M.Turner (Lawson 7min) Wisker (Agbajae 65mins) Eastwood (Grant 82 mins)
Subs Not Used: M Okundalaye Nelder