Bay battle in the mud for a well earned draw

RYMAN DIVISION ONE SOUTH
WORTHING 2 - 2 HERNE BAY
Saturday 13th April 2013

On a rain soaked afternoon on the south coast, Herne Bay secured next season’s Ryman League football by getting a well deserved point against Worthing on a very wet, muddy and slippery pitch, despite which both teams tried to play football.

All the goals came in a fiery first half, but this was a thoroughly entertaining 90+ minutes.

Byron open the scoring after only 6 minutes of play, following a brilliant piece of one-two passing with James Turner. A path was carved through the Rebels defence leaving him the simple task of slotting past Keeper, Josh James. The ball nestled in the bottom corner to the delight of the dozen or so Bay supporters who undertook the 2 hour drive in awful conditions down to Worthing.

Worthing hit back quickly. Tom Lloyd left in acres of space down the left made no mistake in placing his shot wide of Luke Prentice to put them level. A spate of fouls followed and few tantrums from home hero, Jamie Brotherton threatened to spoil the game. Unfortunately the officials only made matters worse.

A penalty on the half hour, converted by Scott Kirkwood, gave the hosts the lead. Joe Nelder upending Billy Medlock inside the area. At first the referee gave a free kick outside, but his assistant quite rightly advised him differently. The referee followed this with a ridiculous booking of Michael Turner. Tom Bryant and Brotherton were having a running battle throughout the half, and it was Bryant who unceremoniously dumped the Worthing forward on his back.

After consulting his assistant he decided it was Turner who committed the foul.

The Walker / Turner combination struck again just before half time to bring Bay back into the match. Byron broke away down the left and fired in a low cross which the keeper failed to hold and despite his efforts to gather the ball, JT nipped in to bundle the ball over the line.
The conditions worsened for the second period. Worthing played the ball around well but failed to make any headway through a resolute Bay defence. Bay hit back with counter attacks. Both sides had chances to win the game with the best fell to Worthing substitute, Matt Daniel, in the last minute of the game, who managed to somehow miss from one yard with a header. Brotherton’s follow up shot, from the tight angle, grazed the post and the chance was gone.

With Walton Casuals losing heavily to Dulwich Hamlet, Bay can now look forward to a second season in the Ryman League.

Att: 181

Team: Prentice, Sayer, Bryant, McGeehan, Campbell, Nelder, M Turner, Bennett, Walker,
J Turner, Grant
Subs Used: Eastwood (Grant 53mins) Agbajae (Bennett 63 mins) Brown (J Turner 82 mins)
Not used: Lloyd, Taylor