10 Man Bay Battle For Point

10 Man Bay Battle For Point

Crawley Down Gatwick (2) 3
Carey 3, 42 (pen), Rivers 77
Herne Bay (1) 3
Hasler 8, Grant 57, Walder 85 (pen)

Attendance: 101

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 12th October 2013.
The Haven

by Steve Barton

Herne Bay came from a goal behind three times to earn a point at third-placed Crawley Down Gatwick, in an incident-packed encounter in Sussex.

Michael Turner replaced the suspended Nathan Eastwood at right back and Joe Kennett came in for Connor Sanders in the centre of the back four. The Anvils went ahead in the third minute when referee Louis Marks, curiously, adjudged Steven Lloyd had fouled Lee Carey near the edge of the box. Carey curled the free-kick round the wall and past a floundering Jack Delo. Five minutes later Bay were level from another set-piece. Sam Hasler’s bobbling strike from 30-yards deceived the wall, passed through the penalty area and keeper Kieron Thorp could not get a firm enough hand to the ball as it settled into the corner of the net.

Bay were looking the more threatening side throughout the half although Trevor Mcreadie, Tim Rivers and Stefan Cox looked dangerous on the break for the home side. A great chance fell to Joe Nelder who headed a Dean Grant cross onto the post and the rebound just eluded Jamie O’Connell. This was a good passage of play for the Bay that saw Ben Brown, Grant and Jamie O’Connell all came close.

Then, just before the break, Bay were to fall behind to another hotly debated decision. Joe Kennett tackled Mcreadie twenty yards out with four minutes of the half left. Mcreadie went to ground and Mr. Marks pointed to the spot and brandished a red card. “It wasn’t a foul; I made contact with the ball”, Kennett said later, “It wasn’t a penalty; the tackle was made outside of the box.” Carey completed his brace from 12 yards.

Bay came out of the blocks sharply for the second period but lost their second central defender when Lloyd headed not only the ball but also team mate Danny Walder. The resultant cut under the eye ended Lloyd’s participation in the game. He was replaced by Danny Lawrence returning from his rib injury sustained against Ramsgate.

This spurred the Bay on and with 57 minutes gone Sam Hasler dispossessed Owen Roberts, drove to the by-line and crossed for Dean Grant to tap in. Crawley made two changes to attempt to restore their lead and for Herne Bay Jordan Casey came on for the hard-working O’Connell. The Anvil’s lead was regained on 77 minutes when Joe Nelder swung his foot at a loose ball in the area, he met thin air and Rivers collected and slipped the ball past Delo.

Bay Physio, Gemma Horswell, was kept busy as twice she covered the width of the field to assist Michael Turner (hip and head). Past versions of Herne Bay may well have capitulated at this stage but with five minutes left there was an appeal in the Crawley box for handball, with that turned down, Sam Hasler went down under a challenge, and for the second time in the match the referee pointed to the spot. Danny Walder scored his fifth spot kick this season out of six.
The drama had not ended, though. Ben Brown penetrated the defence but was tackled just as he was about to pull the trigger and then Danny Lawrence beat Thorp, but the crossbar denied Bay the victory. Before the match a point against high-flyers Crawley Down Gatwick would have been more than acceptable and from that there must be satisfaction, but on the balance of play Herne Bay can feel aggrieved that they didn’t take all three points from a match that they played more than half of with just 10 men.

“Feels like 2 points dropped today,” tweeted Ben Brown after the match, “but another absolute shift from the lads. Good work all round.”

Herne Bay team: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Danny Walder, Joe Kennett, Steven Lloyd (Danny Lawrence 54), Sam Hasler (James Turner 89), Joe Nelder, Jamie O’Connell (Jordan Casey 76), Ben Brown, Dean Grant. Subs not used: Elias Settouf, Harry Brown.

Subs not used: Elias Settouf, Harry Brown