Nelder Nails Point

Eastbourne Town (0) 1
Sutton 50

Herne Bay (0) 1
Nelder 79

Attendance: 110

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Thursday 6th March 2014
at The Saffrons

by Ray Kelly

(photo credit: Peter Guise)

A Joe Nelder headed goal 11 minutes from time saved Herne Bay’s blushes against basement club Eastbourne Town.

The game itself was delayed by ten minutes with Several Bay players stuck in traffic en route. When it did get underway the first half was a dour affair with neither side showing any sort of quality and chances were at a premium. The first real chance fell to Eastbourne’s Billy Medlock on 27 minutes and only a last ditch clearance by Joe Kennett prevented him scoring. Throughout the first half Town’s Ross Sutton was the star man thwarting Kane Phillip (who pulled up on 35 with a back injury) and Dean Grant (his replacement) on numerous occasions. Before half time further chances fell to Joe Nelder and Natan Eastwood but the Eastbourne ‘keeper, Callum Cristie, saved with ease.

Herne Bay started the second half with greater impetus and on 47 James Turner hit a specutive lob that Cristie saved at the second attempt. Within 3 minutes though, following a free kick from the half way line, Ross Sutton headed Eastbourne inot the lead past a statuesque Bay defence.

Casey Jordan replaced O’Connell on the hour and Bay started to peg Eastbourne back in their own half. Great chances fell to Nelder and James Turner in the 66th and 67th but were cleared off the line by Ross Sutton. On 79 Bay were finally to get th equaliser. Casey scooted down the right wing and crossed a great ball to find Joe Nelder who headed home. Herne Bay laid siege to the Eastbourne goal and only great saves from Cristie and goal line clearances prevented the Bay from taking all three points. At the end of the day, it may be viewed as two pints lost but seven points from three games enhances Bay’s mid table position.

Herne Bay team: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Danny Walder, Connor Sanders, Joe Kennett, Kane Philip (Dean Grant 34), Joe Nelder, James Turner, Jamie O'Connell (Jordan Casey 60), Nathan Eastwood (George Benner 90)

Subs not used: Harry Brown, Stuart King