Hornets Sting Bay

Horsham (1) 1
og 18

Herne Bay (0) 0

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 29th March 2014

at Gorings Mead

Attendance: 197

By Peter Guise

A glance at the bookies’ odds revealed that this game was scheduled to record a close score-line and so it proved to be with The Hornet’s taking all three points by the only goal of the game courtesy of a deflection in the 18th minute. In truth, though, it could have been more in a game between two sides displaying mediocre performances.

Herne Bay had a penalty appeal turned down as early as the 2nd minute leaving striker Stuart King sitting in the Horsham 6 yard box with arms outstretched and a bewildered stare on his face. On a gloriously sunny Sussex afternoon, more suitable for batting first after winning the toss than playing football, Horsham took the lead when Robinson’s fierce shot on 17 was parried by Jack Delo into the path of Bryon Napper running in from the left wing and his driven cross was deflected into the visitor’s net.

Herne Bay struggled to keep possession and were too often guilty of not being positive enough despite a handful of excellent driving runs from Joe Nelder and Stuart King’s skilful lay-offs. Indeed, Horsham might have extended their lead just after the half hour but Ryan Woodford’s header struck the crossbar. Bay ended the opening half with their first real threat on the Hornet’s goal but Harry Brown’s half volley curled wide of the right hand post.

Almost immediately after the break, Horsham were reduced to 10 men when Bryon Napper received his marching orders having picked up his 2nd yellow of the afternoon. This one was for dissent, the first, before the break, had been for kicking the ball away. Two avoidable incidents resulting in a third event that might have, but ultimately didn’t, rebound badly on his teammates.

Herne Bay pressed but couldn’t make their numerical advantage count and might have suffered on another day had Horsham’s counter attacks not been equally unsuccessful. Dean Grant hit a rising shot over the bar on 73, Stuart King had a goal bound effort cleared off the line 4 minutes later and Bay knew it was not to be their day when substitute James Turner’s strike blasted back off the flailing ‘keeper’s body with the rebound striking the bar not once, but twice, before reaching safety. With teams below them picking up points Herne Bay will need a few more of their own yet to assure their safety and Ryman football for a third year.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (James Turner 62), Gary Sayer, Joe Nelder, Connor Sanders, George Benner, Harry Brown, Ben Brown (Calum McGeehan 81), Stuart King, Jordan Casey (Jamie O’Connell 69), Dean Grant.

Subs not used: Elliot Cutts, Nathan Eastwood.