Hasler Ensures Safety

Herne Bay (1) 1
Hasler 12(p)

Ramsgate (0) 0

Attendance: 270

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Monday 21st April 2014
at Winch’s Field

(photo credit: Steve Barton)

by Steve Barton

With the fans and players applauding each other at the end of the match the curtain came down on Ryman South football at Winch’s Field for another season. The Bay faithful had witnessed a fine display and a win against Kent rivals Ramsgate 1-0.

The game was off to a pulsating start as Herne Bay, with several players again available, on the front foot in the opening exchanges. Ramsgate’s first chance came on 6 minutes when Nick Tredwell headed a James Sherman corner over the bar. Three minutes later Tredwell looked to be the villain of the piece but his handball in the box was adjudged by referee David Smart to be ball to arm and waved away the strong shouts of the Bay players and supporters.

But within three minutes Mr. Smart was at last pointing to the spot. Dean Grant outpaced Curtis Robinson on the left and found Sam Hasler just inside the box; Robinson’s recovery brought Hasler down and this time there was no hesitation from the referee. Hasler sweetly tucked away the penalty, for his 10th goal of the season, sending the Rams custodian Daren Hawkes the wrong way. 12 minutes on the clock and Bay were ahead.

The game was constantly held up as the man in the middle punished any tackle or aerial challenge that was in any way physical. Dean Grant and Jordan Casey were causing Ramsgate’s defence some real problems with the Schultz brothers, Ollie and Warren, deploying some questionable tactics in their attempts to quieten them.

Just before the half hour mark a slip by Gary Sayer let the prolific Jon Main through on goal, Main went down under the challenge of Delo but the man in black waved away the penalty shouts and booked Main for his protests. Main was later to limp off to be replaced by Ollie Gray.

Ramsgate’s upright was to shake twice within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Joe Nelder slid the ball through to Dean Grant and his shot left Daren Hawkes stranded. Within minutes Dean Grant broke down the right and found Sam Hasler inside; Hasler cut into the box and unleashed another stunning strike but again the post came to the rescue of Hawkes.

On 64 minutes a long range shot from Warren Schultz rattled the Bay crossbar to be gathered by Jack Delo only for him to be taken out unfairly, much to the disgust of the Rams’ players. A rash of positive substitutions in the last 20 minutes showed that both sides wanted to increase the scoreline and well into the five minutes added on Ian Pulman, so often the tormentor of Herne Bay, and with six goals to his credit in the last three league meetings of the teams, worked his way behind the Bay defence but his shot was past the post.

One match remains, away at Three Bridges next Saturday, and it is confirmed that there will be a third season in the Ryman South and Bay are guaranteed to finish above neighbours Whitstable Town.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Harry Brown, Connor Sanders, Stephen Lloyd, Sam Hasler, Joe Nelder (Ben Brown 73), Nathan Eastwood, Jordan Casey (Jaimie O’Connell 82), Dean Grant Stuart King 74).

Subs not used: Adam Woolcott, George Benner.