Herne Bay: Ben Hunter, Jack Steventon , Raphe Brown, Ryan Catmull, Jono Richardson, Josh Wisson, Connor Wilkins, Tom Carlton, Jake Embery, Junior Aikhionbare, Nassim Dukali
Subs Used: Bradley Schafer (Catmull 50) Danny Leonard (Wisson 54) Jack Hyslop (Aikhionbare 82)
Subs not used: Jardel Bunda-Kamara, .Alex Mulrooney-Skinner
Man of the Match: Ben Hunter

At 7.30pm we only had six players at Homelands, the rest of the team were stuck in the traffic chaos caused by a lorry jack-knifing on the M20 earlier in the afternoon. As a result of this the start of the game was delayed by 30 minutes. It certainly was a game worth waiting for though with 8 goals and some fabulous goalkeeping. It could have well finished eight- all with the number of chances created and saves made by the two keepers.

The game flowed end to end but it was Bay who had the first real opportunity to score; only a good fingertip save from Aaron Lee Wharton pushing Jake Embery’s powerful volley from close range on to the bar denying the goal. Bay did open the scoring 7 minutes later when Junior Aikhionbare capitalised on a mis-kick by ‘Nuts and Bolts’ full back, Fraser Walker, passed across the box allowing Tom Carlton to smash home. Walker was having a bad time as a couple more errors went unpunished as Nassim Dukali shot wide.

At the other end Bay were again indebted to Ben Hunter who was called upon twice to prevent Andrew Dallhouse from equalising saving two thunderbolt shots. But on the half hour Ashford were level. England schoolboy, Max Watters, who was causing problems with his lightning turn of speed, got past Raphe Brown to volley past Ben at his near post. The lead was short lived as Ryan Catmull drilled the ball low into the bottom corner, following a quick break down the left flank a minute after the restart.

Lee Wharton produced another fine save from a rasping Dukali shot before Watters broke through again. Hunter blocked the shot but the rebound fell straight back to Watters who looked certain to score. Only a goal line clearance from Jack Steventon saved the day.

Ashford came out for the 2nd half on the front foot and in the space of 6 minutes scored twice to take a 3-2 lead. Watters finishing off a fine passing move to level and Dallhouse heading in from a corner. Bay responded and again within a minute of the restart were level when Jake forced Walker into another error, broke through to curl the ball past the keeper.

With twenty minutes left to play Nassim then produced a wonder goal. Receiving the ball out on the left flank, hetook a couple of touches before volleying into the far corner from fully 25 yards out. This seemed to break Ashford’s resolve and Bay now pressed hard to increase the lead which they did 6 minutes later. Junior latched onto a Bradley Schafer pass and smashed the ball onto the underside of the bar and onto the inside of the far post and then into the back of the net all from the tightest of angles at the near post.

A fabulous game of football played in the very best of spirit and an absolute delight to watch. Approximately 35-40 Herne Bay fans behind the Ashford goal were in raptures and the vocal support they gave the team away from home was very much appreciated by the managers and players alike.