Herne Bay: Josh Bexon, Jacob Gilbert, Frankie Smith, Harrison Pont, Liam Friend, Daniel Carrington, Gil Carvalho, Archie Burnett (Bola Dawodu 64), Kane Rowland, Danny Walder (Monty Saunders 81), Theo Osinfolarin (Sammi Takaloo 81). Subs not used: Finlay Whitton, Daniel Haastrup, Harry Brown, Harrison Byford.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Harrison Pont

Much would depend on which Redhill and which Herne Bay turned up on the day. There had been promising starts to the season for both sides, but each had had a blip with an under-par performance. Redhill had been knocked out of the FA Vase by VCD Athletic and Bay had lost their lead, to a late equaliser, at Bedfont Sports in the previous round of the FA Cup.

Sadly for Bay it was the lower league side that were on song, going into Monday’s draw and picking up £2,250 from the prize pot. As losers, Herne Bay banked £750. Things looked promising in the first few minutes as Frankie Smith beat two defenders in the box, but his low cross was scuffed from six yards by Gil Carvalho. Liam Friend’s centre was headed just over by Kane Rowland. From then on it all started to go wrong. A free-kick from the left, in the 10th minute, sent Reuben Duncan through and he shot across Josh Bexon into bottom corner.

Within 10 minutes the chance came to restore parity came when Smith was brought down by Lobsters’ keeper Luke Wynne-Roberts. In his Herne Bay career Danny Walder had scored 24 times from the spot but he was overlooked to give this season's top scorer Carvalho the opportunity. He stepped up, and after waiting for the referee to sort out some pushing and shoving on the edge of box, struck his penalty well to the right of the keeper but Wynne-Roberts got down and protected his goal. Herne Bay seemed to be struggling on the grass pitch, in a scrappy affair. Poor passing and long balls were giving possession back to the hosts and was not very pleasing on the eye for the visiting supporters. Redhill’s top scorer Tyree Sutherland had a chance to send the home side in at the break two goals ahead when he took on the Bay defence but shot well wide.

Hope that things would improve in the second half proved unfounded and it took a great block by Bexon from Adam Grant a minute after the re-start to prevent Redhill doubling their advantage. Friend thought he had levelled when he headed in from a Theo Osinfolarin corner, but it was disallowed and as the referee explained after the match Rowland was in the keeper’s zone (not sure where the attackers are meant to stand, and even the Redhill keeper laughed at the decision!). Danny Walder hit a free-kick into the wall and Bola Dawodu’s follow-up was cleared. This was the first time in six matches that Bay had failed to score. It was all too comfortable for Redhill. It will take a big, big improvement in performance to overcome Leatherhead in next Saturday’s FA Trophy tie.