Fixture Overview
On Saturday, 13th September, Eastbourne Town hosted Herne Bay in an Isthmian League fixture. The conditions were notably changeable, with spells of heavy rain interspersed with periods of warm sunshine, presenting both teams with challenging circumstances throughout the match.

Herne Bay Line-Up
• 1 Joe Coleman
• 2 Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo
• 3 Frankie Smith (16 Rhys Wyborn 55’)
• 4 Alfie Cutbush
• 5 Joe Alatise [c]
• 6 Louie Procopi
• 7 Kamani McFarlane
• 8 Scott Heard (15 Alfie Bloomfield 80’)
• 9 Chinedu Duru (14 Jamie Lartice 90’)
• 10 Harvey Brand
• 11 Deese Madia (12 Jordon Ababio 71’)

Unused Substitutes:
• 17 James Rogers

Yellow Card : Alatise 53’

Team News and Managerial Decisions
Herne Bay came into this fixture with confidence following their 2-0 victory over Cray Wanderers in the Kent Cup earlier in the week. Manager Liam Friend maintained a sense of continuity, making only one alteration to the starting eleven from that cup win: Harvey Brand was brought in to the midfield, replacing James Rogers. On the bench, Rhys Wyborn was included in place of Tyler Christian-Law, who departed the club by mutual agreement on Thursday.

Eastbourne Town had boosted their squad prior to kick-off, with JJ Walker signing from Hastings United and Joe Overy joining on loan from Burgess Hill.

First Half Summary
Herne Bay started the match attacking towards the covered seating area behind the goal. Early in proceedings, Chinedu Duru required treatment for an injury, but Herne Bay soon found their rhythm and created the first clear chance in the fourth minute. Scott Heard played in Deese Madia on the right, who cut inside the penalty area. Madia's shot was blocked, resulting in a corner for Herne Bay.

Frankie Smith delivered the resulting inswinging corner from the left, but the Eastbourne defence dealt with it, clearing the danger. The match became congested in midfield, with both goalkeepers called upon to collect overhit through balls from either side.

In the twelfth minute, Herne Bay won another corner after Kamani McFarlane’s cross towards an unmarked Scott Heard was intercepted. Alfie Cutbush took the corner to the far post, where McFarlane nodded the ball back across the six-yard box to Louie Procopi. Procopi, however, was unable to connect cleanly and his effort was blocked. The ball rebounded to Harvey Brand, who fired a goal-bound shot through a crowded area, only for Eastbourne’s goalkeeper Chris Winterton to tip it over the bar. The subsequent corner, again taken by Smith, led to a goal kick for Eastbourne.

Eastbourne’s first real effort came in the 14th minute when Leon Gregg attempted an overhead kick, comfortably gathered by Herne Bay keeper Joe Coleman.
Herne Bay then enjoyed a spell of possession but found it difficult to create clear chances. In the 26th minute, right-back Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo sent in a cross for Brand, whose diving header went wide. Eastbourne’s Gregg had a similar opportunity soon after, but his unchallenged header also missed the target.

A foul on McFarlane resulted in a booking for Nathan Hover. From the resulting free-kick, Cutbush delivered into the area, but Madia’s header was off target.

Despite Herne Bay’s dominance in possession, it was Eastbourne who opened the scoring in the 40th minute, slightly against the run of play. Otseh-Taiwo lost the ball in his own penalty area, allowing James Waters to capitalise and score with a left-footed shot beyond the exposed Herne Bay goalkeeper.

Herne Bay responded well and managed to equalise just before the half-time whistle. Scott Heard found Smith, whose cross reached Madia. Madia headed the ball across for Duru, positioned six yards from goal. Duru’s initial effort was blocked by Winterton, but he reacted quickly to lift the rebound over the keeper, marking his League debut with a well-taken goal.

Second Half
Herne Bay found themselves under immediate pressure at the start of the second half. Alfie Simmons struck the crossbar from a tight angle, and the rebound was saved on the line by Coleman.

In the 53rd minute, there was confusion as Brand was harshly adjudged to have fouled an Eastbourne player near the corner of the penalty area. When the free-kick was eventually taken, it was driven in low and hard but was bundled away by Coleman for a corner. Bay struggled to clear their lines, and when Simmons burst into the area, a mistimed challenge by Alatise resulted in a penalty, which was correctly awarded. Waters stepped up and converted to restore Eastbourne’s lead at 2-1.

Bay made several substitutions in an effort to get back into the match, but clear opportunities were scarce before Eastbourne extended their lead with a third goal, when a shot from Simmons was deflected in at the near post.

As the match drew to a close, Jordon Ababio curled a left-footed shot just beyond the post. Brand went close from distance after the referee played advantage following a foul on him.
Eastbourne Town managed the closing stages well and secured their second consecutive victory.

Next Games:
Tuesday 16 September at 19:45 VCD Athletic at home [Isthmian League]
Saturday 20 September at 15.00 Sheppey United at home [Velocity Trophy]
Tuesday 23 September at 19:45 Jersey Bulls at home [Isthmian League]