Herne Bay: Plumley, Reid (Hillier 85’), Saunders (F Smith 80’), E Smith, Friend, Christie, Heard, Haysman, Salako (Rowland 72’), Rowland (Kuchkov 82’), Oluwasemo (Osinfolarin 46’)
Subs Unused: Roberts
Yellow Cards: Osinfolarin, Heard (80‘)
Referee: Daniel Blades
Match Sponsor: Elect Services Ltd

Herne Bay made a couple of changes to the starting lineup following Tuesday's match, bringing in Kane Rowland and Kane Haysman for Jordy Ndozid and Theo Osinfolarin. It was good to see the return to the squad for Frankie Smith and Jack Hillier, who have been long-term absentees through injuries.

In a perfect start, and less than a minute on the scoreboard, Josh Reid’s throw-in was headed away by Thomas Ash, and Ethan Smith threaded the ball back in the box to Haysman to float a cross to Mike Salako, who jumped to chest the ball home for the opening goal.

The 6th-minute leveller by Erith Town came after a Herne Bay attack broke down. Ash’s long clearance to the halfway line ended up with left-back Bertie Valler. He spotted a well-timed run by Elliott Duncan, and his long ball was retained and placed beyond Bay’s keeper Kie Plumley, into his bottom-left corner.

After Plumley caught an Erith Town corner, there was a quick break by Herne Bay. Scott Heard's long ball to Rowland was controlled, and as he cut back inside, he saw Ethan Smith running in. Rowland set the ball back into Smith’s path, and his first-time shot was grabbed at the second attempt by Harrison Firth before Salako could take advantage.

Firth was in action again when he touched a deflected long left-footer from Monty Saunders around his right upright. From the 2nd corner that followed that attack, the ball was cleared and Heard played it back to Ethan Smith on the halfway line. He lofted a ball back into the penalty box towards Liam Friend, who won the header to Rowland. He spun and crossed to Haysman, who ghosted between two defenders to volley home.

Bay were 2-1 ahead and survived a goalmouth scramble in the 17th minute when Duncan sprang to his feet, forcing a save from Plumley. Plumley parried a free-kick by James Miles who had avoided the four-man wall and was on target, and Miles free-kick a minute later was turned over the bar by Plumley.

These three important saves were crucial as Bay then increased their lead to two goals in the 35th minute. Sinn’Kaye Christe won a challenge on the halfway line and played forward to the Reid. He touched it around a midfielder and his pace took him clear of the Etith left-back and he whipped in a right-footed cross that Haysman superbly headed past the goalkeeper for his 15th of the season.

At 3-1, Bay had an opportunity to extend their lead after Heard played a weighted pass to Reid, who shot from outside the box at Firth. Erith also had a period of pressure and three successive corners had to be defended in turn by Christie, Friend and Plumley.

Erith Town came close to pulling a goal back in the 54th minute when James Miles’s shot hit the top of the crossbar and looked dangerous at other times. Plumley punched away a free kick after a foul by Osinfolarin, and a second foul by Osinfolarin a couple of yards outside the penalty area needed a good save by Plumley after Miles’s free-kick cleared the four-man wall.

In the 67th minute, Bay put the result beyond doubt with a 4th goal. Rowland headed on Reid’s throw-in and Salako lifted his right-footed shot over the ‘keeper but hit the crossbar. As the ball rebounded, Ethan Smith anticipated well and fired the ball home.

A flurry of substitutes included the returns of Frankie Smith and Jack Hillier, and although chances fell to Saunders and Salako, Erith’s keeper kept these out comfortably.
Bay have now made themselves mathematically safe and moved up to 16th in the table.

Next Fixtures:
Saturday 19th April 15:00, away to Three Bridges (Isthmian South East)
Monday 21st April 15:00, home to Deal Town (Isthmian South East)
Saturday 26th April 15:00, away to Steyning Town (Isthmian South East)