For 70 minutes, Herne Bay was still in with a fighting chance of halting Sittingbourne’s 9-match winning streak. Yet after some astute substitutions which showed strength in depth, the Brickies stunned the hosts with three goals in seven minutes which showed why many people are making them the title favourites.

Herne Bay was forced into changes after Saturday’s match at Ashford United, and they included a debut for Bailey Akehurst, recently with Chatham Town, and since yesterday afternoon signed on dual registration terms from Lordswood. Harry Bridle came into the starting eleven for the first time, and skipper Liam Friend was back from his one-match suspension. Missing from the squad were Jack Parter and Skye Salmon, both on the injury list.

It took a while for Herne Bay to settle and the Bay keeper Josh Bexon was in action in the 12th minute when he saved Joe Boachie’s on-target shot, after a run and cross from Liam Smith. The resulting corner was headed clear by Friend. Bexon soon had to collect Troy Howard’s cross when the lively Boachie set him free.

Bay then began to have territorial success and a very good chance of taking the lead in the 16th minute. Akehurst’s corner was taken short to Scott Heard who crossed first time to Dan Carrington, but he was unable to keep his header down under the bar.

Carrington was involved again in the 27th minute when some smart one-touch moves in midfield set up the chance for him to cross into the six-yard box but it was tantalisingly close to Bridle but he couldn’t get a touch. The same happened again a minute later.

Bexon made two reflex saves to stop Sittingbourne from taking the lead, on the thirty-minute mark, but Bay were marginally on top before the half-time break.

Mike Salako’s shot was saved by Sittingbourne’s keeper Harley Earle, and Heard danced his way through from midfield only to see his shot blocked for a corner.

Bay had the first clear chance of the second half in the 54th minute – a corner was headed away then crossed back into the six-yard area. Sinn’Kaye Christie leapt the highest but could not direct his header below the crossbar.

Salako made a dangerous cross that crashed across their goal before Sittingboure hit their very best.

Firstly in the 67th minute, substitute Ryan Kingsford found enough time and space on the Herne Bay right, to cut in and curl an unstoppable right-footed shot beyond Bexon for their first goal. He then made two saves from Henry Sinai a couple of minutes later. Then from a Sittingbourne corner, Jack Steventon scored with an overhead kick to make it 0-2.
After Christie had cleared for another corner, Sinai beat Bexon for a 0-3 lead in the 74th minute.

Although stunned that a game could collapse so quickly, the team kept working hard and Sittingbourne added a fourth goal in additional time when Sinai did ever so well to get away from Ethan Smith near the corner flag to set up another superb curling goal this time from another substitute, Jay Beckford.

Bay now must turn their attention to Saturday’s important clash with East Grinstead Town.

Herne Bay; Bexon, Carrington, Akehurst, Christie, Friend, Heard, Haysman, E Smith,
Salako, Rowland, Bridle (Kuchkov 72)

Subs Unused; Hillier, Hill, Reid, Lartice

Yellow Cards; none

Next Fixtures:
Saturday 14th December 15:00, home v East Grinstead (Isthmian South East)
Tuesday 17th December 19:45, away v Broadbridge Heath (Isthmian South East)