Herne Bay: Jordan Perrin, Daniel Carrington, Jack Parter, Laurence Harvey, Dan Johnson, Bode Anidugbe, Mike West, , Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah, Rory Smith, Kieron Campbell
Subs Used: Bradley Schafer (Ansah 90) Aaron, Millbank (Mike West78)
Subs Not Used: Troy Williams, Kane Phillip, Joe Denny

Bay’s fantastic support sang it “you didn’t believe us, but Bay are going up” and after Kieron Campbell’s 67th-minute strike Bay never looked like missing the opportunity of achieving promotion. Bay’s supporters travelled to the ground via all forms of transport. An 86-seater double decker coach, plus a 22 seat min-bus, private cars, train and taxis, The support was fantastic. Without a doubt, Herne Bay have the best supporters in the League, despite Ashford’s claim to theirs being the best. I think today we proved it.

I was emotional at the end of the game. After being involved in a senior capacity at the Club, since 1999, I had only personally been associated with winning the Kent Senior Trophy and promotion into the Isthmian League 11 years ago. After winning that promotion I wrote this statement:

“Well at long last we have finally done it! League Champions and more importantly Ryman League Football. At the end of the 1998/99 season, Michael Todd stood down as Chairman, followed by the mass exodus of players and management to Deal Town. I was asked by Roly Whatley-Bates and Bill Dordoy if I would consider becoming Chairman. Not an easy task taking over with basically reserve players to compete in the Kent League. I admit to being very proud of what I have achieved over the last 12 years and getting Herne Bay into the Ryman League. Throughout those years there were many highs and lows. Many people doubted that I, and the Club committee, really wanted promotion. Well, we have done it. So, we look forward to the new challenges, more travelling and more importantly, some great local derbies. Thank you for being with me on this fantastic journey.”

The 2011/12 promotion made club history, but today’s result has now added to our history.

This is the highest level of football we will have ever competed at. Thanks for this must go down to Ben Smith and his management team, and of course the great set of players, but at the head of this, Stuart Fitchie, as Chairman, has got to take the plaudits. Having to maintain his enthusiasm to drive the club forward, through two Covid hit seasons, with his inner believe that the Club would achieve promotion this year. There were doubts when Haywards Heath Town were awarded the abandoned game and then when we lost 0-1 to Faversham Town, followed by the 1-2 defeat by Cray Valley PM, doubters were out in full voice. Since that defeat, we played 7, including the play-off final. Won 6, drew 1, scored 13 goals, conceded 3 and achieved 6 clean sheets. Certainly, promotion form.

Onto the game itself.

The first real threat came from Rory Smith as he made a forceful run down the right but a poor pass with the ball running out of play and the chance was gone. Gary Lockyer responds with a fine volley from 18yards forcing Jordan Perrin into a fine diving one-handed save, turning the ball away for a corner. Mike West puts Hamilton Antonio clear, but the ball cleared for the game’s first corner. Back come the hosts with Lockyer heading a cross from the left wide of the goal. Bay works the ball out to Smith. He races forward avoiding three challenges before firing in a shot which Jordan Carey saved well. At the other end, almost immediately, Lockyer forced another diving save from Perrin.

All the attacks seemed to be coming from Smith and Lockyer. It was Smith next hitting a low drive against Carey’s left-hand post, with the keeper beaten. Former Bay player, Josh Wisson fires a volley across Perrin and wide of the target. Smith again, at the other end, who was causing the home defence, all sorts of problems, forces Carey into another save. Two more headed attempts from Ashford through Jay May and Lockyer but Perrin was never troubled.

Ashford started the 2nd half strongly. Defender, Tariq Ossai’s shot gets deflected for a corner. Lockyer volleys the cross high over the bar. Along throw from Ossai finds Tashi-Jay Kwayie whose low header is saved by Perrin. Lockyer shoots from 20yards, easily collected by Perrin. Bay was getting back into the game and in the 67th minute, Kieron Campbell, who was marked out of the game in the first half, found room to run at Liam Friend.

Dropping his shoulder and jinking to his right, he had enough space to curl his shot around Friend and wide of Carey’s outstretched arm into the net, inside the far post, sending the Bay fans into raptures. Ashford stepped up the pace, putting Bay’s defence under a lot of pressure, Thomas Fagg hits a shot from range, comfortably saved. Lockyer volleys over as does Friend. Bay swap West for Aaron Millbank. The hosts are throwing everything at Bay to get the equaliser but from a quick break away, Zak Ansah puts Millbank free on the right hand side of the box. A tackle from behind by Bradley Simms bundles Milbank over. Penalty. Millbank elects to take the spot kick and coolly places the ball in the right-hand corner with Carey diving towards the left to double the lead. Learning from Tuesday’s semi-final, Bay did not let Ashford have a sniff at scoring in the closing minutes, keeping the ball in Ashfords‘ half to see out the game and giving Bay a well-deserved victory and promotion to the Isthmian Premier League for the first time in their history.

John Bathurst