? Match Report
? Saturday 9th August 2025
? Hassocks 3 (Fair 44’,90+1’, Finney 47’)
? Herne Bay 2 (McFarlane 36’, 62’)
? Attendance: 344
? Isthmian South-East

? Herne Bay Line-Up
Starting XI: Coleman, Sessegnon, Wyborn (Ababio 59’), Christian-Law ©, Friend, Tyrie, McFarlane, Heard (Haysman 72’), Bloomfield, Brand, Smith

Unused Subs: Procopi, Rogers, Saunders
Yellow Cards: McFarlane
Player of the Match: Kamani McFarlane
Referee: Thomas Baines
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? League Opener
Herne Bay suffered a cruel defeat in their Isthmian South-East opener, falling 3-2 to Hassocks after a dramatic stoppage-time winner. Despite dominating large spells of the second half and twice finding the net through Kamani McFarlane, Bay were undone by a late strike from Alex Fair that sealed a historic victory for the hosts in their first-ever Step 4 fixture. The result left Bay ruing missed chances and a long journey home filled with frustration.

A collision between Kane Haysman and a Hassocks attacker left Jack Troak time and space to pick out the run of Alex Fair who smashed the ball home for a dramatic finale. Bay nearly levelled when Tyler Christian-Law’s long free kick crashed against the crossbar with Hassocks' keeper James Shaw beaten.
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⚔️ First Half: 1-1
Bay made changes after the FA Cup defeat the previous week – Manager Liam Friend, took the place of Kane Rowland at centre back, Scott Heard returned to midfield and Kamani McFarlane replaced Jordon Ababio out on the wing.

Hassocks started brightly and Alex Fair’s weighted through ball found Liam Benson who had split Bay’s centre backs. Benson, turned the ball back to Fair to cross, but fortunately Friend had recovered to head the ball away for a corner. Although the corner was cleared, Hassocks recovered the loose ball and Fair cut inside on the right and curled a left footed shot which had Bay’s keeper Joe Coleman scrambling to scoop the ball wide of his right-hand post.

13 minutes in Bay had their first chance – Frankie Smith hassled the defender who was struggling to deal with Rhys Wyborn’s long pass, and his low left-footed shot with power was tipped away by Shaw.

Bay nearly scored in the 17th minute from their first corner. Smith took it, and Alfie Bloomfield’s header was bundled away, and McFarlane’s follow up shot was blocked. Fair’s clearance put Finney in on goal but he lost control while turning in and out, allowing Chris Sessegnon time to recover.

Bay won their 2nd corner after Bloomfield won a header and Harvey Brand passed to Scott Heard but his cross was blocked. From the corner McFarlane scored the first of his two fantastic goals. Heard set the ball back to him just inside the box and he powered home an unstoppable shot through a crowded area. There was thirty-six minutes on the clock and unfortunately Bay could not hold on to the lead to half-time.

With a minute to go, there was a miscommunication between Joe Tyrie and Coleman, which allowed Fair to nip in and prod the ball through the keeper’s legs and into the net.
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⚡️ Second Half: 3-2 Hassocks
In a double blow to the Bay, within three minutes of starting the second half, Shaw pumped a long free kick up the pitch which was headed on by Benson and in a flash, Finney had controlled with his chest and placed a right footed shot past Coleman.

After Tyrie had headed onto his own crossbar, the momentum switched massively in Bay’s favour. McFarlane pulled the scores level at 2-2, with an accurate finish past the advancing ‘keeper after Heard had seen his run and timed a lovely through ball to him.

A succession of Bay corners came to nothing and then McFarlane was very unlucky not to score a hat-trick. He beat four players in a mazy run, and his goal bound shot was saved by the busy Shaw with his legs and the rebound struck a defender and off for a corner.

McFarlane, Ababio and Smith combined for the latter to cross for Brand. His header was turned over the bar by Shaw at point blank, showing what a good signing he was.

Ababio then kept up the pressure when after getting on to Bloomfield’s flick, he showed good close control to make space for a shot which was deflected past the right upright.

The chances kept coming for Bay, and in the 82nd minute Haysman squared to McFarlane and he hit a shot as clean as this first half goal, but alas, it crashed into the bar. Haysman attempted to overhead kick the rebound, but it went harmlessly wide.

One last chance to take the lead before Hassock’s late winner fell to Ababio who attempted to lob the keeper from close range, but it cleared the bar.

The defeat felt particularly cruel given Bay’s dominance after the break, leaving players and supporters alike deflated on the long journey home.
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? Upcoming Fixtures
• Tuesday 12th August, 19:45 – Sheppey United (Home- Isthmian League)
• Tuesday 19th August, 19:45 - Sheppey United (Home- Kent Senior Cup)
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