Saturday 23rd March 2024.
Isthmian League Division One South East
Herne Bay 1 Sevenoaks Town 2
Attendance. 508
Herne Bay: Harry Brooks, Frankie Smith, Harrison Pont, Liam Friend, Danny Walder (Tom Hanfrey 85), Gil Carvalho, Scott Heard, Michael Salako, Vance Bola (Archie Burnett 68), Theo Osinfolarin (Finlay Whitton 66), Kane Rowland. Subs not used: Dan Carrington, Sam Wright.
Scorer: Carvalho (41)
Red card: Frankie Smith (two yellow cards)

Steve Lovell: “If we perform like we have been, we will be fine. We’re playing well and perhaps not getting the results we deserve. If we keep performing, I’m sure the results will come again.”

Herne Bay’s 550th competitive game since they played their first Isthmian League match back in August 2012 turned out to be an anti-climax as their chances of making the play-offs were dealt a blow in the 1-2 defeat. Indeed, much of the game looked like two average sides, late in the season, without much to play for. There were no changes to the starting line-up. Kane Rowland wore a mask to protect his broken nose.

Gil Carvalho had the first chance for Herne Bay but he skied over the bar from 25 yards. Soloman Baugh nearly brought a reply from the visitors but his centre across the area found no-one on the end. Harrison Pont then fouled Kieron Cadogan on the edge of the box but the resultant free-kick from Daniel Bennett went straight into the wall. Danny Walder was next to clear the crossbar, before Carvalho shot straight at former Bay goalkeeper Dan Colmer. The stopper then dived to save from Mike Salako after he had been set-up by Vance Bola.

Sevenoaks made the breakthrough in the 34th minute when Emmanuel Mensah found Baugh deep in the area, who rounded Harry Brooks to slot into an empty net from a tight angle. Within seven minutes Bay were level. Bola played the ball across the face of the goal where Carvalho was waiting at the far post. His shot looked initially to be saved by Colmer but with the defence unable to clear the ball was scrambled home.

Herne Bay had the best of the chances at the end of the first period with Bola again setting up Carvalho, but his shot came off a defender and was saved by Colmer and Heard passed to Bola who played Carvalho through but his shot was over the bar.

The second half started with Oaks on top without really looking like scoring and 12 minutes in there were handbags in the Bay penalty area and both Smith and Mensah received yellow cards. With 20 minutes left the game began to come alive. Mensah again played the ball across the face of the Herne Bay goalmouth and again there was no-one there to take advantage.

Carvalho found Kane Rowland close to the penalty spot. His strike hit the post and rolled along the goal-line agonisingly going close to creeping over. Bay were having their best period of the game and Colmer saved from Archie Burnett. A Salako header from a Carvalho cross was blocked. From the Smith corner Rowland, at the far post, headed back across goal, but Carvalho put it over the bar.

Then came disaster for Bay. The assistant referee flagged for offside in the Bay box. The man in the middle dillied and dallied, consulted with his assistant and showed Smith a second yellow followed by a red, and he was off. No-one was really sure why.

Down to ten men Herne Bay were under the cosh. Dominic Morgan Griffiths hit the bar for Oaks and then with seven minutes left on the clock Baugh found Karn Miller-Neave and he fired into the roof of the net.

It’s not over until it’s over but with seven matches left Bay’s chances of making the play-offs had become that much harder.