Match Report: Sheppey United 3 Herne Bay 1 (16/07/22)

Herne Bay suffered the first defeat of their packed pre-season campaign with a 3-1 loss to Sheppey United at Holm Park.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when a dangerous cross into the Bay box was accidentally turned home by Dan Carrington.

Sheppey doubled the advantage just before the break when a loose ball in the box was hammered home by Danny Leonard.

The game was put beyond any doubt early in the second period when a deeply swung corner was forced home by Nickal David Luzolo.

Mike West got a goal back late in the game when his low free-kick beat the ‘keeper, with Zak Ansah maybe getting the last touch, but it was too little too late as the hosts held on to win.

The Bay came out of the blocks quickly and had a great chance to open the scoring after only four minutes when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the area. Stepping up to take it, Bode Anidugbe, fresh from extending his stay with the club, curled the ball a few inches the wrong side of the bar.

In the blazing sunshine, Ben Smith’s side were creating the better chances and in the 14th minute, excellent play from Troy Williams enabled Kymani Thomas a chance on goal. However, the Sheppey ‘keeper was more than a match for his effort.

A matter of seconds later and the hosts were left wondering how they hadn’t taken the lead. Sheppey’s forward did well to work the ball into shooting space, with his shot thumping against the foot of the post.

With the crowd expecting the net to ripple, they were left stunned when it dribbled along the goal line before being cleared by a Bay defender.

Approaching the 20th minute, Marcel Barrington was starting to have more of an influence on the game, with a powerful shot from just outside the penalty are forcing Sheppey’s ‘keeper into a top quality save.

Ben Smith’s side was punished for not converting its chances in cruel fashion after 33 minutes. Having been played into space, Danny Leonard, a new signing from Dartford, whipped the ball into the box, only for Carrington to unwillingly turn it past Jordan Perrin and into his own net.

The hosts had their tails up and after forcing Jordan into a superb save moments later, they doubled their advantage. Herne Bay were unable to deal with a dangerous cross, with the ball falling kindly to Leonard who made no mistake with his finish.

Two goals up and with the wind in their sails, Sheppey didn’t let up in the second half and after 56 minutes, they added a third when a corner wasn’t dealt with properly, leaving Luzolo too much time to put the game beyond doubt.

As the game wore on, and with several substitutions made, the Bay started to show signs of recovery, with Lanre Azeez’s shot forcing the Sheppey defence to scramble in order the stop the ball from finding its target.

West was also making an impact on the game and with just under 20 minutes to play, he did well to enable Eddie Allsopp a chance to try his luck from range. However, the young midfielder saw his goalbound effort heroically blocked by a defender.

Shortly after Zak Ansah's attempt from a tight angle, which hit the side netting, the Bay pulled a goal back when West’s low freekick in the 89th minute flummoxed the home ‘keeper, with the ball perhaps taking a touch off Zak before going in.

However, it was all too little to late as the hosts held on for a deserved win.

Full Time: Sheppey United 3 Herne Bay 1

Starting XI: Jordan Perrin, Jack Parter, Dan Carrington, Daniel Johnson, Troy Williams, Bode Anidugbe, Hamilton Antonio, Kymani Thomas, Aaron Millbank, Rodney Adamon-Eruotor, Marcel Barrington.

Subs: Joe Denny, Zak Ansah, Eddie Allsopp, Frankie Morgan, Mike West, Lanre Azeez