Just 11 days ago, Herne Bay delivered an impressive performance at home against Ramsgate, but we couldn't replicate that success in our latest meeting, falling 3-0 amidst the wind and rain bought by Storm Bert.

Only two changes were made to our line-up, Kane Haysman returned from injury for Artem Kuchkov, and Michael Salako replaced suspended Kane Rowland.

Bay started fairly well with Scott Heard and Monty Saunders in particular, seeing plenty of the ball.

However, 12 minutes in, Ramsgate in their first dangerous attack took the lead. Tom Clifford in possession on the halfway line, squared to Tijan Jadama who had lots of time and space in midfield. He found Benny Bioletti on our left wing who cut inside Jack Parter and hit a low left-footed shot. Disappointingly, this beat Harry Brooks at his near post.

Less than two minutes later, Roarie Deacon extended Ramsgate’s lead. Jack Hillier cleared to Mo Kamara, who avoided Jadama’s sliding tackle but his pass didn’t reach Saunders as Deacon nipped in to intercept. Deacon then shot from the 18-yard line and despite Brooks’s dive to his right, the ball flew past him for 2-0.

Bay didn’t have too many attacking highlights as Ramsgate comfortably defended and controlled the game. Deacon tried his luck from 25 yards and Brooks cleanly held on to it as forwards looked for a possible rebound.

In the 36th minute, a dangerous freekick by Lee Martin found the head of Joe Elull but his header was narrowly wide.

In worsening playing conditions, there was little else to excite the Herne Bay supporters among the 818 spectators and Ramsgate kept the 2-0 lead into the half-time interval.

Steve Lovell made two changes at half-time trying to find a way back into the game. Joshua Reid replaced Jack Hillier and youngster Alfie Hill came on in midfield for Mo Kamara. Reid was straight in on the action when Heard’s trough ball gave him the chance to outpace the Ramsgate defence. His shot, and Herne Bay’s first on target, was saved by Tom Hadler down to his right.

In the 55th minute, Bay earned a freekick in a dangerous area. It was taken by Heard, who put a low cross into the 6-yard box. This came off a defender and Hadler pushed the ball past the far post for a Herne Bay corner.

Bay’s task became a lot harder in the 56th minute when a long ball out of defence by Ramsgate cleared Bay’s back line and Josh Ajayi who saw Brooks running out of the area. Ajayi got to the ball first, flicked it over Brooks and fell in the following collision. Brooks was shown the red card and Bay faced over half an hour with only ten men.

Ethan Smith took the gloves and became the 6th player between the sticks for Bay in League and Cup matches this season.

Bay made another double substitution in the 65th minute – Kuchkov and Harry Bridle replaced Salako and Haysman. Ramsgate did little to test Smith in goal as shots were mostly well over the bar.

It wasn’t until the 74th minute that the third goal came. Jadama scored from 23 yards with Smith diving to his right and unable to reach.

A fourth goal, a spectacular volley by ex-Gillingham youngster Kai Garrett, was ruled out for offside but the game finished as a comfortable 3-0 win for Ramsgate who remain at the top of the Isthmian South East with 15 wins and a draw from their 16 games.

Bay meanwhile will hope for a better performance at home to Three Bridges on Tuesday 16th November. We need to find some inspiration from somewhere as our current record of 18 goals in 14 games is our lowest scoring rate since 2012/13.

Herne Bay; Brooks, Hillier (Reid 46’), Parter, Friend, Salmon, Heard, Kamara (Hill 46’), E Smith, Salako (Bridle 65’), Haysman (Kuchkov 65’), Saunders.
Subs Unused; Carrington

Yellow Cards; Friend, Saunders, Heard, Hill

Next Fixtures:
Tuesday 26th November 19:45, home v Three Bridges (Isthmian South East)
Saturday 30th November 15:00, home v Beckenham Town (Isthmian South East)