After last week’s battling fight back against Hastings, Herne Bay 14's were again at home but with a change of competition; facing off against Lordswood in the first round of the cup.

The early exchanges favoured the away team. Tom headed one dangerous cross away, only for the second ball to be volleyed sharply back at goal. Callum was alert to tip the effort wide. Matters were not helped as new signing Ralph was unable to continue after being stood on at a corner. Nevertheless, Herne Bay seemed to be getting to grips with their new formation, with Harrison and Ollie flanking Tom to marshall the opposition attacks.

Gradually, Herne Bay started to get into the game. Charlie showed some neat skill to escape his marker and find Danny out wide, who drove forward and won a corner. Blake’s delivery was pin point but Danny flicked his header wide of the far post. Herne Bay were finding a lot of joy down their left and from another Danny cross, the Lordswood keeper misjudged and palmed the ball into his net. 1-0.

Herne Bay looked to press home their advantage and quickly doubled their lead. Finn won a 50:50 in midfield and played Sammy down the line. His cross was aimed at Freddie but rebounded off a defender and in. 2-0.

Herne Bay tails were up and it nearly led to a spectacular third. Tom stepped out from the back and curled a fine pass out to Danny. His cross was whipped with venom but Sammy’s powerful header left the crossbar reverberating.

Chances came and went for the home side to extend the lead and they were duly punished for their profligacy just before the break. A corner was half cleared several times before a Lordswood player drilled the loose ball home. 2-1

Herne Bay were second out of the changing room at half time and whatever words were exchanged had an immediate impact. Ollie won the ball in his own half, got brought down, and yet still was able to chip a pass over the backline to an onrushing Blake. With the keeper advancing into no man’s land, Blake lobbed the ball casually up and over the keeper into the far corner to re-establish the two goal lead. 3-1.

With Kai and Alfie taking last week’s competitive edge into this game, Herne Bay began to strangle the opposition and force them back. Danny played a cute ball across the box that saw both Freddie and Sammy see efforts saved before Theo and Freddie played a series of one-twos around the box that led to the skipper firing narrowly wide of the angle of post and crossbar.

Eventually, the pressure began to tell and, as Lordswood began to tire, three more goals arrived to add some gloss to the score line. First, Danny won the ball back in the opposition half and squared for Freddie to rifle home before Henry lobbed over the backline to allow Freddie to skip through and double his tally. Finn was next to add an assist to his name, finding Sammy breaking free of the offside trip to make it 6-1.

There was still time for Oscar to strike the crossbar from distance before the final whistle as The Bay booked their place in the draw for the next round.

Goal Scorers

2x OG
2x Phillips
1x Zacharia
1x Lee-Chibnall