After losing their first cup tie in over a year last week, Herne Bay eventually triumphed in another anxiety-inducing seven goal thriller in the second round of the league cup against Erith & Belvedere.
The first half was a tale of missed chances for the home side, who were ultimately punished against the run of play. Herne Bay did open the scoring after Freddie did brilliantly to win a long ball and feed Sammy, who calmly slotted past the advancing keeper. However, despite opening the opposition up several times and getting many attempts at goal, they couldn’t find a second. The away side did eventually threaten, forcing stand in keeper Archie to push an effort wide, but The Bay didn’t heed the warning and found themselves pegged back as a deflected shot found the bottom corner.
Herne Bay almost retook the lead just before the half after Freddie won a penalty, rounding the keeper but being pulled down before he could finish. Unfortunately, the keeper guessed well and parried Henry’s penalty away.
If a sharp start to the second half was required, the opposite happened as Herne Bay quickly fell behind. A cross field pass was cut out and the striker quickly found himself behind the Herne Bay backline, streaking away to finish well.
Tempers started to flare as the opposition’s uncompromising approach led to a flurry of robust challenges but the home side earned themselves a corner. Blake’s flighted delivery was headed home powerfully by Danny to bring the scores level for the second time. Further set piece success followed as Theo’s mist hit free kick was chased gamely by Danny and his cut back evaded everyone except for Ralph, stealing in at the back post to slide home for Herne Bay’s third.
Having secured the lead for the second time, the home team coaches would have been dismayed to see that lead conceded again swiftly after, with Erith breaking down the left and rolling a cross to an unmarked attacker to level the game for a third time.
Another swift counter almost saw Erith take the lead themselves but Theo was on hand to recover and block a clear sight of goal. And that same player almost gave the home side another lead, seeing his arcing header, from another well flighted Blake delivery, crash back off the cross bar and away. But The Bay dug deep and grabbed the lead and the eventual victory as Henry’s raking long pass was flicked on by Danny and Freddie strode through to power home a finish, and secure his side’s place in the next round.