Report from Scott Kennett, First Team Vets Manager

Old Pepys 3 – 5 HBV
P Bishenden (2)
S Brown
C Sharp
M Radulovic

Old Pepys started brightly playing a 4-3-3 formation settling quickly and dominated the first 10 minutes of the game playing direct to their front 3 who were tricky and lively. But it was Herne bay who scored first from a Simon Webb corner headed in smartly by Craig Sharp who, after creating space for himself, looped his header back over the head of the goalkeeper into the far corner.

Pepys continued to look dangerous and competitive, but were caught out by Herne Bay on the counter-attack when a four pass move involving Stuart Monday and John Atkinson ended with a square ball from Craig Sharp to Simon brown who slid in to make it 2-0 . This seemed to settle Bay after their nervy start.

Patrick Bishenden was then denied a clear penalty as was Matt Carvosso minutes later, Pepys riding their luck somewhat. But the home side continued to play and work hard and got their reward when one of their forwards turned on the edge of the box and finished smartly to make it 2-1 with 10 minutes to go to half time.

Then a moment of madness from Bay’s goalkeeper.

He left his goal to returned a stray ball to the kids who hnd punted it on to our field. This allowed Pepys to kick the ball into an unguarded net right on the stroke of half time to make it 2-2.

There was one change for visitors at half time: Carvy came on for Burrett. The second half begun with the game fairly even for the first 15 minutes which chances either end, Tharp making amends for his lapse of concentration with a fine save punching the ball clear while under pressure. With the game finely poised Bay switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Brown dropping deeper and Miki Radulovic pushing up front to support Pat Bishenden. This paid off immediately when “Lionel Miki” found space cutting in on his right foot smashed the ball home at the keepers near post to make it 3-2 to the Bay!

The Kent side were now starting to dominate possession and using the wide men – Atkinson and Sharp - with conviction. The wingers were now starting to get balls in to the front two and Pat Bishenden got Bay’s fourth goal of the afternoon.

A fifth from Bish was ruled out (dubiously), and this made Pepys keeper kick out at Bay’s number 9 for some reason with the referee seemingly oblivious to what was going on. Herne Bay now looked more comfortable but out of nowhere a 30 yard ‘Bobby Dazzler’ smashed off the underside of the bar and in made the score 4-3 ! With five minutes remaining Bay held their nerve and Pat Bish got his second in the 90th minute with a lob over the helpless Pepys keeper to put Bay in the hat for the next round - where they meet Slade Green Knights.

Man of the match today: Craig Sharp: a constant menace all game

Referee: Whoever he was [90]