Fleetdown Utd Vets 1 - 6 HBV
J Kennett
S Brown
J Delo
M Groom
A Lees (2)

This was Herne Bay Vets’ first game since the last round of the Kent Cup back in November, and we were once again drawn away from home. In fact, the Firsts haven’t played at home since Round 2 of the Kent Cup back in October when they overcame Anchorian Rovers in a tight game.

Bay took a strong side to Dartford today but were deprived of a number of players through injury: Wayne Fittal, Sean Hetterley, Mark Lovell, as well as Owain who was unavailable and unavailable for comment as to why he was unavailable.

That said, it was great to see the inclusion of Anthony Lees, who loves a late kick off, starting back to back games and Nathan Eastwood, man of the match today for a peerless performance holding the line today. Back too came Alex Hossick and Jack Delo, after celebrating new additions to their families. And alongside them the regular faces which saw us through the early rounds in autumn to ensure that in the new year, we are still in all competitions.

So the starting back line was Matt Boyce in goal for his 4th appearance of the season, and in front of him Webb, Burrett, Eastwood and Banks. We started with a front pairing of Brown and Groom with a diamond shaped midfield of Kennett, Hossick, Delo and a rejuvenated Clive Stace who has quietly been putting in a string of commanding performances in the heart of midfield. The choice of Simon Brown up front was a nod to his versatility, movement and threat as manager Scott Kennett asked both forwards to ensure Fleetwood’s defenders had no time on the ball.

Storm Barra that had raged in the days leading up to the game had subsided and despite a little drizzle shortly after kick off, conditions were fairly benign. We’d clearly been allocated a second choice pitch after a trudge past a decent looking surface took us round the back to something less tempting. As we arrived, there was a fair amount of home support hoping to see Fleetwood continue their progress to the next round.

As it was, the opening exchanges were reasonably balanced and this looked like it was shaping up to be Bay’s toughest game of the season so far. It looked to this observer as if Fleetwood were benefitting from some extra width as Webb was having to contend at times with an overload down his side when he was drawn into the middle. Kennett and Kidd were discussing how to address this when Fleetwood changed formation to account for the threat that Brown was presenting upfront. That rejig handed the initiative to Bay allowing them to wrsetle control of the game, limiting the Fleetwood attack to few chances, thanks to the hard work of the midfield players and the strength of the backline.

As Bay took control, chances began to follow and on 29 minutes Brown angled in a fantastic cross from the right, that Joe Kennett met fractionally ahead of the keeper and nodded home. Just five minutes later Joe returned the favour, playing in Brown, this time down the left, who cut in and fired at the near post. The keeper scrambled awkwardly but the pace on the ball took it beyond him, and Bay were cruising.

Inexplicably, just two minutes later, Fleetdown clawed their way back in to the game with a solo effort from their centre-midfield gym shark who took the ball and beat at least three before firing home. That quite understandably caused a little anxiety despite the fact Herne Bay clearly were starting to look the better team.

Manager Kennett opted for some fresh legs at the turn around with Lees being unleashed up front. And what an effect he had. His pace and control on a tricky surface was causing difficulties for the home side from the moment he came on, and Herne Bay began to turn the screw. It took just under 20 minutes for Bay to put clear daylight between the two sides when Groom teed up Delo who steadied himself and the edge of the area and curled the ball past the keeper with his left. A classy finish. Their tails now up, Bay were rampant and Fleetwood visibly tired. Up popped Anthony Lees for his first of the season with the bounce on the shot deceiving the keeper as it flew past him and into the net.

Clive had been a presence throughout, mobile, strong and with good distribution when he had the ball. Possession and dominance meant his average position edged up the pitch and on 78 minutes he fired in a fantastic effort that rattled the crossbar and over. As he’s said in the past, it’s what he does.

With Fleetdown pressing forward, they were wide open at the back and a simple but effective ball down the line from Webb to Groom saw him run half the length of the pitch and finish past the keeper from a tight angle. This killed any momentum the home side were attempting to build and it remained just for Groom, on 84 mins, to wriggle past his marker and square to Anthony Lees to tap home on the line for his brace.

Overall this was a creditable and stylish performance on a tricky surface against a team not used to losing often this season. It means we progress to the last four in Kent and SE London where awaits Stansfeld, New Ash Green and Metrogas or Snodland.

The competition now is intense and we need the whole squad to step up and want it. Just one game separates us from a final that the talent in the squad deserves. Even a 20 minute cameo at the end of a game could be the difference between a win and the lottery of penalties and it’s important we all keep the 12 February free.

Nathan Eastwood was overwhelmingly selected as man of the match but Joe Kennett’s indefatigable running, energy and all-round contribution is worthy of mention. That said, everyone was on it today and performed really well. We now have a well earned rest until 8 Jan when we resume the London Cup, again in Dartford, but this time on 3g. I hope that 2022 will see the return of Fitts, Lovers, Hetters and the other players we haven't seen too much of yet and will be the push we need to get us through the next rounds and up the league table. In the meantime, make sure you stay fit for the early game in Jan. It will come round quickly!

Here is how we lined up at the start:

M Boyce

I Banks A Burrett N Eastwood S Webb

C Stace

A Hossick J Delo

J Kennett

S Brown M Groom

Starting from the bench: A Lees, M Betts, J Atkinson
Result: Fleetdown 1 – 6 Herne Bay Vets
Man-of-the-match: Player's vote: N Eastwood
Man-of-the-match: Opposition vote: -
Referee: Steve Britten [90]