Today was the much-anticipated match up between Herne Bay Vet’s First team and the Reserves. The match had a particular significance in light of the possibility of the Reserve team competing, as a separate entity, in Division One next season. And what better team to test themselves against, than the Division’s finest.

The venue was switched to Canterbury University’s new 3g surface after an enjoyable mid-week game a couple of weeks ago, with HBV cast for the purposes of this fixture, as the home team.

They were able to field what has been a relatively consistent back five of Boyce, Banks, Burrent, Williams and Webb with a diamond in front of them comprised of Stace, Kennett, Delo and fit again Simon Brown and a front two of Groom and Bishenden. The bench consisted of John Atkinson, Mark Kidd, James Tharp and recent returnee-from-Mexico Paul Tomkies.

They faced a side who opted for a different formation for the first time this season of 4-4-1-1 in a clear attempt to thwart the favourites but were slightly hamstrung at the start by the late arrival of midfield powerhouse Leigh Gilpin (a mix up with satnav, postcodes and a bottle and a half of tequila the night before – cue some joke about a half cut diamond in this midfield). Tom Powell was a late drop out due to illness but was there nonetheless to support his team and to scream like a banshee for penalties.

HBVR had a back five of Parker, Edwards, Foad, Munday and Sharp with a midfield four of Smith, Craig Gilpin and wide men Carvosso and Powlter. Miki played in the hole behind eager front runner Richard Fell.

The switch in formation was designed to make the Reserves harder to break down and to crowd out the First Team’s talented midfield quartet. Having Carvy on the left and Hade on the right meant they would naturally come in field and add to the crowd and allow space outside of them for the two pacy full backs to attack. All of this however was undone in the opening two minutes though when the Reserves dropped off as instructed into their own half allowing Simon Webb the time to pick out the willing run of Pat Bishenden who seized upon the misjudged header of the centre back (who shall remain nameless) to coolly lob the keeper from the edge of the area. It was so early in the game that the cameras were still being set up and it wasn’t captured, much to the relief I dare say, of Stu Munday.

Despite the early setback and the heavy possession stats by the home side, the Reserves dug in and prevented any further goals. Clive had a couple of sighters from range, as did Simon Brown, and Richard Parker made a smart save from close range after a Simon Webb long throw that Joe Kennett headed on target.

Parkie was also equal to a Simon Brown shot from inside the penalty after being played in by Pat Bishenden. He palmed the ball across the area but Sharp was there to smuggle the ball out of danger.

With some 20 minutes gone, the game was starting to establish something of a pattern, with the Ressies happy to drop deep and tighten the space in their half, and the Firsts content in possession and continued to probe openings. The Ressies when they did break shot hurriedly and from range, Miki and Rich Fell both missing the target or troubling Boycie in the nets. Behind them Craig Gilpin was all energy as he put in a man of the match performance with his tireless running and snappy tackles.

The more the half went on the more the home side’s full backs felt comfortable to push further forward. With time and space in front of them, Webb and Banks began to play higher up the pitch and provided a number of crosses, one from Webb on 10 mins just failed to connect with Simon Brown’s diving header.

The main outlet for the visitors was in Craig Sharp at right back but Jack Delo was working hard and covering the ground to put pressure on him deep in their half. At one point Sharpie did surge forward with the ball and angled a fair shot straight at Boycie who gathered comfortably. Meanwhile up the other end, Pat Bishenden, although being marshalled excellently by a combination of Lee Foad and Stu Munday, was dropping off, asking for the ball and turning to set up attacks as well as running the channels and looking for longer balls.

Bish and Groomie combined well with a quarter of an hour gone, as they exchanged passes on the edge of the area, but the resulting shot lacked conviction and was easily gathered by Parker.

The Ressies then had a short period of possession playing from defence into Smudge then back to Sharp and across the backline to Kev via Foady. The passing eventually broke down and Brown seized on it and lashed a fierce shot from 20 yards into the side netting.

From the resulting short goal kick the Ressies went again, with their well drilled passing across the back, working it well despite constant pressure from the indefatigable Michael Groom. When the ball went up front, Felly found himself alone against the back line and his attempted flick ended up at the feet of Aaron Burrett.

Clive by this time has established himself as the fulcrum around which most of the play developed and he played in Brown on the right who, under pressure from Craig Gilpin, crossed well to Joe whose on target header found the gloves of Richie Parker.

The Ressies were now getting the ball into the opposition half more regularly – both Sharp and Fell pushing forward - but their final balls were understandably more hurried and ended up being mishit, and in the gloves of keeper Matt Boyce. The Firsts meanwhile were happy in possession with all of the back four, under little pressure, now bringing the ball forward attempting to find an opening to extend their narrow lead. On 20 mins Burrett found Delo who turned smartly with it, played in Brown whose first time shot was parried by Parkie for a corner. Shortly after this, Scott Kennett reverted to his favoured 4-3-3 pushing Simon Brown upfront and switching to three in the middle. This did mean that Sharpie, as the main outlet on the right had more space in front of him as Jack was now more narrow. Consequently, shortly after the switch he found himself on the edge of the area, squaring it to Smudge whose shot sailed over harmlessly.

Then with just two minutes remaining of the half, Bates’ pass to Sharpie was intercepted by Webb and the ball fell to Delo. He played it into Brown who turned and played it to Bish on the left-hand side. His deep cross found Groom at the back post whose first time ball was directed towards Brown to complete the simplest of tap ins.

So, 2-0 at half time meant the game was far from over and the next goal took on great significance. The Firsts were creating more and better chances but the Ressies finished the half well and were by no means out of it.

There were no changes made by the Firsts and half-time and just the one for the Reserves so unsurprising the game restarted with a similar pattern to the game: the Firsts with plenty of possession and the Ressies looking to squeeze space and hit on the counter. Minutes in, Joe squared the ball to Groom who ghosted past his marker, looked up and squared to Brownie who put his first time effort high and wide, struggling as he was by this time with his ankle following an accidental collison in the first half.

From the resulting goal kick, Clive won the header and fed Simon Brown. He played it square to Bish mid-way inside the opposition half. As he advanced, the defence backed off and enough space opened up for him to unleash a shot from 25 yards out that flew past the dive of Parkie and into the back of the net.

With a three goal cushion, the Firsts were looking comfortable. But just six minutes after Bish’s long range goal, the Ressies were handed a lifeline. A ball out from Stu Munday was set back by Craig Gilpin to Miki who beat his man and advanced into the opposition half. He played a nice ball into the space for Craig Gilpin who was either tackled cleanly or up-ended by Owain Williams in the area, prompting a number of people to call a penalty. The footage is attached to this match report so you can make your own minds up, but the ref gave it to the delight of some of those on the sideline whose appeals may have help coax the referee into his decision. In the ensuing discussions, Owain was sin binned and shortly after Aaron joined him, leaving the Firsts with just nine men for a period of at least 10 minutes - but the vagaries of the system meant it could literally be as long as the ref wanted. When one fifth of the Firsts outfield players had left the pitch, Billy stepped up and rolled the penalty passed Boycie who had dived the wrong way.

With both central defenders off the field, Scott was forced into a reshuffle as he moved to a 4-3-1 formation. Naturally enough, for those 10 or so minutes, the Ressies enjoyed plenty of possession. After a handball by Mike, the visitors won a free kick on the edge of the area that Miki fired into the wall.

Roles were reversed for this period as the Firsts camped in their own half hoping to hit their opponents on the break and at one point a counter led by Bish and Brown won them a corner and some respite from defending.

When Owain came back on, the Ressies hadn’t managed to capitalise any further on their two man advantage. With 15 minutes remaining Tomkies teed up Mike Groom, unmarked on the right, whose high shot inside the area was on target and palmed over calmly by Parker. Shortly after, the Ressies had a scare when a Webb cross from the left travelled across the box untouched and bounced off the outside of the post to safety. Miki then had a solo run down his right side of the pitch from just inside his half that saw him turn his marker but blast straight at Boycie and back out.

With around 10 minutes on the clock, referee Brian Booker took a challenge on Craig Gilpin to be more than a foul and deserving of a yellow card. There was very little in it and with the potential for the ref to issue another sin binning, Joe sensibly asked to be subbed off having seen and heard enough.

As the game fizzled out the Ressies pressed and had the best of the final minutes possession wise but didn’t do enough to trouble the home keeper.

Overall, this was a game high on quality and played in a good spirit. It’s hard to see how it featured two sin bins and a yellow. It was clear that should the Reserves choose to test themselves in Div 1 next year they will be one of the better teams in it. Meanwhile, the Firsts roll on to the final on 21st May where they face Baypoint who overcame Gate in the other semi-final.

Here is how we lined up at the start:

M Boyce

I Banks A Burrett O Williams S Webb

C Stace

J Kennett J Delo

S Brown

P Bishenden M Groom

Bench: M Kidd, J Atkinson, J Tharp, P Tomkies

------------------------------------O------------------------------------------------

R Fell

M Radulovic

M Carvosso S Smith C Gilpin H Powlter