Two months on from the previous round (versus Catford in November), Herne Bay Vets went into what looked like a very tough tie, so early in the competition.

LSU are one of the top teams in the Southern Vets Div 1, unbeaten so far this season. They have had the last 10 weeks off from playing due to suspension by the league after some on and off field discipline issues.

Herne Bay Vets’ last competitive game meanwhile was on 10 December against Betteshanger, but did manage to arrange and play a friendly in between Christmas and new year.

In terms of players, Scott experienced his first ‘perfect storm’ of availability with 20 quality players offering themselves up for selection.

This was subsequently honed to a final 16 and resulted in a very strong starting XI: Lewis continued his excellent work in goal, behind a back four of John Atkinson (today’s captain), Owain Williams, Nathan Eastwood and Simon Webb. Opting for a 4-3-3 formation Scott fielded Jack Delo, Simon Brown and Joe Kennett across the middle with a devastating frontline of Sean Hetterley, Pat Bishenden and Steve O’Brien.

Having seen videos of LSU we were expecting a busy centre midfield and the opening exchanges saw LSU enjoy a lot of the possession with overloads in the wide positions, especially our left. Their movement up top was fast and relentless and Bay had to really dig in in order to get a foothold in the game.

Having weathered a torrid 10 minute onslaught, the home side began to work their way into the game and fashion chances of their own. Lewis’ kicking was key at this stage to clearing the lines and allowing the defence time to reset and push up. One such attack saw Hetters swivel and roll the ball into the net but the referee ruled it out as he saw a handball in the build up.

From that LSU went straight down the other end and with some trickery on the edge of the area managed to win a penalty as Owain was judged to have handled the ball right in the left-hand corner of the area.

Up stepped the LSU player to take his spot kick, which was saved by Lewis with his knees and the rebound was cleared by Steve O’Brien.

This aside, Bay were well and truly in the game at this point and were spending more and more time in the opposition half as the game wore on. Lewis’s kicking continued to rain down on the LSU backline and caused them trouble. On 20 mins Bay had a penalty of their when Hetters wriggled free of his defender only for him to kick his heels and bring him down, earning in the process a yellow card for his protests.

Steve O’Brien volunteered to take the spot kick and went to the right in the corner but the keeper managed to scramble across and stop it, dislocating his finger in the process.

Still all square, with a penalty save each, it took only another six minutes for the home side to take the lead. Bish was played through down the right with an incisive through ball and was taken down by a two-footed agricultural lunge and Bish was lucky enough to avoid any serious injury. This was a chance for Simon Webb to show what hours of free kick practice on Wednesday nights can do. As he lined up, he saw a chance to embarrass the keeper at his near post, which he did with a low powerful drive.

Despite Lewis’s excellent distribution it was a through ball played on the deck by Browner to Hetters that doubled Bay’s lead. Hetters reached the byline, looked up and crossed perfectly for Bish to head home.

That said, LSU are a quality outfit and continued to move the ball around well and make Herne Bay work really hard to stay in the game. Every player was working hard to nullify what LSU were doing. But the visitors were eventually rewarded for their work on 44 mins with a goal when John, running back towards his goal, intercepted a crossfield ball with his head inadvertently guiding into the home left back position from where the LSU winger cut in swung a deep cross to the far post to the opposite wide man who controlled it, steadied himself and rolled a square ball to the unattended no 9 who swept the ball into the corner of the net.

LSU then almost doubled their tally when Bay dwelled on the ball too long at the back, got caught in position and John ended up making a dramatic goal line clearance denying hen LSU what looked to be a certain goal. He tweaked his knee in the process and gave way to Ian Banks for the remainder of the game.

Nathan was also involved in a goal saving challenges himself when he flew in to block the striker’s shot as he lined it up just eight yards out.

Bay’s backs were to the wall as half-time approached, still battling, still nullifying the visitors' evident threat. The referee added 14 mins to the first half and in this time added on Browner had a thunderous free kick that rebounded off the inside of the post and out.

Then 11 mins into time added on, the LSU no 20 raked his studs down the front of Webby’s shins which left him on the floor in some pain. This was seen by the assistant referee who made the ref aware that it was a bookable offence and he duly gave the player his second yellow card of the game (his first was for protesting the penalty award) and after some protestations, he walked.

With echoes of the world cup, the half-time whistle blew fully 59 mins after kick off.

The game was still far from settled. LSU boasted five or six ex-pros in their side and had more than enough ability to hurt the home side. But it was Bay who started the stronger. Just minutes into the second half and Bay had another free kick on the edge of the area to our left. Webby attempted a quickly taken free kick which didn’t come off and the ref ordered a retake because, he later explained, he was still dealing with a player and was not looking at the ball. The retake was floated into the area, Joe rose to nod down and Hetters swept it home.

LSU continued to push and press and create some problems but gaps were starting to open up in the 10-man side. Sam Denly came on for Jack Delo and was able to exploit those gaps with some excellent passing. Bay had a number of chances to put the game beyond reach, hitting the woodwork twice and Mike Groom was denied when the keeper tipped on to the crossbar.

The ref played 12 mins of added time in the second half in addition to the 14 in the first half but fully two hours after we kicked off, the referee blew full time.

Overall, this was the Vets’ toughest game and probably best win. All 16 members of the squad played their part in this victory and they deserve huge credit for the effort they put in, the performance and the result. It was a wonderful advert for Vets football in general, the pace of the first half especially would not be out of place in many open age games (one player calling it the toughest 45 mins of football they’d ever played).

The nature of the win was also noteworthy. We were not able to play the kind of football we usually do (although the goal that came from open play was characteristically slick) due mostly to the quality of the opposition. LSU also tried to play and in fairness did well at it, despite the work rate and intensity of Bay’s willing runners. The change in style did allow us to see the power of Lewis’ kicking. Some of the visiting players said after the game that it was troubling to be turned so frequently and with pace up front chasing down those balls in to the corners, I can see why the defenders didn’t enjoy it.

The win itself though was built on hard work and it was great to see what happens when the whole squad puts that effort in. We must build on it in future rounds and make sure all of the effort put into this game does not go to waste.

A week off next week, followed by the quarter final versus Independent who currently sit top of Div 1 of the Southern Vets League. Rest up.

L Craddock

J Atkinson O Williams N Eastwood S Webb

J Delo
S Brown J Kennett

S Hetterley
P Bishenden S O’Brien

Starting from the bench: M Groom, M McHugh, L Brister, I Banks, S Denly

Result: Herne Bay Vets 3 – 1 LSU
Man-of-the-match: Player's vote: The team
Man-of-the-match: Opposition vote: -
Referee: Max Eaglestone (80)