Herne Bay Over 35s lose narrowly in the season opener

AFC Westgate 2 - 1 Herne Bay Over 35s
B Bowman

The start of the 22/23 season saw the newly renamed Herne Bay FC Over 35s travel to Westgate’s unpredictable pitch in Lymington. The lack of rain in what has been a record-breaking summer of heat and dryness, made the pitch worse than it usually is; what was left of the grass was brown, it was extremely bumpy and very hard to get the ball down and play.

In terms of personnel today, the 35s enjoyed a full complement of players boasting five subs at the outset. There was room for all the summer’s signings as Darren Knowles took up his spot in the nets, Matt Huckstep and Scott Curtis played in the forward positions and Royston Gough and Lee McEvoy started on the bench.

The 35s were boosted by the inclusion of Matt Betts who was troubled by a persistent back injury at the back end of last season as well as Craig Wynne (neck). A more familiar four in midfield of Simon Smith, Leigh Gilpin with Craigs Sharp and Gilpin on the flanks. Tom Powell set up alongside Craig Wynne at centre back and Billy slotted in at left back. Overall, an extremely strong line up with a talented bench to help the rotation.

In the opening exchanges, both sides struggled to get hold of the ball and play. The visitors especially struggled with the final ball after they had done the hard work and made openings.

Much of the play up the opposition third was good, Matt Betts especially proving to be a useful outlet on the right. Smudge as usual was winning every contested header in the middle and those around him were working extremely hard when out of possession in warm conditions to harry the opponent and win the ball back.

But despite some good work Bay were undone on the half hour by a long ball after Sharpie was barged off the ball in the opposition third and the full back hit a long diagonal that caught the back four off guard for the runner to slot past the on-rushing Darren Knowles.

Shortly after this, the tireless Scott Curtis got an elbow to the head chasing down a defender and had to retire with a cut just on his hairline. Huckers came back on and Bay continued to press.

Managers Kidd and Woollcott made some changes at half time pushing Bill further up and the effect was instant. A deft flick from Royston Gough played Bill in who advanced with the ball and scored a similar goal from the left as Westgate scored in the first half. With this goal, Bay wrestled the initiative from the home side and continued to press them back. It felt as if Bay would go on to take all three points. However, a nasty hamstring tear deprived us of the excellent services of Royston Gough who was a constant physical menace to the home back four. It turned out to be a very bad high grade two tear. We are expecting to be without him for 3 to 4 months. That means well into the new year before Royston gets his boots back on. I hope you join me in wishing him a speedy and successful recovery.
And then, another goal against the run of play. This time from a free kick just inside our half that was flicked over the header of the keeper in the six yard box.

Another reshuffle saw Munday pushed further forward in an attempt to create some openings but those efforts came to nothing.

Overall the game was reasonably even and could have gone either way. That gives me confidence that we can compete in the division. There are tougher games ahead which is why losing Royston on the opening weekend for so long is such a blow. However, the squad is cram packed with talent and is more than a match for any team on the day.

We now break from league duties and move on the Kent Cup in which we face Hamstreet before the resumption of the league in October.

Here is how we lined up at the start:

D Knowles

M Betts T Powell C Wynne B Bowman

S Smith L Gilpin

C Gilpin M Huckstep C Sharp

S Curtis

Bench: R Gough, L McEvoy, S Bates, S Munday, L Foad

Result: Westgate 2 -1 HBFC O35s
Man-of-the-match: Player's vote: M Betts
Man-of-the-match: Opposition vote: D Knowles
Referee: M Harrop [90]