This was Baypoint’s Kent Cup Round 1 home game that they agreed to play at the MBS in what became a repeat of the fixture less than a month ago. With heavy rain throughout the week this looked like a smart move on a number of levels and Baypoint arrived stronger outfield than in the previous fixture with the familiar faces of Kyle Holden and their powerful centre forward returning. Missing however was Baypoint’s keeper who made a string of good saves in the previous game, as well as injuring Craig’s knee in an ill-judged agricultural challenge for which the referee gave nothing.

Back to today, and the passion of the cup meant a full squad to choose from and some tough decisions to be made. Betts was given the nod at right-back in recognition of the challenge down that side of the field and in came Kidd to left-back after missing the last game due to a badly planned holiday. Otherwise, there was a familiarity to the centre back pairing of Wynne and Foad, and Dave Close resumed his anchoring role at the base of the midfield with the Gilpins ahead of him. Down the right was in-form Matt Huckstep with Tom Powell down the left and top scorer Scott Curtis down the middle. A strong team, but nonetheless tough on those not starting, all of whom had been performing well in the previous games.

Sticking to our favoured 4-3-3 formation, the team looked well-balanced and ready to take to the field in what was perfect footballing conditions after a week of poor weather; not a breath of wind and a light dew on the pitch helping the ball to fizz off the surface.

Bay were bright in the opening exchanges but it was clear from the outset that this Baypoint side was stronger than the one we faced in October. The number 6 stood out as a competent ball player in the middle of the park and they had strength up front and pace down their left. It was Bay though who scored first after just seven minutes with a thunderous effort from Scott Curtis, his 4th in four games drilling his shot emphatically into the the roof of the net on the opposite . An absolute worldy of a strike, and a goal of the season contender from what I’ve seen so far. In the post-match interview apologetic manager Kidd said “You earn the right to scuff the odd freekick when you’ve got that in your boots”. Leigh Gilpin grabbed the assist for Scott after tigerishly and furiously hunting down the defender who dwelled on the ball too long. The ball fell to Scott who gave Bay the lead.

Baypoint though came back in to the game on the half hour after a long speculative ball was missed by two defenders, fell to Kyle Holden who skipped almost unchallenged in the penalty and squared for a striker to tap home. A disappointing one to concede but one that got the visitors back in to the game.

Shortly before the Baypoint equaliser Miki had come on playing left side of the forwards and gave our opponents a different challenge with his close ball control and desire to hang on to the ball a little longer than others. This holding the ball drew a lot of fouls. Baypoint were guilty today of lots of small disruptive fouls, but remaining on the right side of a caution. However, when Miki drew the latest foul just before half-time he was in the area, duly went down and converted his own penalty with aplomb.

With a lead restored heading into the changing room, manager Kidd had seen enough to believe Bay could and should win the game despite the fact Baypoint had a very decent side out on the day.

It’s fair to say that the formation at the start of the second half was sketchy. In an effort to neutralise the threat of Kyle Holden, who had tricked and teased his was through our defence on a number of occasions in the first half, Craig Sharp was deployed down the right in front of Bettsy and Miki took up a position at left full-back. However, the result was almost two right backs and Miki often isolated down the left. A quick switch saw Miki go into Sharpy’s position, Craig went to right back and Bettsy switched to left back. This settled the side and the shape was better but that didn’t stop an overload down our right 25 mins in to the second half which lead to Baypoint drawing level for the second time. The overload led to a cross which led to another tap in.

Penalties beckoned but with 15 mins remaining Baypoint won a freekick on the half-way line and floated in a long punt which was again misjudged allowing the striker to rise above the keeper and nod home and make it 3-2 to the visitors.

A quarter of an hour on the clock and facing defeat Kidd pushed Sharpie up top in the hope of forcing their rapid winger back, who was presumably now happy to keep the score as it was. But Bay had other ideas and Simon Bates, who’d occupied the Close position in the middle of midfield, in the dying moments of the match picked out Miki at the edge of the area who ran on to it and fired in the top right hand corner for his second of the match.

Only moments remained but Baypoint were clearly deflated to concede such a late equaliser and the referee indicated that the match would go straight to penalties (no extra in most Vets cup competition).

Here are the results of the penalty shoot out in order:

Miki Radulovic O
Baypoint X
Craig Wynne X
Baypoint O
Scott Curtis O
Baypoint O
Leigh Gilpin O
Baypoint O
Matt Betts O
Baypoint O
Matt Huckstep O
Baypoint O
Craig Gilpin O
Baypoint O
Craig Sharp O
Baypoint X

Herne Bay progress 7-6 pens through to the next round.

Overall, this was another fantastic result against Baypoint. That said, penalties are a lottery so we have a little luck to thank for getting us over the line. The game ended as a draw but so could have easily been won by Baypoint but for some gritty determination and fight to the end. But this was a good Baypoint team today and I think if they can field the same players regularly they will finish in the top half. So a point is still very creditable against the opponents we had today.

The Kent Cup early rounds are done by region which is why we have only played Thanet sides so far (similarly to last season). With only Betteshanger and both Herne Bay sides through to the next round from this area, we should play a team from mid Kent or SE London which is a great achievement, and leaves us a game away from the last eight.

We turn our attention next to Bourne on Saturday 26 November at their place. Needless to say these are the games we have to win if we want to finish in the top half so keep your minds on that as you watch the England game the night before.

D Knowles

M Betts C Wynne L Foad M Kidd

D Close
C Gilpin L Gilpin

S Curtis
M Huckstep T Powell

Starting from the bench: C Sharp, G Walter, S Bates, M Radulovic

Result: HBFC O35s 2 – 1 Baypoint
Man-of-the-match: Player's vote: L Foad
Man-of-the-match: Opposition vote: -
Referee: M Takacs [90]