Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Simon Kabamba (Kyron Lightfoot), Malachi Robinson, Laurence Harvey, George Crimmen, Danny Lawrence, Ryan King-Elliott, Joe Nelder, Zak Ansah, Bola Dawodu (Ricky Freeman), Tushaun Tyreece-Walters (Kieron Campbell).

Following the euphoria of Tuesday’s victory over Phoenix Sports any idea of a straightforward win over a side from a step below quickly went out of the window and Ben Smith’s pre-match thoughts that AFC Croydon should not be taken for granted proved to be true.

Things may have been different if both posts had not intervened to deny Zak Ansah in the third minute. His strike hit one, rolled along the goal line, and hit the other before creeping to safety. Four minutes later visiting keeper Nic Taylor’s long punt upfield bypassed the majority of the players on the pitch and should have been dealt with by Jack Delo or Simon Kabamba but there was hesitation and the dangerous Umaro Alpha took advantage and drove home. Four minutes later it became two as Nahum Green netted a worldy which dipped late to beat Delo.

Bay’s passes were too often going astray as the Rams dominated in midfield, Bola Dawodu missed from four yards, before the home side were given a lifeline a minute prior to the half hour when Ansah met a cross from at the far post and pulled one back. A free-kick from the right by Danny Lawrence found Joe Nelder unmarked at the far post but his header bounced off the ground and straight into the arms of Nic Taylor.

Croydon continued to control the match after the break, the introduction of Ricky Freeman, Kyron Lightfoot and Kieran Campbell did not change Herne Bay’s fortunes as moments of flowing football ended with a poor final ball. Delo dived to his left to keep out a powerfully struck shot on 81 and the clock ticked down with Bay looking unlikely to level. Four minutes into time added on and that man Ansah came to the rescue with his fifth goal in three games and Herne Bay had forced a replay which on the balance of play over the 90+ minutes they probably did not deserve. Bay go into the hat for the First Qualifying Round draw but will need to overcome the Rams before progressing.

Herne Bay will now travel to the Mayfield Stadium in Thornton Heath on Tuesday 3rd September for the replay with the Isthmian League Cup game at Whitstable Town now postponed.

Ben Smith: “I think it was the case of the good, the bad and the ugly. The good was the finishing of Zak Ansah, the bad being that I didn’t think we were at it today, the passing was poor, we didn’t battle the way that we did on Tuesday night, and the ugly was the way we conceded the two goals, it gives us stuff to work on. As much as I am disappointed and the players are disappointed, we are still in the hat. I have said that it will take time to click, and it was one of those days that us in the camp knew would happen. The important thing is how we overcome it and adapt. It was a big crowd, the players did not want to put in a damp performance, it wasn’t for the lack of trying. When we go behind, we need the supporters with us, shouting encouragement. We go there a week Tuesday with a tough battle on our hands and it would be great to see as many fans there as possible.”