Velocity Victory

Tuesday 22nd October 2019
Velocity Trophy Group 7

Faversham (0) 0 Herne Bay 1 (1)
Attendance: 134

Herne Bay: George Kamurasi, Simon Kabamba, Patrick Nzuzi (Malachi Robinson 81), Laurence Harvey, Phil Starkey, Joe Nelder (Danny Lawrence 66), Luke Griffiths (Tushaun-Tyreese Walters 75), Ryan King-Elliott, Zak Ansah, Bradley Stevenson (Victor Aiyelabola 70), Keiron Campbell.

Herne Bay put their first Velocity Trophy points on the board with a single goal victory at Faversham Town. Bay took the first half and netted one of their several opportunities before the break but Faversham were the strongest in the second period but could not find the leveller. It was the second consecutive win for the first time this season and with a clean sheet to boot.

Ben Smith: “Considering we made five changes from Saturday, they came in and did well. It was good to get back-to-back wins and it starts improving the confidence again. The boys had been really down in terms of confidence but two on the bounce rolling in to Three Bridges on Saturday, its exactly what we want.”

Simon Kabamba and Victor Aiyelabola both returned from their dual registration spells (K Sports and Sheppey United respectively). There was a starting berth for Kabamba replacing the cup-tied Ryan Copper and for Aiyelabola a place as a substitute. Joe Nelder, Luke Griffiths and Ryan King-Elliott all started with Danny Lawrence and Tushaun-Tyreese Walters dropping to the bench and Bola Dawodu unavailable.

Early doors Brad Stevenson put the ball beyond Luke Watkin’s post and later the stopper saved well from Keiron Campbell with Zak Ansah not able to make the most of the rebound. On 39 Campbell’s nutmeg put him through and his shot was cleared off the line. In the 41st minute Ansah fell under a challenge but was quick to recover and slid the ball to Griffiths who hammered home from just inside the area. There was still time for Watkins to tip a Campbell drive round the post. Whilst the first half was not quite all one-way traffic, George Kamurasi between the sticks for Bay was hardly troubled.

Faversham were a different animal in the second half showing more intent and playing a pleasing on the eye passing game which was more entertaining and productive than had been seen at Salters Lane in previous seasons, but came up against a resilient and determined visiting defence and were unable to find a way through. Aiyelabola had come on in the 70th minute and when there was handbags between fellow sub Walters and a Lilywhite defender, Aiyelabola was the peacekeeper but was strangely booked by referee Nick Dunn for picking the ball up (Mr. Dunn interpreted this as delaying the restart). Walters and his opponent were also yellow carded. The unjust card proved to be costly as minutes later a trip by Aiyelabola earned him a second caution and he was on his way back to the dressing room.

Ben Smith continued: “We started really well, and I thought in the first half we were excellent; again, you could say that we should have been a couple up. I don’t think Big G’s had a save to make in the first half. I thought our interplay at times was really good. Second half we dropped off and weren’t at the same levels; fair play to them they came out and had a real go at us and it just goes to show that you have to take your chances when you are on top, because they can then come back to bite you and it makes it a nervy game at the end. Thanks to the travelling support, really good behind the goal there, spurring the boys on especially when we were down to ten men. Disappointed for young Victor, it’s not how I wanted his night to go, but unfortunately two soft bookings, it’s one of those things really. We regroup and go again on Saturday; we add a couple more back into the squad. We were missing Bola tonight who was outstanding on Saturday, Ryan Cooper was cup-tied. I thought Simon Kabamba came in and really showed his quality, I was really impressed with him and we want people causing us selection headaches which is good to have competition for places.”

With one win and one defeat Bay could still top the group but will probably need to win on their trips to Ramsgate and Whitstable and pick something up when Hythe are the visitors.

A board meeting following Faversham’s defeat voted in favour of sacking the Lilywhite’s joint managers Phil Miles and Danny Chapman.