Herne Bay suffered more away day blues as they continued their run of poor results on the road losing 1-0 to Tooting & Mitcham United at Imperial Fields but they made the Terrors work hard for their victory. The winning goal in the 17th minute was a one touch clinical finish by Dan Summers, connecting to a curving cross from Sol Pinnock. Tooting had most of the possession in the first period and a last-ditch tackle prevented Summers from adding to his total.

Bay were left chasing shadows for much of the half with Tooting looking a yard faster. The second half was a different story, a much more spirited performance that could have squared the match.

The first chance in the first half fell to Stuart King on 5 minutes when, following a Connor Sanders long throw, King swivelled and shot just inches over the bar. On 10 minutes Tooting’s Sol Pinnock forced a corner, played it short to Howard Newton who in turn layed it back to Jordan Cheadle who rifled the ball well over Jack Delo’s bar. Then came the all important goal when Sol Pinnock opened up the bay defence and crossed an inch perfect cross to Dan Summers who cracked the ball past Jack Delo. As the half wore on the pace of Pinnock and Nat Gorden were playing havoc with the Bay
defence and only great interceptions from Gary Sayer and Connor Sanders prevented the home side scoring again.

On 26 minutes Herne Bay countered and once again Stuart King was unlucky to see his effort
smothered by the home ‘keeper Paul Smith. Four minutes later Herne Bay forced a corner
but Dan Parkinson’s cross was headed over by Jordan Casey. A minute later Sol Pinnock raced down the left and crossed from an acute angle only to see Gary Sayer clear off the goal line again.
Just before the break, Tooting should have doubled the lead when Pinnock dazzled down the left and crossed to Francis Quarm who fired high and wide from 10 yards.

Bay dominated the early exchanges after the break, but Tooting were unlucky not to double their advantage when Pinnock smashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar. The main danger from Herne Bay came from Stuart King who forced Tooting keeper Paul Smith into a sharp save. Bay pressed powerfully forward in the last ten minutes,Joe nelder heading a Stuart King cross into the side netting and Danny Walder thumping a 20 yard effort that was cleared off the line by Cheadle..

The defeat leaves Herne Bay firmly at the bottom of the away league form table with 2 points from 21. Sam Denly is refusing to agonise over the contrasting home and away records. He said: “We have been poor away from home, had we done better we would be right up there. We haven’t started games well enough but there is no real reason for it because we prepare in the same way. It is something we are addressing”.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (Steven Ita 62), Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Connor Partridge, Connor Sanders, Dan Parkinson (Danny Walder 70), Joe Nelder, Jordan Casey, Stuart King, James Brown (Elliot Cutts)

Subs not used: Harry Brown, Kane Butler

Herne Bay Man of the Match: Gary Sayer