Four Star Bay Humble Merstham

Four Star Bay Humble Merstham

Herne Bay (1) 4
Walder 40 (pen), Turner J 50, King 73, Turner M 89

Merstham (0) 0

Attendance: 200

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 2nd November 2013
at Winch’s Field

by Mike Green, KSN Football Editor

Photo (by Steve Barton): Michael Turner makes it four.

What a way to win your first home League game in seven weeks!

It was a result that even had Bay club historian Doug Smith scratching his head trying to remember when the home side had won a game by four clear goals – but in all seriousness after a slow start it was simply what Sam Denly’s side deserved as they ripped apart a Merstham side who just three weeks ago, they’d taken two games to get past in the FA Trophy. Those two close games must have seemed a thousand miles away for the Bay boss as he watched his side go into overdrive leaving the visitors floundering.

Early on it was a good even contest, but once the home side were in front scoring twice either side of half time and then completing the visitors misery by adding two more in the last 17 minutes, the Bay certainly deserved the three points and plaudits for a display that the manager was to call “the best we’ve played this season.”

The first half was an even contest, even a very tight affair with both sides having one clear chance each – the first fell to the Bay after a great reverse ball from James Turner found Stuart King whose shot was well blocked by the legs of ‘keeper Brennan Daly whilst in almost a carbon copy at the other end Sam Tucknott and Joe Holland combined for Holland to be denied by the legs of home ‘keeper Jack Delo.

The turning point came five minutes before half time. Danner Walder threaded a great ball through for James Turner who sprinted clear of the Merstham defence themselves waiting for an offside flag, which rightly didn’t come, to be raised against King – the Bay striker made no motion towards the ball and indeed seemed if anything to be heading away from it as Turner raced clear. Just as the young striker seemed to have rounded the keeper, Daly’s right arm brought him down and referee Bloy pointed to the spot. He then had to make his mind up what to do about the challenge. Luckily for Daly it was only a yellow, but as Walder stroked his penalty to the left, Bloy dived away to the right and the home side took the lead. It was a lead that was to be doubled five minutes after the break. A move so beautiful on the eye with one touches from four different players was finished off by James Turner’s fourth of the season as he flicked the ball past the keeper after he’d been released by an exquisite pass from Sam Hasler.

Moments later, Turner was denied his second as an almost identical move released the striker again – this time Daly’s legs came to the visitors rescue. Merstham seemed to fast run out of ideas as the weather conditions changed by the minute, and in their first attack after the break, Delo was fortunate to grab Tommy Hutchins shot as it deflected into his arms after a good run from Liam Wright. Meanwhile at the other end, the Bay threatened with almost every attack. King came agonisingly close to the home sides third as he fired across the face of goal – any touch by any player would have surely taken the ball into the net.

Hutchins then just cleared the bar with a shot from the edge of the box and substitute Taureen Roberts forced Delo into a fine low save before Bay sealed the contest with an all important third goal. King was fouled on the left edge of the box, the big striker dusted himself down and fired in a free kick that caught Daly floundering at his near post as the ball flew into the net.

Three became four with stoppage time looming as Michael Turner intercepted a pass just inside the Merstham half and advanced to the edge of the box before beating Daly with a low drive to seal a magnificent victory for Denly’s side to climb to 13th in the Ryman South table. Club historian Smith was reaching for the record books as the home faithful were treated to some pre bonfire night fireworks from a true four star performance from their team.

Herne Bay team: Jack Delo, Nathan Eastwood, Gary Sayer, Danny Walder (Ben Brown 59), Connor Sanders, Joe Kennett, Sam Hasler, Joe Nelder, James Turner (Jordan Casey 59), Stuart King (Jamie O’Connell 78), Michael Turner.

Subs not used: Dean Grant, Steven Lloyd