Four Goal Away Bay

Four Goal Away Bay

Chipstead (1) 3
Moody 37, Joseph 53, 64

Herne Bay (1) 4
O’Connell 32, 74. Hasler 68. o.g. 89

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
23rd November 2013
at High Road

Attendance: 64

For the third away game running Herne Bay crashed four goals past their hosts. This time it was Chipstead who were the suffering hosts but with Bay 3-1 down midway through the second period there was no hint of what was to be a dramatic comeback.

“We showed great character,” said Denly, “especially with only 9 fit players finishing the game, Kane Philip took another knock and Jamie O’Connell was struggling.” Indeed, you can add to that the loss of Simon King with a hamstring and Steven Lloyd with a shoulder injury.

Joe Kennett had pulled out of this game in the late morning for personal reasons, leaving Bay’s manager with a hasty reshuffling of his back four into an unfamiliar line up from left to right of Eastwood, Sayer, Lloyd and Michael Turner. It was not surprising then that, at times, the rearguard looked under extreme pressure from the impressive Steffan Joseph, Chipstead’s recent acquisition from Walton & Hersham.

The fearful amongst the sparse crowd augmented by the usual travelling suspects groaned a plenty at the frequent deployment of the long ball by the Bay, but were soon ecstatic when the lead was gained from a delightful passing movement that Jamie O’Connell finished off with a low drive that found the net via the inside of Chipstead’s left hand post in 32nd minute. In fact, all of Bay’s goals were to be the result of fast paced, short passing, a lesson maybe to be learnt for the weeks to come.

The lead did not last long though, five minutes in fact, after hesitation allowed Dan Moody too much space 25 yards from goal and he cracked the equaliser with a screamer too far from Delo’s reach. Alarmingly, Stuart King pulled up with a recurrence of his hamstring injury just before half time and was replaced with James Turner.

Michael Turner was replaced with Ben Brown 2 minutes into the 2nd period as Bay went to a back three formation but they were forced back on their heels as Chipstead found another gear and upped the pace. Brown made an immediate impact with his non nonsense style and, for the most part, neat passing. Chipstead were not to be denied though and duly took the lead on 53 when Stefan Joseph drove home from the right hand side of the area. It was about to get worse! Steven Lloyd had to leave the field just after the hour mark with a shoulder injury, a further positional shake up was required with Joe Nelder slotting into the back line and Kane Philip coming on to take up a place on the right of midfield. It then took a further turn for the worse! Chipstead extended their lead in the 64th minute prompting one Herne Bay supporter to depart the terraces to negotiate the M25. He should have stayed! For what was to come could not be scripted.

Yes, the makeshift defensive line looked vulnerable but in between times, Bay swapped their rugby like kicking for distance with intricate fast paced passing moves through midfield. Each and every one of the successful strikes was to result from neat interchanges. Sam Hasler pulled the second goal back on 68. Hasler was again instrumental with the 74th minute equaliser feeding Jamie O’Connell for his second of the match. Ben Brown and James Turner both had guilt edged chances when through on goal to put this game to bed before Kane Philip settled matters with barely a minute of normal time remaining when his run into the penalty area took him almost to the right hand upright and his powerful turn back was knocked home by a hapless Chipstead defender.

“It wasn’t pretty at times,” admitted Denly, “but sometimes you have to win ugly.”

Herne Bay team: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (Ben Brown 47), Gary Sayer, Danny Walder, Steven Lloyd (Kane Philip 62), Nathan Eastwood, Sam Hasler, Joe Nelder, Jamie O’Connell, Stuart King (James Turner 45), Danny Lawrence.

Subs not used: Jordan Casey, Elias Settouf.

Bay Man of the Match: Jamie O’Connell