Ground staff beat Weather, Rebels beat Bay!

Herne Bay (0) 0

Worthing (0) 1
O’Neill 65

Ryman League Division One (South)
Winch’s Field

Tuesday 18th February 2014

Attendance 127

by Peter Guise

Herne Bay played their first game at their Winch’s Field home in two weather interrupted months and promptly succumbed to their fifth defeat in a row with this reverse against a much changed, and improved, Rebels side than that against whom Bay had taken a point in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Bay must have wished that the weather had not abated allowing ground staff to get this fixture on as they continuously lost possession to a pacy Worthing side that closed down quickly then found red shirted compatriots, with ease, in space. Herne Bay relinquished the ball too easily with misplaced passes and would pay the ultimate price; the loss of valuable Ryman One South points as they strive to ensure a third season at Step 4.

Worthing threatened to put this game to bed early and Omar Bugiel might just have set the stall out with a 4th minute header that flew over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Rebels dominated much of the first period with the Bay’s serious goal efforts limited to one Stuart King chip from the edge of the penalty area that looped wide.

After the break, Herne Bay showed more purpose and Stuart King was denied when his 25 yard pile driver was tipped over by Josh James in the Worthing goal ten minutes in. But the home side continued to give up possession of the football and in the 65th conceded a soft free kick on the edge of their own 18 yard box. Brannon O’Neill bent the spot kick low round the four man wall and into the opposite far bottom corner. It was no less than the Rebels deserved.

Herne Bay forced Worthing into defensive mode as the clock ticked down with Stuart King’s 90th minute close range effort brilliantly pushed away for a corner by the ‘keeper, from which, Sander’s header flew wide of the mark, and with it Bay’s chances of a point that, in truth, would have been harsh on Worthing.

But points are what Bay must seek. A glance over the collective shoulders will reveal the trap door closer than might seem comfortable, the drop zone a mere five points below them.

Herne Bay team: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Danny Walder, Connor Sanders, Joe Kennett, Sam Hasler, Ben Brown, Stuart King, Jordan Casey (Kane Phillip 70), Dean Grant (Joe Nelder 70).

Sub not used: Nathan Eastwood, Danny Lawrence, George Benner