A Bridge Too Far For Bay

Three Bridges (1) 2
Romain 18
Carney 79

Herne Bay (1) 1
Brown B 45

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 26th April 2014
Jubilee Field
Att: 109

by Steve Barton

Herne Bay’s last away trip of a very long, hard season came at Crawley against Three Bridges. The Sussex side had clawed their way out of the relegation places with five wins and a draw from their last eight fixtures and looked the livelier of the two sides on the day with captain Lee Carney, proclaimed by Bridges’ manager Paul Faili as the best midfielder in the Division, orchestrating play.

A good early volley by Jamie O'Connell flashed just wide, but the rest of the first half was virtually all Three Bridges. Jack Delo was at his best and after seven minutes he denied Tony Garrod, and shortly after a good move involving Marlon Maxwell and Williams Peauroux ended with Allan Tait forcing Delo to make another good save.

Three Bridges' pressure paid off after eighteen minutes when a chip by Carney invited Elliott Romain unchallenged to head home. Further chances came and went with Charlie Cooke heading just over from Matt Daniel's corner and Peauroux hitting the post. On the stroke of half time Herne Bay grabbed an unlikely equaliser. It came from a corner taken by Harry Brown that went in off his brother Ben Brown with everyone flat footed.

The second half began with Carney having a shot blocked following a neat chip by the excellent Nigel Brake, whilst Daniel fired just over. Bay began to grow in confidence and worried Bridges with a number of swift counter attacks but custodian Martin Grant was equal to the task. Three Bridges regained the lead eleven minutes from time when a lovely quick passing move involving Peauroux, Romain and Tait finished with Lee Carney firing past Delo.

Tait was then close with a chip and later he headed just wide from Abu Touray's cross, but as the game entered time added on it needed a great piece of defending by Brake to prevent the visitors from claiming a point.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Harry Brown (Elliot Cutts 68), Steven Lloyd, George Benner, Nathan Eastwood, Ben Brown (Kane Butler 61), Jamie O’Connell, Jordan Casey, Joe Nelder.

Subs not used: Stuart King, Dean Grant, James Turner.