Herne Bay: Jordan Perrin, Ryan Cooper, Jack Parter, Laurence Harvey, Dan Johnson, Tom Phipp, Bode Anidugbe, Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah, Adem Ramadam, Kieron Campbell
Subs Used: JJ Naiwo (Campbell 68) Chinedu McKenzie (Ramadam 77) Danny Lawrence (Phipp 79)
Subs Not Used: Daniel Carrington, Harry Linch

Hastings United, were gifted a goal after only 4 minutes of the season start. An under-hit pass from Laurence Harvey to Dan Johnson, in the penalty area, was picked up by Jack Dixon who laid it back to Dave Martin to fire an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
This mishap seemed to settle Bay down and for the rest of the game they were equal, if not better, than the title favourites. In fact, the defence was really solid and keeper, Jordan Perrin, did not have a save to make for the rest of the game.
Bay won the first corner, from which Tom Phipp, fired a shot from range, straight at U’s Keeper. Louis Rogers. Two minutes later, it was Bode Anidugbe shooting from the edge of the area. but it was comfortably caught by the keeper. Bay’s dominant play continued and from this pressure came a free kick; Kieron Campbell being fouled a couple of yards outside the area. New signing Adem Ramadam stepped up, hitting a fierce dead ball strike, which Rogers, despite getting his hands to the ball, could parry the ball onto the crossbar and into the goal.
Campbell followed this up with a mazy run through the defence, only to fire wide inches wide of the target. The rest of the half developed into a midfield battle, with neither team being able to create a meaningful attempt on goal.
The hosts started the second half much stronger, and Perrin had to be at his best to smother a loose ball in the six-yard box to deny Ben Pope and Hastings’ only real opportunity to score in the second period.
A brilliant piece of interplay from Campbell, to Ansah and quickly on to Phipp, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Rogers. Several substitutions followed by both sides, but the game drifted into a bit of a stalemate. The only real goal action came in the additional 7 minutes of time added on by the referee. Ansah tried to lob Rogers; spotting he was way off his line, but slipped as he struck the volley, the ball landing safely in the keeper’s arms as he back-pedalled.
Jack Parter made two forceful runs down the left flank. First, sending a low drive across the face of the goal, but nobody was following up and the ball was cleared and the second resulted in scrambled clearance for a corner.

A respectable and well-deserved draw against a well organised strongly fancied team.
On to the FA Cup next week, at Bedfont Sports. Following on from this performance, hopes will be high.