Herne Bay: Jordan Perrin, Ryan Cooper, Jack Parter, Dan Carrington, Dan Johnson, JJ Naiwo, Bode Anidugbe, Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah, Chinedu McKenzie, Kieron Campbell.
Subs Used: Dean Grant (McKenzie 69) Adem Ramadam (Naiwo 64) Tom Phipp (Campbell 87)
Subs Not Used: Luke Illsley Laurence Harvey

A two-goal win, clean sheet and top of the league after 4 games, giving us our best ever start to our Isthmian League campaign.
The first half was a mundane affair. Phoenix started at a ferocious pace, pressing hard, keeping Bay in their own half, with the only threat coming from the winger, Kweku Ansah, when he sent in a fierce cross into the box; fortunately, no forward could take advantage of this golden opportunity. Bay hit back with a mazy run from Kieron Campbell, down the left flank, into the box. The ball was passed to JJ Naiwo, who was having his shirt tugged by the defender, but the referee waved JJ’s appeal away. The ball was won back and this time Campbell‘s low drive forced keeper, Phillips, into a fine reaction save.

Following a Phoenix corner, Ben Fitchett arriving at the far post, headed wide of the upright when it looked easier to hit the target. Bay started to dominate the play. Zak Ansah and Campbell were linking up well ending with Kieron’s shot being cleared for a corner. From the corner, the ball fell to Campbell, who was unceremoniously chopped down just outside the area. The free-kick came to nothing.

Bay’s best attacks were coming down the left with Zak, Kieron, and Jack Parter with good passing play. From Parter’s cross, Dan Carrington, with a diving header at the far post, goes over the bar. It was followed by Zak placing a brilliant through ball to send Chinendu McKenzie away. Unfortunately, Chinedu was unable to get the ball out of his feet, and the chance was gone, allowing the ball to be cleared. The Ansah / Campbell partnership produced another chance ending with shots from Campbell and Carrington, both being blocked. Phoenix hit back with a long ball for Lekan Osideko to race into the box, but a superbly timed challenge from Parter removed the threat on Perrin goal.

The second half was much better, with Bay forcing the play. Parter, from the left, sends in a great low cross which was cleared. Undeterred back came Bay. McKenzie races through from the midfield and threads the ball through to JJ, who advances on goal and coolly places the ball under Phillips to give Bay the lead. Keeping up the pressure, Campbell goes down the flank, passes to McKenzie in the box, but good defending by Phillips and a defender and the chance was gone. A good opportunity for the visitors fell to Andrew Dythe, but his volley from the left side of the box blazed over the bar. Back came Bay. Ansah hitting a fine volley from 20 yards, which Phillips did well to tip over the bar.
Substitute, Adem Ramadan was now linking up well with Zak and between them, they caused panic in Phoenix defence every time they came forward. This partnership in the closing minutes produced the goal that sealed the victory. Adem jinking through the defence passes to Zak. Fooling his marker with a quick turn, gave him the space to fire a volley into the top corner from 15 yards out. Game over.

Match report by John Bathurst