Herne Bay: Lucas Hanley, Ryan Cooper, Jack Parter, Dan Carrington, Dan Johnson, JJ Naiwo, Bode Anidugbe, Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah, Aaron Millbank, Kieron Campbell
Subs Used: Adem Ramadan (Naiwo 74) Tom Phipp (Millbank 79) Luke Illsley (Antonio 87)
Subs Not Used: Laurence Harvey, Dean Grant

In a very one-sided first half, despite dominating the play, Herne Bay only managed to score a single goal, which ultimately proved to be the match-winner.

Corinthian forced the play for the first 5 minutes and that was about as good as it got from the visitors. Bay, camped in their half for the remaining 40 minutes. Every time Kieron Campbell got the ball, he made charging runs through the Corinthian defence, but breaking down a 10 man defence proved a real challenge. New signing Aaron Millbank tried hard to up front but too many defenders always thwarting his efforts. Campbell, JJ Naiwo and Zak Ansah with Jack Parter and Ryan Cooper down the flanks forced the play but Corinthian just kept intercepting the final pass and booted clear. Corinthian's only form of attack was the long ball over the top of the defence, which proved to be no hardship for Dan Carrington and Dan Johnson. Our 17-year-old keeper, Lucas Hanley was a basic spectator.

Bay was forcing corner after corner, after attempts from Ansah, Campbell and Millbank. Shots were ranging in but these all were easily collected by Corinthian custodian, Aiden Prall.

It was clear that a goal was coming; the pressure being applied was intense and in the 38th minute, the deadlock was broken. Ansah switched the play out to JJ on the right, JJ forced his way into the box and shot, Prall dived and spilt the ball, the defence cleared the ball out of the area only for Campbell to race in and drive an unstoppable volley into the top of the goal to the delight of the players, management, and the fans. It was no more than Bay deserved but with all their dominance should have had a few more goals in the half.

The second half was a big disappointment, Bay did not press forward, as they did in the first half, and this allow Corinthian to attack with far more effect than they did in the first. Maybe Bay was trying to draw the 10-man defence, that Corinthian applied for the first half, out in order to give them a better chance of scoring. If that was the ploy it didn’t work. The build-up play was far too pedestrian and despite throwing more players forward, Corinthian always got their players back in defence when needed. A very strong spell early in the half by the visitors, with efforts from Charles Edmunson and substitute Louie Clarke, brought keeper, Hanley into the game. Bay raised their efforts in the closing 10 minutes, with substitutions adding fresh legs. Ansah fired in two shots just wide of the target and in the final minute, Adem Ramadan broke free rounded the keeper but hit his effort into the side netting.

In the end a 1-0 victory, a good clean sheet and another three points.