Herne Bay: Jordan Perrin, Reion McFarlane, Jack Parter, Laurence Harvey, Dan Johnson, Bode Anidugbe, Adem Ramadan, Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah, Aaron Millbank, Bradley Schafer
Subs Used: JJ Naiwo (Ramadan 70) Daniel Carrington (Schafer 90)
Subs Not Used: Kieron Campbell, Lucas Hanley, Rory Smith

In a fantastic game of football, Bay narrowly lost to, probably, the best team in the league. Very strong in defence and very quick on the break. Although the number of saves Jordan Perrin had to make could be counted on one hand.

The hosts were quickly out of the blocks, pressing hard forcing Bay to defend in numbers. From an intercepted clearance, Hassan Ibrahiym worked his way into the box and drilled a low cross, which Marcel Barrington slid in to push the ball over the line to give the Millers an very early lead. Bay fought back, gaining a free kick on the edge of the area, but Adem Ramadan fired high over the bar. Zak Ansah almost intercepted a back pass but Keeper Chris Lewington managed to poke the ball away for a corner. Bay were coming back into the game. Laurence Harvey and Aaron Millbank both heading into the keeper’s arms in consecutive attacks. Bay were on top for the final twenty 20 minutes, but every time Bay’s forwards got anywhere near the penalty area Cray defended in numbers, doubling up on every press from our front men.

Bay’s best opportunity came after 35 minutes. The ball was crossed into the box, falling to Ansah. His shot was palmed away by Lewington out to Bradley Schafer, whose fierce drive was then superbly turned away by Lewington for a corner.

Cray were happy to sit back and defend in numbers and hit back on a quick counter and this shows in the match statistics with only one attempt on target from them in the half. Barrington and Ibrahiym causing the most problems with their skill and speed. In Matthew A Warren they had a midfield player who broke up almost every Bay attack.

Bay started the second half pressing hard for the equaliser, but this Cray defence always looked to be in control and then from one of their breakaway attacks they won a corner. The corner kick was sent into the box and a deflected header, from a Bay defender, fell to Connor Dymond, on the goal line, and he simply nudged the ball over the line. Bay threw everything into attack and thanks to a couple of blocks from Harvey and Dan Johnson, kept the deficit to two as Cray broke through, virtually clear on goal. 5 minutes from time Bay got that elusive goal. A Bode Adibugbe corner was cleared for another corner. The ball was driven in low into the box and Ansah stabbed the ball home. Despite 5 minutes of injury time Bay just couldn’t find the equalizing goal.

Cray Valley - Herne Bay
2 - Corners - 7
11 - Fouls - 7
2 - Cautions - 1
4 - Shots On Target - 6
6 - Shots Off Target - 4
4 - Offside - 0