Herne Bay: Jordan Perrin, Reion McFarlane, Jack Parter, Laurence Harvey, Dan Johnson, Bode Anidugbe, Adem Ramadan, Hamilton Antonio, Zak Ansah, Rory Smith, Kieron Campbell
Subs Used: Aaron Millbank (McFarlane 60) Bradley Schafer (Ramadan 65) Daniel Carrington (Smith81)
Subs Not Used: Devon Mason, Lucas Hanley

This game was virtually won by the 8th minute. Two goals, both scored from a long throw by Ollie Black. Both resulted from a clearance by Jordan Perrin, kicking the ball out of play on both sides of the pitch. On three minutes, Black launched the throw, deep inside the penalty area. With a melee of players in the box, the ball fell kindly to Craig Stone, who simply passed the ball into the bottom corner. Five minutes later, this time from the left, another throw into the box, fell to Ben Pope, with his back to the goal. He was allowed to turn and smash the ball into the roof of the net from a couple of yards out. Bay’s normally solid defence was in total disarray. More errors occurred, Reion McFarlane, heading a ball back to Laurence Harvey, put Dave Martin away down the left. Only a good challenge from Dan Johnson, sprinting across from the right, prevented Hastings from increasing their lead.

Bay were now settling into the game and were dealing with this long-throw attack and making the occasional foray into Hasting’s half. From an Adem Ramadan free-kick into the box, Zak Ansah headed attempt hit the bottom of the upright. This was followed by a surging Ramadan run, leading to a three-on-one attack on Louis Rogers goal. Adem passed the ball out to an unmarked Kieron Campbell. Unfortunately, the pass was slightly behind Kieron and when he got control of the ball, the defender tracked back and dis-possessed him. Rogers then had his first save to make, diving at the feet of Rory Smith to block his close-range shot.
Bay came back into the game in the second half and had a definite penalty shout turned down. Campbell racing into the box was upended by the full-back, the referee acknowledged the foul but surprisingly gave the free-kick, 6” outside of the penalty area. Although Bay were playing better in this half, they were still guilty of losing possession with wayward passes.

Hastings attacks became fewer, as they were content to sit on the two-goal lead. But from a free-kick, Perrin produced a great save from Pope, turning his fierce volley from 3 yards out, around the post. Then with fifteen minutes left on the clock, Bay’s best chance of the whole game went begging. Smith with a forceful run into the box, pulled the ball back from the bye-line to Ansah one yard out, but somehow his effort flew up and over the bar, with the open goal at his mercy. It was clearly not going to be Bay’s Day. The game was littered with fouls. 37 in total, Bay failed to win a single corner and only had 2 shots on target: none in the second half.

The new floodlights were the highlight of the afternoon. It was a pity we couldn’t produce a better performance to christen them. Onto Tuesday with Sevenoaks Town the visitors for the Kent Senior Cup.