Herne Bay (0) 0
Hythe Town (2) 2
Kenny Pogue 3
Sam Adams 38
Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Tuesday 22nd November 2016
at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch's Field
Att: 156
(photocredit: Steve Barton - Ben Gorham receives the Herne Bay man of the match award on debut)
"I don’t think there was much between the two sides apart from the two poor goals", said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, "Hythe are a good side, they are going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, we’ve matched them tonight".
Herne Bay's unbeaten run of five matches that included four straight wins came to an abrupt halt after they conceded early and again just before half time. Despite a more solid second half, Bay were guilty of spurning the few clear cut chances they had to get back into the match and Hythe Town, themselves displaying some Jekyll & Hyde performances this term, took all three points in what at times was a hotly contested derby.
Ray Kelly writes: Herne Bay surrendered their five game unbeaten run on Tuesday night at the Altira Park Stadium following two defensive errors that cost them dear. Herne Bay were up against a well drilled and speedy Hythe team that hit Bay from the kick off and were ahead within 3 minutes.
The one good thing to come out of this match was the debut of Ben Gorham at centre half who did not put a foot wrong throughout the game. A very welcome addition to the squad. Hythe Town started the game ‘on fire’ and after only 3 minutes they took the lead when Jack Delo rushed out of his goal but mis-judged the bouncing ball that let in Hythe’s Kenny Pogue who tapped into an empty net. The Cannons continued to batter the Bay defence and on 15 minutes they should have increased their lead when Frankie Sawyer blazed over from close range. Herne Bay started to get back into the game with Kane Phillip causing problems for Hythe down the flanks
but his final ball was so often astray. Further chances fell to Danny Williams and Danny Walder but both men were off target. Hythe doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Sam Adams received the ball from a corner and blasted in from 25 yards with Jack Delo well out of position.
For the opening 10 minutes of the second half Bay side were on top and came so very close to reducing the arrears when Michael Turner made a run through the Hythe defence before crossing to Connor Sanders who blazed over from close range. Back came the ‘Cannons’ with a couple of good chances to increase their lead but Frankie Sawyer and Ryan Johnson both fired over when well placed.
Herne Bay came close to reducing the arrears in the 80th minute when a Danny Walder corner was back headed by Ben Gorham but his effort was cleared off the line by Craig Cloke. Herne Bay must now regroup and find their shooting boots for the up coming visit to Corinthian Casuals on Saturday and Sittingbourne on Tuesday night.
"I said to the boys we’ve been on a great run, what we’ve got to do now is bounce back", added Denly, "Our work rate is never in question, perhaps we lack a bit of quality in front of goal but the work ethic is there. It’s important that we go again".
Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner (Josh Algar 85), Gary Sayer, Kenny Sanders (James Turner 71), Ben Gorham, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Adam Woollcott, Mark Lovell, Danny Williams, Kane Phillip (Nathan Eastwood 64).
Subs not used: Femi Apantaku, Toby Wood.
HBFCSA Man of the Match: Ben Gorham