1st Team Match Reports 2008/09 by John Bathurst

last seasons match reports

Kent League Premier Division
Monday 25th August 2008
Herne Bay 4 - 0 Norton Sports

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The landlord played hosts to their tenants today and put in a strong performance to prevent a major upset. Norton Sports started very strongly and it took 25 minutes before Bay took the lead.
From a Norton free kick Neil Perkins headed the ball straight back over the defence. Luke Harvey and Marc Jones were the quickest to react. Both raced through towards the keeper. As the keeper came out Jones passed the ball to Harvey for a simple tap in. Very pleasing for Luke, scoring against his ‘mates’.
13 minutes later the same pair were involved in a slick passing movement which gave Jones the scoring opportunity but keeper, Smith, made a fine save. Harvey followed this immediately, beating the offside trap, but unfortunately his chip over the Smith went agonisingly wide of the target.
Norton fought back and should have been level when, from a corner kick, Jamie Sharman hit the sweetest of volleys into the top corner. The goal not being allowed because the referee blew for half time at the moment he struck the shot!
This decision seemed to fire up Norton as they started the second half really strongly. A great save from Dan Eason prevented them drawing level after a fine passing move down the right flank between five Norton players which turned Bay’s defence inside out!
Harvey was still proving to be a real problem for the Norton defenders and on 50 minutes he broke away down the left and sent in a wicked cross which left Smith stranded and Jones just a whisker away from making contact at the far post.
Smith was again in action four minutes later tipping over a Perkins header, but he had no chance whatsoever one minute later. Danny Lawrence had a first effort charged down but the second attempt deflected off a defender into the top corner.
Bay piled on the pressure with Rob Goodger, a man mountain in the middle of the park. The crowd of 255 had to wait another 20 minutes before Bay increased the lead. The three substitutes all making their mark on the game. First, Simon Moore put Rhys Lawson away and his turn of speed left his marker for dead. Lawson rounded the keeper and fired into the empty goal. Then in the dying minutes Darren Marsden was brought down in the penalty area and he made no mistake with the spot kick stroking it wide of Smith into the top corner.
A great result on the day and a good attendance. Roll on Saturday.

Attendance: 255

Team:
Dan Eason, Aaron Burrett, Lewis Taylor, Sean Bremner, Steve Hanson , Andy Forster, Neil Perkins, Robbie Goodger, Luke Harvey, Marc Jones, Danny Lawrence,
Subs:
Darren Marsden, (Perkins)  Simon Moore (Burrett) , Rhys Lawson (Jones)
Not used:  Stephen Baines, Michael Taylor

Man of the match:  Rob Goodger

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd August 2008
VCD Athletic 2 - 3 Herne Bay

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Bay showed their title intent  with a well deserved, hard fought victory over many people’s title favourites VCD. The hosts attacked straight from the off but a cleared long ball found Luke Harvey but he blasted over the bar from 30 yards. Harvey repeated this 8 minutes later, as did both Darren Marsden and Danny Lawrence.
After 25 minutes  Vickers should have  taken the lead but for a  point blank save by Dan Eason. They did take the lead 3 minutes later when  Richard Sinden made Marsden pay for a bad pass firing home from close range.
Bay hit back straight away; Martin Chandler crashing a thunderbolt shot against the bar with VCD keeper, Holder, nowhere. The ball ricocheted back to Rob Goodger, whose first time shot was cleared off the line.
Will Graham suffered a bad injury in the 40th minute and was replaced by Andy Forster. Then just before the interval Marc Jones brought Bay level with a fine strike from 18 yards. The ball took a slight deflection which left the keeper flat footed. This was just reward for the tireless running up front  by Sharkey and the delight on his face was a joy to behold.
The 2nd period was only 7 minutes  old when Sinden found himself free inside the box but fortunately he snatched his shot wide.  Bay then took the game to  their hosts and following a couple of corner kicks they took the lead.  Bremner headed the ball towards the goal. Gary Cook tried to head it clear but managed to loop the ball over Holder. 
VCD  brought on Leroy Huggins, now playing three up front, and the game changed Bay being put under the cosh for the next ten minutes. This concerted pressure brought VCD level and it was Huggins finishing off a good passage of play  with a fierce strike from close range.
Neil Perkins replaced Chandler and it was his header, won in the VCD half, that put Mardsen clear on the edge of the box. Marsden drifted wide, outpacing the  rather pedestrian VCD defenders, before striking the sweetest of shots under Holder into the bottom corner of the goal to put Bay back in front.
VCD struck back immediately and only a fantastic diving save from Eason prevented a Simon Austin header from putting VCD back level. After this Bay saw out the final 10 minutes without any further  threats on their  goal.
A great performance from Eason in goal and a real cameo performance from Sharkey. This was his first goal for Bay and how well he deserved it.

Attendance: 91

Team:
Dan Eason, Robbie Goodger, Rhys Lawson, Sean Bremner, Will Graham, Martin Chandler, Danny Lawrence,
Darren Marsden, Luke Harvey, Marc Jones, Simon Moore
Subs: 
Andy Forster (Graham)  Neil Perkins (Chandler)  Steve Hanson (Harvey)
Not used Aaron Burrett, Mike Turner

Man of the match:  Marc Jones

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FA Cup Sponsored by EON Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 16th August 2008
Redhill 1 - 2 Herne Bay

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Herne Bay travelled to Redhill expecting a very physical game and what a battle it turned out to be! The narrow pitch and uneven playing surface didn’t suit Bay’s passing game.
Redhill were “in their face” throughout the 90 minutes never allowing Bay time on the ball or to play football. Redhill cleared the ball without any ceremony and always chose to play the long ball down the channels, which fortunately suited Bay’s defenders. Bay ran out deserved winners thanks to goals from Sean Bremner and Darren Marsden in the 35th and 57th minute.
Bay should have taken the lead inside the first minute. Luke Harvey raced through and his shot bounced off the keeper back to Rhys Lawson, his  shot was pushed away to Marsden whose low drive was cleared  off the line. Five minutes later a Lawson  header went  wide of the upright.
Redhill struck back immediately with a couple of forceful runs from forward, Dalehouse, using his strength to shrug off Lewis Taylor, but shot wide both times. It took 25 minutes before  Bay strung more than two passes together.
A slick piece of interchange between Max Ciano, Marc Jones and Lawson put Lawson through. A fine tackle on the edge of the area prevented a strike on goal. Then the Bremner goal! A shot from fully 38 yards floated on the wind towards Czanner, in the Redhill goal.
Everyone thought the ball had been turned over the bar but somehow, to the keeper’s embarrassment, the ball nestled in the back of the net. Further attempts on goal from Taylor and Harvey saw Bay good value for their half time lead.
Redhill upped the pace in the second period and within a minute of the restart should have been level. Reid’s shot went narrowly past the upright with Bay keeper, Dan Eason, beaten.
Bay were being pegged back but always looked dangerous on the break. From one of these counter attacks Harvey put Marsden free to run at the goal, ghosting past two defenders before clipping the ball over the advancing keeper.
Redhill now were really chasing the game. With 15 minutes left a long ball over the defence found Reid in space and he somehow dug the ball from under his feet to lob the ball over Eason giving the home side a glimmer of hope.
Fortunately Bay managed to see out play, which included 6 minutes of stoppage time, without any further threats on their goal.
Chipstead now visit Bay in the next round in two weeks time.

Attendence: 87

Team:
Dan Eason, Max Ciano, Lewis Taylor, Sean Bremner, Will Graham, Martin Chandler, Neil Perkins, Darren Marsden,
Luke Harvey, Marc Jones, Rhys Lawson
Subs: 
Simon Moore (Ciano 52 mins)  Will Dunlop (Graham 82 mins)
Not Used: Aaron Burrett, Andy Forster, Steve Hanson, Brad Ashmore, Danny Lawrence.

Man of the Match: Darren Marsden

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Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 9th August 2008
Herne Bay 6 - 2 Sporting Bengal

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Not one of Herne Bay’s better performances! But they did get what they needed, 3 points in the opening fixture. Despite being one of the weaker Kent League sides  Bay always seem to struggle against Sporting Bengal. In fairness though this was the best football playing Sporting Bengal side I have seen in the four seasons that they have been in the Kent League.
Bay started in dominant form and went into an early lead after 9 minutes. Stuart King’s powerful shot from the edge of the area was pushed away by keeper, Daigne, into the path of Luke Harvey who followed up and drove the ball inside the near post from a tight angle. Rhys Lawson should have increased the lead six minutes later but a skied shot allowed the opportunity to pass. Was this the return of the ‘Herne Bay bobble’ Rhys?
On 17minutes Darren Marsden put Lewis Taylor away down the left. Taylor raced into the box and fired a low drive which Diagne failed to hold. The ball bounced back to Taylor and he made no mistake from 10 yards. 
From this point Bay seemed to take their foot ‘off the gas’ allowing Bengal to show off their own passing skills. The visitors started to apply considerable pressure on Bay’s defence and were rewarded in the 40th minute when a Prince Pipim shot was deflected wide of Shaun Smith, into the bottom corner.
The second period saw a more dominant Bay. The lead was increased in the 60th minute when Lawson sent a cross straight to King, who made no mistake from close range.
Smith then produced a good save from Pipim 12 minutes later. The ball was cleared away upfield to King, whose first time shot struck the defenders arm and a penalty was awarded. King sent Diagne the wrong way with the spot kick to put Bay 4-1 up.
To their credit the visitors never gave up and indeed reduced the deficit when a mistake in the Bay defence saw the ball fall to Tharik Hussein, who produced a delightful chip over the stranded Smith.
A quickly taken free kick by Smith to Sean Bremner, whose short pass put Andy Forster in trouble. Forster was tackled and the ball fell to Tharik on the edge of the box. Lessons must be learnt from this!
A minute later Bay added the fifth goal, King’s shot hit the defender and ricocheted up over the keeper into the net to give King his first, but definitely not his last, hat-trick of the season. Marsden rounded off the scoring, latching onto a King chest down and stroking the ball into the bottom corner.

Attendance : 101

Team:
Shaun Smith, Rhys Lawson, Lewis Taylor, Sean Bremner, Will Graham, Robbie Goodger, Darren Marsden, Martin Chandler,
Stuart King, Luke Harvey, Danny Lawrence
Subs:
Andy Forster (Graham)  Neil Perkins (Chandler)  Marc Jones (Harvey). Not used Aaron Burrett, Max Ciano

Man of the match:  Lewis Taylor

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The Bruce Smith Sheild
Tuesday 5th August 2008
Whitstable Town 1 - 2 Herne Bay

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Bay deservedly took the honours in the inaugural Bruce Smith Shield with goals from former Town players Danny Lawrence and Stuart King.
It was obvious straight from the start that Bay‘s players were really up for the challenge against our local rivals and wanted to gain the bragging rights, particularly after an email stating ‘Whitstable will not lose’ was shown to all the players prior to the kick off.
The one disappointing part of the night was the unnecessary booking of three Bay players and one Whitstable. Local derbies are never ‘friendly’ but there was no nastiness on the pitch, just the usual competitive nature of the players.
The first half display really showed how far this new Bay side have come and with flowing, passing football they took the game to the hosts. King, Rhys Lawson  and Luke Harvey giving their defence a torrid time. The midfield trio of Lawrence, Darren Marsden and Rob Goodger maintained effective control of the midfield. With Sean Bremner as sweeper behind Will Graham, Andy Forster and Lewis
Taylor good protection was given to Shaun Smith, the youngest player on the pitch, in goal. Taylor in particular put the flanks to great use but unfortunately was not seen often enough by his team mates.
Bay opened the scoring on15 minutes Lawrence being put through and finishing with a sublime chip over the advancing keeper, Kevin Fewell.
Despite their domination Bay couldn’t capitalize on their lead and Whitstable started to close down the midfield and threaten Smith’s goal. Ian Pullman in particular was always a constant threat. It was Pullman who, to the delight of the home supporters, brought Whitstable level 5 minutes before half time. Again a very well worked goal with the play being switched from one side to the other and culminating in a low cross into the box where Pullman tucked the ball away with aplomb.
Three minutes into the second period a piece of King magic put Bay back in front. From a Bremner cross King, with his back to the goal 15 yards out, turned and volleyed giving Fewell no chance whatsoever as the ball smashed into the top corner.
Being a friendly both sides started to use substitutes. The changes seem to affect Bay more than Whitstable. They seemed to lose their shape and lose control of the midfield which gave Town the upper hand for a fifteen minute period. Once Bay had sorted out their back line they began to negate the threats on goal. This caused Town to resort to the long ball, route one play which Bay found easy to control.
At the final whistle the delight from the players was so evident, you would have thought we had won promotion! Never mind. A great performance by all with some good , controlled football being displayed. A very mature performance from Smith in goal. Well done Shaun.
Luke Harvey accepted the shield from a disappointed Bruce Smith but I think even  Bruce will agree Bay were the better team on the night.

Supporters Man of the Match: Danny Lawrence

Attendance: 222

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Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 2nd August 2008
Herne Bay 6 - 0 Maidstone United XI

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A very good team performance against a very physical Maidstone side. It showed that this team will still try and play football and not shirk the strong challenges.

Goals came as follows:
11 min - King beats offside trap and hammers past the keeper 1-0
34 min - King to Taylor who advanced on the keeper, ball breaks free. Marsden drills home 2-0
52 min - King free kick low drive beats keeper at near post 3-0
70 min - Harvey put through and finishes with low drive under keeper 4-0
79 min - Great  ball by Lawrence pus Lawson through one on one.  5-0
85 min - Lawrence brought down by keeper. Burrett sends keeper wrong way 6-0

Great performances from Robert Goodger and Stuart King. The latter made some superb runs across the line. When the team realise how well Stuart works the line the goals will come. It is improving with every game and Danny Lawrence and Darren Mardsen are seeing the opportunities earlier and earlier.

Team:
Dan Eason, Max Ciano, Lewis Taylor, Sean Bremner, Will Graham, Robbie Goodger, Danny Lawrence, Martin Chandler,
Stuart King, Marc Jones, Darren Marsden.
Subs:
Rhys Lawson, Aaron Burrett, Will Dunlop, Neil Perkins, Acam Todd, Luke Harvey, Andy Forster.

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Pre-season Friendly
Tuesday 29th July 2008
Herne Bay 4 - 1 Snodland

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County League Premier side, Snodland gave Herne Bay an early scare by taking the lead in the 15th minute when a fierce drive from outside the area was fumbled on the line by keeper Brad Ashmore and the Snodland forward, following up took the chance.
Earlier in the 6th and 7th minute two chances went to Bay . Will Graham pumped an inch perfect 35 yard pass to Sean Bremner who advanced into the box but his effort was well saved. Martin Chandler followed this with a shot / cross which Neil Perkins headed over.
A Martin Chandler free kick on the half hour from just outside the box, after Bremner had been brought down by the keeper outside the area, levelled the score. His shot crashed into the top corner with the keeper nowhere.
The game changed in the 35th minute when the referee dismissed a Snodland player and this spoilt the game as a real contest.
Darren Marsden put Bay in front in the 40th minute side footing wide of the keeper. Then just before the whistle for half time Adam Todd was put through by Stuart King but he managed to hit the ball wide of the target.
The second half Bay made a number of substitutions and turned up the pressure on the 10 men opposition.
Five minutes after the restart a fine piece of passing play between Todd and Bremner was finished off by Todd with a low drive into the bottom corner to extend the lead.
King made it 4-1 after beating the offside trap firing a fierce drive into the top corner from the tight angle. Three minutes later King missed an open goal when latching onto a great low cross but he somehow hit the ball wide of the target when it looked easier to score.
A good performance from the County League side who, if they perform like this, will be pushing for honours at the end of the season.
The last 5 minutes looked dodgy for Bay when Shaun Smith was forced off with a knock and goalkeeping legend Anthony Deer moved (slowly) into the keepers position. He kept a clean sheet.

Team:
Brad Ashmore, Max Ciano, Andy Forster, Aaron Burrett, Will Graham, Martin Chandler, Neil Perkins, Darren Marsden,
Stuart King, Adam Todd, Sean Bremner.
Subs:
Robbie Goodger, Danny Lawrence, Rob Lawrence, Steve Hanson, Shaun Smith (GK) Lewis Taylor, Will Dunlop, Anthony Deer

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Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 26th July 2008
Herne Bay 7 - 1 Bly Spartans

Bay started slowly but once they got into their stride Bly were just no match.
Stuart King ran his marker ragged and ended with a hat-trick on his full return in a Herne Bay shirt.
Goal of the day, Danny Lawrence, Bay’s second, he drifted past three defenders and coolly chipped the ball over a luckless, former Bay keeper, Daryl Broadmore.
Some slack marking let Bly back into the game and the forward easily clipped the ball over the advancing Ashmore.

TEAM:
Brad Ashmore(GK), Max Ciano, Lewis Taylor, Aaron Burrett, Will Graham, Andy Forster, Martin Chandler, Darren Marsden,
Stuart King, Luke Harvey(C), Danny Lawrence.
SUBS:
Robert Goodger, Will Dunlop, Sean Bremner, Neil Perkins, Rob Lawrence, Shaun Smith (GK)

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Pre-season Friendly
Tuesday 22nd July 2008
Herne Bay 3 - 0 Lewisham Borough

This turned out to be a really good test for Bay. Lewisham were well organised and had a lot of very good players. They came to play football and unlike a lot of teams from the County League didn’t try and kick us off the park! The first period was pretty even with Bay just edging it on goal chances. The period ended 0-0 despite Rhys Lawson getting the ball in the net, but the referee had already blown for a foul on him.
Quite a few changes again for the second half for both sides and with the changes Bay started on top. Rhys  opened the scoring after 10 minutes of the restart, latching onto a cross and firing home from 12 yards, this after a great piece of one touch football between Luke Harvey and Sean Bremner down the left flank.
Adam Todd made it 2-0 with a fine solo effort. After dispossessing the Lewisham midfield player he raced past two defenders before firing an unstoppable volley into the top corner from fully 30 yards. Five minutes later Rhys added his second, and Bay’s third. Martin Chandler sent a cross into the box which Rhys controlled on his chest, turned and stroked the ball under the keeper.
Another good display by Bay.

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Pre-season Friendly
Saturday 19th July 2008
Herne Bay 0 - 2 Horsham

A real treat for the supporters with the return of Stuart King in a Herne Bay shirt.
This was always going to be a much tougher game than last week but it showed how far this new team has progressed. They were never outplayed by the Ryman Premier side and in fact gave as good as they got. Horsham knew they were in a real match, albeit on paper a friendly. Bay continued where they left off last week with good flowing football, Horsham though were a very well organised side and liked the wide open spaces of the Winch's Field pitch. 
They took the lead in the 13th minute. Switching the play from the left to the right the winger delivered a fierce low drive into the six yard box finding an unmarked Jack Page  who made no mistake from close range.
Bay raised their game and worked really hard for the equalizer. A good move involving Marc Jones  and Stuart King put the visitors defence under pressure but the Horsham captain and central defender, managed to deal with the threat by conceding a corner. The first period ended at 0-1.
A number of substitutes in the second period and a first team debut for keeper Dan Eason and defender Rob Goodger. Along with Simon Moore and Andy Forster at the back Bay looked really solid and Horsham were not so threatening.
In fact with the introduction of Rob Lawrence and Adam Todd Bay really took the game to Horsham. After 65 minutes Bay should have been level. A fine pass from Danny Lawrence split the defence finding Max Ciano free on the edge of the box. Unfortunately he hit his shot high and wide and the chance was gone. Another golden opportunity went begging 15 minutes later. Neil Perkins headed against the bar, the ball ricocheting back to an unmarked Rhys Lawson who hit the post when it was easier to put the ball in the net. After this let off, Horsham saw out the rest of the game and in fact scored right at the death when Sam Jerimine raced through and his shot bounced off the bar and over the line. There was a hint of offside about the goal but being a friendly fixture, no complaints.
Horsham won the Titch Willett Memorial but Bay ‘s performance was again very encouraging. There is a real air of confidence about this side which really bodes well for the forthcoming campaign.

TEAM :
Shaun Smith, Sean Bremner, Aaron Burrett, Marc Jones, Will Dunlop, Darren Marsden, Martin Chandler, Danny Lawrence , Neil Perkins, Stuart King, Rhys Lawson,
SUBS:
Rob Lawrence Andy Forster, Adam Todd, Simon Moore, Lewis Taylor, Dan Eason (GK) Danny Williams, Max Ciano,
Robert Goodger,

Man of match:  Danny Lawrence (great all round performance)

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Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 12th July 2008
Herne Bay 4 - 0 Wembley

The air was full of expectancy after weeks of training and this first friendly couldn’t have come quick enough for the players. This was so apparent with the performance given today!  With a near full squad available it was decided to field two different sides in the two halves and from this it can be seen there will be tremendous competition for 1st team places this season.

First  the pitch.  What a transformation after many seasons of playing on mud and weed it was a resplendent Winch’s Field. Much hard work by Ian, Tony, Jim and Martin produced a facility that the players and management alike can be justifiably proud. The pitch was the best ever seen with a complete covering of grass and even mower cut stripes.
The players responded to the surface produced with a scintillating display of slick passing and clinical finishing. Team 1 were slow out of the blocks but once they started to move the ball around their confidence grew. After 15 minutes they were in the lead.
New signings from Lordswood, Lewis Taylor and Darren Marsden, dominated the left hand side. From his full back position Taylor broke through and unleashed a low shot from outside the area which the keeper failed to hold. Two minutes later Marsden, ghosting past several defenders, hit a shot on the run only to see it ricochet off the bar with the keeper beaten. This was followed by another Taylor drive  which was turned around the post for a corner.
On the stroke of half time Luke Harvey was upended in the box. Up stepped Martin Chandler, but his spot kick was well saved by the Wembley keeper.

After the interval Team 2 came out with Marsden and Simon Moore the only players to be on for the full 90 minutes. Even though a completely different team the football played was still of the highest quality. It only took 5 minutes of play before Bay doubled the lead. Marsden dispossessed the keeper and slotted home. A fine move brought Marsden his second and Bay’s third. Rob Lawrence took the ball down the right flank, putting Adam Todd through. Todd pulled the ball back and Marsden coolly side footed the ball into the top corner from 18 yards out.
Bay wrapped the game up in the 88th minute, when Marc Jones raced through and sent a quality cross into the box where Mike Turner was waiting to lash home from close range.

TEAM 1:
Brad Ashmore, Max Ciano, Lewis Taylor, Aaron Burrett, Simon Moore, Will Dunlop, Martin Chandler, Danny Lawrence, Darren Marsden, Luke Harvey, Rhys Lawson.

TEAM 2:
Shaun Smith, Andy Forster, Sean Bremner, Chris Pate, Simon Moore, Mike Turner, Marc Jones, Darren Marsden,
Adam Todd, Neil Perkins, Rob Lawrence.

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