Match Report - HERNE BAY 50S - 20 Oct 2025

We didn't start well and Herne Bay were on the front foot straight away. It was obvious from the start that they were aiming to get the ball up to their striker and then have him either turn and shoot or lay the ball back to their supporting midfielders.

Phil and Paul J, however, tracked well and put in early blocks but Paul B in goal was soon busy. One blocked shot saw the ball turned wide and Herne Bay had a corner. We were marking man for man and were quickly into position. There was nothing on for the corner taker. The striker had different ideas and he was happy to push his marker into the area and then move wide to be found by a long cross field ball which he finished first time, giving Paul no chance.

This goal actually woke us up and we settled down. We started to play our football and quick one touch passes started to pull Herne Bay around. They were moving faster and faster but these transgressions were allowed, in general, to go unpenalised. The Herne Bay tackles were getting firmer and harder with the level contact also increasing again with limited punishment. The worst tackle was against Linden when he and the ball were cleared out by a Herne Bay midfielder. This appeared to be an excessive force challenge, reckless and without control with the HB player already falling but continuing to go through with the tackle a split second before he landed on the floor and made this a full blooded slide tackle. This was, however, seen differently by the referee who gave a free kick for playing the ball on the floor but no action was taken against the HB player.

This then became another theme throughout the game. The degree of contact was felt throughout but again the referee chose to allow the majority to go and this then continued to escalate.

Herne Bay doubled their lead when the ball was played up to their striker who turned swiftly several times, leaving Phil chasing him and managed to get his shot away passed Paul.

We still continued to enjoy some possession. Our one touch football was working and we managed to create chances. Pete was getting into some good positions and Jason and Andy were seeing plenty of the ball. Our best chance came right on half time. Some good hold up play by Jason and a pass round the corner found Pete in space but unfortunately his shot was smartly saved and rebounded to safety.

We had chased HB for the first 20 minutes and had the bruises to prove it. The second half started as the first finished. We were playing our football and supporting each other well. We moved the ball fast and well and soon had a corner following a deflected shot from Linden. Quick thinking by Jason and excellent movement by Andy saw a swift ball to the edge of the box. Andy met the ball and his low hard strike flew into the corner.

Phil and Paul J were putting in block after block and were tight on the HB forwards. Andy and Pete tracked well but Linden had to be substituted after he suffered a cut to his ear from a flailing arm. Catherine came on but with a seamless transition. It was a like for like change and Catherine created space and moved the ball up the right.

We might have drawn level with Jason and Andy creating chances. Pete was also finding space. Paul J almost found him with a through ball but unfortunately Jason was caught in between and deflected the ball away. Herne Bay moved the ball forward and attacked down their right. A swift turn and shot flew passed Paul B and high into our net.

We still continued to press though. This was leaving space behind us but we still believed that we had time and ability to get back level. Despite the lack of punitive action, Herne Bay were on 3 team non walking offences. Their next attack saw them break fast. The ball was played wide for their midfielder who ran to meet the ball. His shot flew wide but even though we appealed the referee gave a goal kick, stating that he would have chalked any goal off for running but as it missed he chose not to give a free kick or the penalty to us.

We continued to try and get back into the game. We pushed through but this left more gaps. Unfortunately an intercepted pass and swift break gave Herne Bay their fourth and final goal. Linden came back on at the end and gave both fresh legs and more impetus but despite our best efforts there was no more scoring. The result was Herne Bay 4 - 1 Canterbury.

My thanks to everyone who stepped onto the pitch. We didn't get embroiled in the indiscipline, we battled for everything and held our own. We gave the best defensive performances I have been proud to be part of and played some excellent football in attack.

My special thanks to Ian O who was an unused substitute.

Finally, my thanks go to the the people that came out on a horrible wet and windy October evening to support us and encourage the players on the pitch.

For his heroic goalkeeping and pulling off save after save, the Player Of The Match was Paul Biles.

Paul