The Safety Net Stadium, Winch’s Field – Herne Bay

This is a guest post by Ian Murphy.

Herne Bay – 1

Sevenoaks Town – 0

Kent League Premier Division – 12th November 2011

I always look forward to away games at Herne Bay for the simple reason that they are always entertaining. The only problem is for the last three seasons these trips have been in either February or November. The low temperature didn’t put the paying public off with the game pulling a crowd of 170.  I always look forward to away games at Herne Bay for the simple reason that they are always entertaining. The only problem is for the last three seasons these trips have been in either February or November. The low temperature didn’t put the paying public off with the game pulling a crowd of 170.

Being one of the bigger clubs in the Kent league, the trip to Herne Bay always seems to inspire visiting teams to up their game, and based on some recent results, the Oaks needed to do this. With two minutes on the clock, it was hard to believe that there was a twenty point gap between the sides. Sevenoaks went straight forward and shot wide from an early free kick. The game carried on at a fast pace for the rest of the first half, although neither side could find the back of the net

The handful of travelling fans went into the bar at half time pleased with performance their players had put in. This didn’t change for the first half an hour of the second half either, as both teams started pushing for the first goal. Herne Bay always looked stronger and were able to put in more shots both on and off target with the Oaks keeper proving his ability on numerous occasion.

When Herne Bay won two consecutive corners, the Sevenoaks supporters started to look uncomfortable, and as the ball came into the box, the defence struggled, and with the goalie appearing to drop the ball, Herne Bay were able to make the breakthrough with 81 minutes on the clock.

The referee waived away the protest from the keeper, and got the game underway again very quickly. To their credit, Sevenoaks never gave up looking for the equaliser, which some would say they deserved, and in the last minute, forced a superb save from the Bay keeper. As the ball spiralled over the bar, the referee called time on the game.

Overall it was a good game that could prove decisive at the end of the season. The performance from Sevenoaks definitely made the train journey home seem much quicker.