Squad:

Nobby (Gk)
Nigel
Colin
Will
Chris
Les
George
Jim

On paper looking at the result you would have every right to suspect that this was a comfortable victory for the away team, this is far from the case.

We had an untried game plan which centred around Will man marking the very dangerous Trevor Brown in the centre of the Herne Bay midfield, Trevor on his day can control the game with his intelligent movement and passing game, not last night. Will was superb closing down and tracking his opponent, not giving him the time to impose himself on the game. Now all this effort would have been wasted if Will’s teammates didn’t match his endeavours, everyone played their part. The first few minutes typified the team effort for the evening, the away side started very much on the front foot and kept possession really well, the way we combatted this was brilliant, despite the pressure we were under no attempts on the home goal were forthcoming.

This strong defensive beginning gave us the foundation to push forward and take control of proceedings as the rest of the half saw us dominate, making and unfortunately squandering several chances. A penalty came our way for encroachment, despite a firm well placed spot kick the away keeper made a very good stop diverting the shot away. Other equally presentable chances either missed the target or were again kept out by the inspired away keeper. It would not have been an injustice to see us in front by a couple of goals at the break as we played some lovely football and never really looked like conceding.

The second period ultimately saw the game slip away as we conceded two late goals, plenty of action before this though, space was at a premium as both teams strived for dominance in a highly competitive  twenty minutes, no quarter was given without ever overstepping the mark, any slightly late challenge was generally accepted as an honest attempt to win possession. Midway through the half Nobby in our goal was to have quite a moment, we conceded a penalty, again the offence was encroachment as a stray defensive foot landed in the area. Trevor was at last free from his shadow, the home crowd held its breath (well that was only me so no one really noticed), the ball was carefully placed in to position, the strike was low and true, Nobby threw himself in the right direction clasping the ball to his chest, still no score, still in the game, what a save.

Half chances came and went for both teams until a speculative low effort found its way through a forest of legs and rather annoyingly nestled in the back of our goal, we rallied, pushed forward but couldn’t force what we thought would be a deserved leveller, the second goal just before the final whistle sealed our fate.

A good honest game of walking football ably controlled by Chris Smith, for us we know we can mix it with the best teams and look forward to the remaining fixtures in the coming weeks and with just a modicum of good fortune adding to our points tally.

Match report by Jim Dobson.