Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bay’s unbeaten run ended
Ryman League
Herne Bay’s five-match unbeaten run in Ryman League, Division 1 South came to an end with a 2- 0 home defeat to promotion-chasing Hythe on Tuesday night.
The Cannons took the lead after just three minutes as Ryan Johnson’s cross saw Nick Reeves nick the ball from Jack Delo before teeing-up Kenny Pogue to turn in from close range.
On 34 minutes, Hythe came close to a second but Sam Adams’ shot was deflected wide. At the other end, Danny Walder sent a long-range effort over and Kane Phillip drove through the Hythe defence but fired wide.
Hythe got their second eight minutes before half-time as Adams noticed Delo out of position preparing for a ball into the box and the Hythe midfielder made the keeper pay by firing a swerving shot into the unguarded near post.
After the break, Frankie Sawyer’s attempt from an angle for Bay went just wide, while Michael Turner found Connor Sanders who sent his attempt wide.
Adam Woollcott fired wide after a good Bay passing move and Turner had two efforts offtarget within a minute.
It was the visitors who finished the stronger as Adams curled a free-kick just wide and Liam King shot wide in the dying seconds.
Bay had extended their unbeaten run to five games after earning a point at Walton Casuals on Saturday.
Bay had the first chance on 11 minutes when a Walder free-kick was cleared off the line by Jake Nicholson.
Within a minute, the ball was at the other end and a header off the line by Turner prevented Jack Sammoutis from breaking the deadlock.
The end-to-end pattern continued and both teams went close to scoring with Sol Pinnock spurning a chance in the 28th minute and Phillip wasting an opportunity for Bay soon after.
Bay dominated the early stages of the second half and Danny Williams had a great effort saved by keeper Denzil Gerrar, while Mark Lovell clipped the post.
On the hour, Gabriel Odunaike burst through only for Delo to make a superb save. Bay broke the deadlock 22 minutes from time when Sanders latched on to a loose ball in the area and fired past Gerrar.
Casuals equalised just four minutes later when Odunaike slotted home after a neat move.
Faversham’s bid to get back to winning ways was thwarted by the weather on Monday night.
Town’s game at Chatham was abandoned after just 27 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch. Luke Harvey had put the visitors ahead after six minutes with Chats levelling through Freeman Rogers just three minutes later.
On Saturday, the Lilywhites let slip a lead on their way to a 5-2 defeat at home to Greenwich Borough.
Town broke the deadlock on 13 minutes when Bola Dawodu volleyed home.
It was 1-1 nine minutes later when Town failed to clear a free-kick and Rob Denness headed home from close range.
Borough took the lead on 27 minutes when Jake Britnell went down easily under a challenge from Dan Carrington in the box allowing Charlie Mcdonald to beat Ben BridleCard from the spot.
Faversham made it 2-2 on the hour when Kieran Campbell won a free-kick which was delivered by George Monger for Josh Stanford to guide a header home.
Dawodu was inches away from his second after Danny Young was caught in possession but Town switched off on 72 minutes allowing substitute Michael Power to turn in a cross from the right.
The game was up six minutes later when Denness climbed highest to glance a high Mo Elsa cross past Bridle-card and Jordan Casey saw a straight red for comments made to the referee.
The gloom deepened when Town gifted possession to the visitors, allowing Power to flick home the fifth from a cross in the dying seconds.