Winning return sees White bag a hat-trick

Herne Bay

Herne Bay returned to action in South League Kent Division 2 with an 8-3 success against Holcombe 3rds. It was a fourth straight league win and left Bay fourth but only three points behind leaders Sevenoaks 3rds but with a game in hand. Goals from Scott Hinsley, Sam Thompson and Aaron White saw Bay race into a three-goal lead before Holcs pulled one back. In the second half, two goals from Kriss White made it 5-1 before the visitors made it 5-3. Bay added three further goals, from White, who completed his hat-trick, a second for Thompson and a James Stevenson strike. The 2nds maintained top spot in Kent Open Premier B with a 3-0 win over Gravesham/wellcome. A Paul Duffy goal gave Bay a 1-0 half-time lead and good goalkeeping from Jamie Ullyett maintained the lead. Despite losing skipper Alistair Mackinnon with a hamstring injury, Bay stepped up a gear in the second half to add further goals through Simon Newman-collins and Craig Dale. The 3rds returned to the top of Division 1 after winning a see-saw battle at Burnt Ash 5ths, 6-4. Two strikes from Adam Foster and a short corner conversion by Adrian Hawkes ensured Bay went in level at 3-3 at half-time. After the break, Harry Pout put Bay ahead only for Ash to equalise but it was Bay who finished stronger and goals from Matt Newman and James Nash won it. Bay 4ths remain second in Division 4 despite completing the double over Maidstone 6ths with a 6-0 win on the road. They only led by a single Paul Mcvey strike at the break but the hosts crumbled after half-time and Jay Newell poached a hat-trick, Mcvey netted his second and Alfie Forbes was also on target. The 5ths remain top of the same division but suffered their first defeat of the season, going down 3-2 at home to Blackheath Dynamos. Bay cancelled out a firsthalf goal through Dan Chamberlain but after half-time, the Dynamos regained their lead, only for Mark Hart to make it 2-2 from a short corner. It was, however, the visitors who snatched the crucial fifth goal and the points. Bay ladies bounced back from the previous week’s defeat to overcome Blackheath/oes 2nds 5-2 in Kent League Division 1. Two goals from skipper Lucy Marks and singles from Sophie Forwood, Rachel Gentry and Sharon Godden ensured the points against the fourth-placed visitors. The 2nds remain fourth in Division 4 despite a 2-0 win at BBHC 3rds. After dominating for long periods, all Bay had to show for it was two goals late in the first half from Gemma Cathcart and Sarah Wills. The 3rds remain top of Division 5 despite being unable to raise a side for their game at Gillingham Anchorians 3rds, handing the hosts a 4-0 walkover win.