Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Turner’s stunner rescues Bay
Ryman League
Michael Turner’s 90th-minute equaliser earned 10-man Herne Bay a valuable Division 1 South point with a 2-2 draw at Sittingbourne on Tuesday night.
Turner struck a 25-yard free kick past the wall, beating former Faversham keeper Simon Overland inside his far post,
Bay went in front after 13 minutes through Danny Williams, before having defender Gary Sayer sent off for bringing down David Abe in the box, only for Hicham Akhazzan to hit the resulting penalty against the post.
Sayer’s dismissal and nine bookings made it a busy night for referee Mike Marsh, although Bay held their advantage until half-time.
Akhazzan made up for his earlier miss, when he put the Brickies level 10 minutes after half-time, sweeping home a first-time effort from the edge of the box.
It was his 100th goal for the club he has served for the past 10 years. He then made the second 14 minutes from time, with youngster Connor Wilkins getting the final touch.
Overland made two saves to deny Bay before Turner’s late intervention.
Bola Dawodu came off the bench to score twice as Faversham Town came from behind to win 4-1 at Molesey on Tuesday.
Dre Grobler put the Surrey side ahead after only four minutes with a deflected effort, before Liam King was forced off with a knee injury.
Dawodu levelled the scores just before the half-hour. He also had role in Town’s second four minutes into the second half, the ball coming back off the post for Carl Rook to score his first goal for the club since joining from Folkestone Invicta.
The striker had missed Saturday’s defeat at Dorking after his car broke down on the M25.
Dawodu got the third five minutes later, finishing off neat build-up work with a good finish.
Sam Bewick added the fourth five minutes from time, beating a defender to score, after Renford Tenyue’s ball to the far post.
Town had slipped to their first defeat in 10 matches on Saturday when they were beaten 1-0 away by promotion hopefuls Dorking Wanderers.
Town went into the game minus Josh Stanford, Luke Harvey and Rook but could count themselves unlucky not to snatch a point in a game of limited chances.
The best efforts of a tight first half came from free-kicks, with Dorking twice going close.
From the first, Tom Tolfrey’s curling set piece from 25 yards was palmed round the post by Will Godmon and from the next, the ball went across the face of goal with nobody able to get a touch.
A foul on Tenyue presented George Monger with a chance from a free-kick at the other end but his effort was easily saved by Slavomir Huk in the Dorking goal.
Dorking continued to probe in the second half but the Town defence stood firm, led by Godmon who twice saved well from Matt Briggs.
However, the next time Briggs drove into the area, in the 65th minute, he went down under a challenge from Jamie Maxted and the referee awarded a penalty.
Dorking had missed their last two spot kicks but this time, substitute Giuseppe Sole’s effort went in via the post.
Town rallied with David Blaikie’s effort deflected for a corner from which Maxted looked destined to score only for Huk to keep his effort out.