Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bay pull off notable win
Isthmian South East
Herne Bay showed their Isthmian South East play-off credentials in an eye-catching win at Cray Valley.
The Millers had lost only once at home all season before going down 2-1 to Ben Smith’s side on Saturday.
Kieron Campbell opened the scoring on 14 minutes as Bay, with Dan Carrington making his debut at centre-half after signing from Ramsgate, took an early lead.
Joe Tennent levelled for Cray Valley two minutes before the break but Zak Ansah’s 67th-minute strike handed Bay the points.
The win, Bay’s seventh in their past 10 games, leaves them sixth in the table, outside the play-offs on goal difference. Solomon Taiwo scored direct from a corner in Faversham’s 2-1 home win over FA Cup stars Chichester.
Former Town player Julian Beal, standing near the corner flag, told Taiwo he would buy him a beer if he managed to score.
The former Cardiff man accepted the challenge and duly delivered to give the Lilywhites a 56th-minute lead.
City, who reached the second round of the FA Cup this season, levelled through Ryan Davidson four minutes later.
But it was Faversham’s day as Osman Proni scored the winning goal six minutes from time as James Collins’ men climbed to 15th. Substitute Marshall Wratten scored a last-minute equaliser as Whitstable drew 1-1 with Sevenoaks in front of a big crowd of 331 at the Belmont. Former Faversham striker Liam King put the visitors in front after only six minutes. Time was almost up when on-loan Dover winger Wratten rescued a point for Lloyd Blackman’s side, who drop a place to 12th.
Herne Bay were celebrating on New Year’s Day after beating old rivals Whitstable 3-0 at Winch’s Field.
The derby attracted a terrific turnout of 831 and the home section of the crowd were in terrific voice with Tushauntyreese Walters scoring after only four minutes.
Ansah doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 26 minutes and Walters made sure of the points with his second goal on 62 minutes. Faversham’s first game of 2020 ended in disappointment after a 2-1 defeat at Kent rivals Hythe. Kaka Dembele put the Cannons ahead in the 17th minute and Sam Blackman doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Winger Michael Hagan replied on 82 minutes.
■ Marshall Wratten was Whitstable’s hero on Tuesday as they came from behind to beat National League South side Welling United 2-1 in the Kent Senior Cup.
Dipo Akinyemi gave the hosts a 16th minute lead before Wratten turned the contest on its head, equalising on 75 minutes before netting the winner six minutes later. Faversham bowed out, beaten 4-2 at home by National League Dover whose goalscorers were Steven Rigg (2), Nassim L’ghoul and Ade Yusuff. Osman Proni scored both Town goals, his first coming from the spot, and his second, a fine left-foot finish.