Battling Bay’s efforts go unrewarded

HOCKEY

HERNE BAY ladies battled hard against Folkestone 2nds but suffered a 3-1 defeat in Kent Division 1 on Saturday. Both teams tested the keepers in the opening half without finding a breakthrough but it was the visitors who struck after half-time with two quick goals. Bay rallied, winning a succession of penalty corners, one of which was converted by captain Lucy Vanhinsbergh but it was Folkestone who grabbed the vital fourth goal of the game to ensure the points. Meopham visit Bay on Saturday (9.30am) while the 2nds return to Kent League, Division 5 action with the visit of Burnt Ash 5ths (11.30am). Bay: Mackinnon, Nash, Coffey, Burton, Dengate, Gentry, Mason, Godden, Ives, Vanhinsbergh, Forwood, Gilbert, Analay. Bay men’s 1sts remain pointless in South League Kent/Sussex Regional Division 1 after a 15th straight defeat. They went down 4-1 at second-placed Tunbridge Wells, despite an improved performance, to stay bottom. With skipper Dave Jeays and David Hooper back, Bay battled away but fell 2-0 down through two fine short corner goals before James Bray halved the deficit before the break. The hosts kept up their pressure after the break and added two more goals to condemn Bay to defeat. Bay host second-bottom Brighton 2nds on Saturday (1pm) looking to close a 13-point gap. Bay: Wigington, Jeays, Dale, Hooper, Nash, Hawkins, Burton, Prebble, Reeves, Bray, Thompson. Basement-boys Bay 2nds suffered a 6-0 defeat at home to Kent League Division 2 leaders Burnt Ash. The Bexley side were 2-0 up inside 15 minutes and it was 4-0 by half-time with a further two following after the break. Bay visit Gillingham Anchorians 2nds on Saturday. Bay: Lunn, Andrew, Barton, Bennett, Prebble, Hindley, Moore, Stevens, Gould, Worrall, Marks, Russell, Taylor, Wade, Wigington. Rock-bottom Bay 3rds suffered their ninth straight defeat with an 8-0 defeat at Ashford 4ths in Kent Open Premier A. Bay couldn’t turn possession into chances while the efforts of keeper Sam Maybourn could not keep the hosts out at the other end. Bay: Maybourn, Brooks, Cathcart, West, Hawkes, Nash, Marsh, Freeman, Jones, Gould, Brundle. The 4ths suffered their seventh single-goal defeat of the season with a 2-1 reverse against Sevenoaks 7ths in Kent Open Division 3. The hosts bossed the opening half but poor finishing and good defence kept them scoreless while the visitors opened the scoring before half-time. Bay levelled quickly after the turnaround when Clive Cripps deflected Mark Hart’s cross home but Oaks forced a series of corners and eventually a penalty flick which was converted in the dying seconds to earn a point. Bay: Ulyett, Lindsay, MacKinnon, Newell, Horwell, Coode, Hart, Barton, Akram, Chamberlain, Bray, Furness, Wright, Watson, Cripps.