Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bay boost their survival hopes
Ryman League
Herne Bay moved away from the foot of Ryman League, Division 1 South with a 2-0 win over Ramsgate at Southwood on Monday.
From the kick off, Bay forced Ramsgate deep into their own half but it was the hosts who had the first real chance when Joe Kane tested Jack Delo.
Bay took the lead in the 17th minute when Danny Williams outpaced the Rams defence before lobbing keeper Luke Watkins.
Five minutes later, Williams almost doubled his tally when he burst through a static Ramsgate defence but his shot was superbly saved by Watkins.
The hosts started to get into the game and midway through the half, Alfie Paxman should have done better than fire wide when well placed and a minute later, a Tom Chapman shot was well saved by Delo.
Bay started the second half in a more confident style, spraying the ball around and constantly getting behind the Rams defence.
Mark Lovell was unlucky to see his effort saved by Watkins after a great solo run and shot six minutes after the turnaround.
In the 55th minute, Ramsgate squandered a good chance when Luke Wheatherly headed wide from 10 yards following a free-kick but further chances fell to Bay with Danny Williams and Joe Nelder both going close only to be denied by last-ditch defending.
Kane Phillip replaced the ailing Joe Nelder 14 minutes from time and within two minutes, Phillip doubled the lead when he was put through from midfield to cut inside and slot the ball under Watkins to seal the points.
Faversham had to settle for a point from a Boxing Day derby draw at home to Sittingbourne.
In a scrappy first half of few chances, Anthony O’connor dragged the ball wide for the visitors on 14 minutes while a long ball from keeper Will Godmon fell to Josh Stanford soon after but he also shot wide.
Kieron Campbell dribbled forward but could only drill the ball straight at former Lilywhites favourite Simon Overland while at the other end, Stanford had another shot charged down.
Overland did well to beat away a close-range Renford Tenyue header from a free-kick but he spilled another Campbell shot but Town were unable to capitalise.
The breakthrough arrived five minutes into the second half as after seeing a long-throw cleared back to him, former Bourne man Jack Steventon whipped the ball in from the left for another ex-brickie Ryan Cooper to head home from close range.
The goal breathed confidence into the hosts and Jordan Casey fired straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.
But Stanford conceded a free-kick just outside his own box 17 minutes from time and although Godmon parried the subsequent shot, Tom Carsle flicked the ball back into the six-yard box for O’connor to head home unmarked.
Town almost snatched the lead back as Overland could only parry a Tenyue shot but Stanford’s follow-up was hooked off the line while Overland cut out a Stanford cross in the dying minutes with Town waiting to pounce.