Pulman double maintains run

RYMAN LEAGUE: EXPERIENCED STRIKER SCORES ONCE IN EACH HALF AS BAY STRETCH UNBEATEN SEQUENCE TO SEVEN MATCHES

Ian Pulman’s second double in two games extended Herne Bay’s unbeaten run in Ryman League, Division 1 South to seven games with a 2-0 win at Horsham.

The experienced striker, back at the club after leaving last month, when boss Sam Denly was forced to reduce his playing budget, struck once in each half, as Bay continued to shrug-off their off-the-field problems.

Pulman followed up his two goals in the 6-0 win over East Grinstead the previous week, with one in each half at Gorings Mead, as Bay chalked up their fifth away win.

Denly gave new-boy Darnell Weiss his first start, as Bay looked to build on three successive away draws.

Pulman put one earlier chance over before firing Bay in front after 16 minutes. Picking up the ball halfway inside the home half, he ran at defenders, before finishing low into the bottom corner.

Goalkeeper Jack Delo then saved well from striker Tony Nwachukwu’s header, while team-mate Charlie Farmer headed wide.

Alfie Rogers saw his early second half effort deflected over, Mark Lovell then missed out at the other end, before strike partner Pulman doubled Bay’s lead on the hour.

The second was similar to his first, running onto a long ball out of defence, beating off a couple of challenges, before shooting home.

Delo denied Nwachukwu again with a point-blank stop, before Bay went close to getting a third as substitute Izzy Adebayo’s cross fell just behind Lovell.

Faversham’s play-off hopes are over, following a 3-1 defeat at South Park.

Things started well with Luke Harvey’s 15th-minute opener but the lead lasted only nine minutes, before home top scorer Kieran Lavery made it 1-1.

Luke Elliott then got Park’s second just after the hour before Chris Smith sealed the Lilywhites’ fate with a third two minutes from time.

Goalkeeper Will Godman started the move leading to Town’s goal, his long clearance being flicked on by Carl Rook for Harvey to force home.

Godman then saved from Lavery but was beaten soon after as the Park striker curled home the equaliser for his third goal in three games between the clubs this season.

The Town keeper kept out another effort from the same player soon after half-time before Reeves restored Park’s lead, heading home to make up for a glaring first-half miss.

Harvey went close to getting his second, following a one-two with Sam Bewick, while Renford Tenyue saw his strike pushed away.

George Monger saw another effort hooked clear, before Smith got Park’s third, converting Kofi Quartey’s flick.

Ian Pulman struck twice at Horsham