Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ansah seals Bay comeback
Isthmian South East
Goals from defender Ryan Cooper and hitman Zak Ansah saw Herne Bay respond after an early setback to claim a 2-1 success over Three Bridges in Isthmian South East on Saturday.
The result means Ben Smith’s side remain fifth, although they are just three points clear of sixth-placed Whyteleafe who have a game in hand on them. Three Bridges drew first blood with seven minutes played when a Brannon O’neill corner was met by a superb header from Ben Bacon. Spurred on by their early goal, the Bridges were closing Bay down at every opportunity but it was the home team who looked the more likely to score at Winch’s Field.
Then, in first-half stoppagetime, an Ansah effort hit the post but, with the rebound, Cooper found the bottom corner. The Bay completed their turnaround midway through the second half as frontman Ansah delightfully chipped over away goalkeeper Kieron Thorp from distance.
They were also due to visit Chichester on Tuesday but the match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Whitstable suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of VCD Athletic on Saturday.
Lloyd Blackman’s Oystermen started the game looking like a team who had not played for a fortnight and paid the price when Alex Gaggin shot past Town goalkeeper Dan Eason in the eighth minute.
But in the Kent Senior Cup, Whitstable earned a 1-0 success against Isthmian South East rivals Ramsgate as they progressed into the semi-final stages of the competition. All the action came after the restart, with substitute Charles Etumnu’s 30-yard strike proving to be the difference.
And Whitstable held on despite having new signing Liam King sent off.
A late penalty meant
Faversham had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Phoenix Sports at Salters Lane on Saturday. Jeff Duah-kessie put the visitors ahead, only for two goals either side of half-time by Anthony Adesite to put the Lilywhites in control.
But Town couldn’t hold on and Kenny Alireu converted a late penalty.
On Tuesday, Faversham collapsed after the restart in their 5-1 defeat at Haywards Heath.
Adesite had put them in charge again but Byron Napper’s 35th minute reply meant it was all square at half-time Daniel Cumber put the hosts ahead midway through the second half and it was soon 3-1 as Nico Cotton converted a penalty.
Three became four when Andrew Dalhouse netted with quarter-of-an-hour remaining and the scoring was completed in the dying moments when Heath were awarded another penalty, this time converted by Raheem Sterling-parker.