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HERNE BAY secured promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division for the first time in their history.
Kieron Campbell’s brilliant finish and Aaron Millbank’s late penelaty sealed the deal for the Kent side.
It was end-to-end stuff in the first-half with the sides taking it in turns to cause mayhem in the final third.
Gary Lockyer forced the first save of the afternoon as Jordan Perrin had to claim low down to his right with the Ashford man firing across goal.
Tashi-Jay Kwayie then had a big penalty appeal turned down by the referee after he had broken free from his marker inside the box. Stepping across the defender, Kwayie was subsequently barged over but it was waved away.
Herne Bay’s Rory Smith, on a darting run from midfield, unleashed a low-driven strike at goal from on his left foot. Ashford’s custodian, Jordan Carey, was at full stretch as he clawed the effort wide.
That same man went a whisker away from giving the visitors the lead just minutes later as Mike West cleverly found Smith open on the right. His first-time strike struck the post to no avail and that served as a let off for Warrilow’s troops.
Straight back to the other end of the pitch, Josh Wisson let fly with a chance from the corner of the box, but it was agonisingly over.
An unlikely Jay May miscue rounded up the first20-yards half, heading way over the bar after Tariq Ossai had done well to pick the forward out with a darting cross.
It looked like the Nuts & Bolts were about to take the lead on the hour mark as a dangerous long-throw from Bradley Simms was headed on by May towards Kwayie at the back post, but his header was superbly cleared off the line.
With the game in much need of a spark, a fabulous finish from Kieron Campbell put Ben Smith’s Herne Bay ahead with 20 minutes left.
There were claims of a foul in the build-up but play continued and a moment of pure quality put Bay in the driving seat.
A determined Ashford tried with all their might to get back into the game, but all hope was lost when the Bay were awarded a penalty in the dying moments.
Up stepped substitute Aaron Millbank to convert and the match was settled.
Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow told The NLP:
“I thought it was a tight game and we probably had the better chances in the first-half.”
“We also had Tashi’s header in the second half, but it didn’t go in and then they got the breakthrough.
“I think there were a few fouls in the build-up to their opener, but that’s not why we lost today.
“Congratulations to Herne Bay. We’ve just got to dust ourselves off and go again next season.”
STAR MAN:
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★