Tunbridge Wells 0 Herne Bay 2

Match 58/11/945 - Tuesday, 3 April 2012 - Kent League

Tunbridge Wells (0) 0
Herne Bay (0) 2 Baverstock 55, Jenner 58
Att. 205

Entrance: £3 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 26/4,459

Match Report

Herne Bay bounced back from their FA Vase disappointment to move five points clear at the top of the Kent League with a resilient display at Tunbridge Wells. Saturday had brought heartbreak for the East Kent club as they fell at the semi-final stage of the national competition at West Auckland, losing 2-1 on the day and 4-3 on aggregate. Herne Bay’s Vase exploits have seen their lead at the top of the Kent League eroded as their games in hand piled up.

Herne Bay’s first half display failed to win many admirers among the Tunbridge Wells faithful as a series of heavy challenges earned bookings in an competitive contest. A couple of poor challenges from Ashley Baverstock and Tom Parker were allowed to go unpunished before the referee finally lost patience and booked Parker as the cumulative total rose.

Tunbridge Wells made a good fist of the first half and chances for Andy Irvine who had a shot deflected wide of the post and saw Bay keeper Dan Eason acrobatically save from a 20th minute effort. On the half hour the home side should have taken the lead when Ryan Rook volleyed wide of the near post after good work from Lewis Mingle.

Two goalkeeping errors in a short time effectively ended the Wells’ resistance early in the second half. Dean Nash, who according to the Wells support has had a great season and could be voted player of the year, made two horrendous errors in the matter of three minutes. On 55 minutes, a long overhit punt forward carried into the box and Nash came to collect under no real pressure but he inexplicably dropped the ball at the feet of Baverstock who had the simple task of rolling to ball into an open goal.

Three minutes later and a free kick from Michael Jenner, conceivably 40 yards from goal, was hopelessly misjudged by the 19-year-old keeper who allowed the ball to sail past him into the top corner. Nash will certainly have better days, but all around there was sympathy rather than criticism for the youngster. Indeed, he went someway to making amends with a good low save from Rhys Lawson and another from Simon Austin.

Herne Bay showed all the attributes of a championship winning side, they weathered a first half under pressure, drew the sting from the home side and then delivered their own knock-out blow. Kent League sides, in the shape of Whistable, Faversham and Hythe, have all acquitted themselves well on their entry to the Ryman League and there will be every expectation that the Bay will do equally well.

Tunbridge Wells’ next home game sees the celebration of the 125th anniversary with free entry offered to all. There is one thing that I will not be sorry to see the back of in their anniversary year and that is their blue and black stripes, sorry but it just looks wrong, roll on next season and a return to the red and white.