Saturday 5 March 2016. Ryman League, Division One South.
Herne Bay 3 Walton & Hersham 0.
Swans finally slipped into the third relegation spot following another trip into Kent they would quickly like to forget. Once again the match was over as a contest by half-time, as the home side totally dominated a first-half during which they had constantly pressurised the Swans’ goal, building a corner-kick count that went well into double figures and scoring three goals. An improved, better organised performance in the second-half gave Swans a degree of respectability as they denied the Kent side any further goals.
Problems started before the match with the late withdrawals of Richard Pacquette, Troy Williams and Joe Wallbanks, Orlando Smith’s return to Metropolitan Police and Gary MacDonald being unavailable. New signing Veejay Miller came in at left-back, while Adriano Moraes also started, the Brazilian having returned for a second spell at Stompond Lane after playing for Carshalton Athletic, Walton Casuals and Tooting & Mitcham United in recent seasons. Liam Beach returned in goal in place of Borja Loeches Teixeira, while Kambo Smith also made a start.
Swans were fortunate after just three minutes as a cross from the right led to a shot being cleared off the line, and the pressure continued with the home side’s corner-kick tally already mounting. After twelve minutes, one of those corners from the left sent the ball against the far-post and a shot was put over from the rebound. Beach then had to tip a header over as another corner came in from the right. A shot was deflected over at the far-post as Herne Bay crossed from the right, and Beach had to dive to tip the ball round his left-post as a low shot was driven in from outside the box. With 25 minutes played three more corners came in succession, the third resulting from another clearance off the line.
Two minutes later Swans, having had almost no possession, and despite the home side’s constant pressure, had the best chance of the match so far. Herne Bay defender, and captain, Liam Quinn was under no pressure, but lost control of the ball. Smith got possession, but after getting into the box, and with just goalkeeper Jack Delo to beat, he drove his shot wide of the right post.
Five minutes later the home side finally took the lead, and Swans will be disappointed that having withstood all Herne Bay had thrown at them, the goal came out of nothing. Keeper Delo launched a kick down the pitch, and Dylan Casey could only head the ball on to James Turner, and he had the simple task of slotting past the advancing Beach.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Herne Bay were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out, and an ineffective defensive wall allowed Dan Johnson to drive the ball low out of Beach’s reach and inside the right post.
As the half entered the final five minutes the match was effectively settled as a contest as Lee Browning slotted the ball through Swans’ back line for Joe Nelder to slip it past Beach and into the right corner.
Early in the second-half Herne Bay were awarded a free-kick wide on the left, and the ball was sent just wide of the near-post.
With an hour played Swans at last found the net as Prince M’Bengui played Mark Corbett into the left of the box to neatly beat Delo, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out by a tight offside decision.
Bay’s Michael Turner cut in from the right to drive a shot over, and when a long ball found Nelder close to the byline on the right, his volleyed cross was well beaten away at his near-post by Beach. Swans were fortunate following another corner on the right when a shot was cleared off the line, Beach saved a follow-up and a third shot was blocked. Casey then did well to clear the ball off the line when the home side broke from a Swans’ attack. Herne Bay had been less dominant in the second-half however as Swans looked more organised and composed in defence, although Danny Walder struck a good shot just wide from 30 yards.
The match had entered the final ten minutes of normal-time before Swans had their first attempt on target, Casey getting his head to Gianfranco Mici’s free-kick into the box, but the ball going straight to keeper Delo.
Swans’ Team: Liam Beach, Connor Channon, Veejay Miller, Adriano Moraes, Lea Van Sullivan, Dylan Casey, Gareth Chendlik, Prince M’Bengui (Vince Smith 80’), Mark Corbett, Gianfranco Mici, Kambo Smith (Cristiano Goncalves-Neto 86’),. Sub. not used: Mark Hams.
Herne Bay Team: Delo, M. Turner, Sayer, Johnson, Quinn, Sanders (Williams 61’), Walder, Nelder, J. Turner (Lovell 66’), Browning, Phillip (Hallett 75’). Subs. not used: Eastwood, Cutts. Scorers: J. Turner (32’), Johnson (34’), Nelder (41’).
