Herne Bay 0-3 Hayes & Yeading United - We missed our chance on Saturday, admits proud Lillis

HERNE BAY 0-3 HAYES & YEADING UNITED
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round Replay
Wednesday 3^rd October 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Winch’s Field

Jason Lillis felt his side squandered their best chance to knock out Blue Square South outfit Hayes & Yeading on Saturday, having lost their FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay at a foggy Winch’s Field tonight.

The Herne Bay boss saw his side return from west London with a 2-2 draw on Saturday, but admitted tonight that this was one game too far for his Kent League side.

But Lillis took heart from the fact that Hayes & Yeading United scored two of their three goals in the last six minutes, which earned the amalgamated club a lucrative home clash against Ryman Premier League giants Chelmsford City on Saturday week.

Lillis kept faith with the sixteen players that he took to Church Road on Saturday - and was proud of every single one of them - in front of their largest crowd of the season.

They had previously beaten East Grinstead Town (3-1 in a replay after the home game finished goal-less), Guildford City (2-0) and Sevenoaks Town (1-0) in the previous rounds before an impressive second half display in the first match gave Hayes & Yeading United the wobbles.

And on arrival at Winch’s Field, the visitors were concerned about the Winch’s Field playing surface.

But they put in a professional performance, preventing Herne Bay from having any real clear-cut chances at Delroy Preddie’s goal.

Hayes & Yeading United created the game’s first chance after five minutes.

Liam Collins whipped in a cross from the right towards the far post for James Edgerley, who looped a header across the face of goal, and the Kent side survived.

At the other end, Martin Chandler’s free-kick was then met by a thumping header from striker Aaron Firth, which flew just past the near post - his only chance of the match.

James Mulley had a goal chalked out for offside for the visitors after seven minutes, and at the other end, Shaun Bremner drove a shot past the left-post, as the fog lifted for a while.

Impressive defender, Nevin Saroya, Hayes & Yeading United’s skipper, set up another chance for his side when his free-kick found Stafford Palmer, and after turning Andy Forster, the two-goal hero lashed his shot past the near-post.

Edgerley’s left-footed corner was met by a towering header from Saroya, who directed his header past the left-post from six-yards out.

But the west Londoners opened the scoring after 16 minutes - just like they did at Church Road on Saturday.

Bay goalkeeper Jack Delo couldn’t keep out Will Hendry’s driven shot from six-yards, following Palmer’s low centre from the right, after Palmer got in behind the Kent side’s defence.

Herne Bay should have done better following a free-kick from midfielder Chandler, formerly of Folkestone Invicta.

His 21^st minute free-kick was met by Simon Brown’s header, which looped into the grateful arms of Preddie, who made a comfortable routine save.

Delo was alert at his near post to block Edgerley’s angled drive after he exchanged a one-two with Liam Collins following their third corner of the game.

The first half ended with Liam Collins snatching at a right-footed shot from 30-yards, which flew high and wide.

Hayes & Yeading were thwarted by Delo after just 85 seconds into the second half.

Edgerley’s right-footed corner was met by a towering header from Saroya, and Delo made an acrobatic save to tip the ball away from his goal and his defence cleared the danger.

Hendry tried his luck from distance on two occasions before the hour-mark, and on both occasions drilled his shot past the left-post.

James Mulley’s right-footed shot flashed past the same post from 25-yards, in what was a good chance for the visitors after 62 minutes.

Hendry’s angled free-kick five minutes later curled over the top of the far-post.

Despite being just a goal down, Herne Bay were always in the game, but sadly they didn’t look like scoring.

A challenge from Herne Bay skipper, Roy Guiver, prevented striker Simon Martin from scoring, as he dinked his shot over the top of the left upright.

And the unmarked Palmer sent his header straight at Delo just a minute later before substitute Steve Perkins headed over following his side’s ninth corner.

But two goals in the final six minutes from Palmer wrapped up the victory for Hayes & Yeading United.

The killer goal came on 84 minutes when Palmer drilled an angled shot from 25-yards, which went in off the foot of the far post.

And the flattering third arrived one minute and 39 seconds inside stoppage time when Palmer drilled another right footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

But despite Herne Bay’s elimination from the FA Cup, Lillis, who was forced to visit hospital earlier today with a stomach upset, was proud of his side.

A 3-0 defeat? “It was far from the story,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk  afterwards. “Obviously they got two goals in the last five minutes because we had to try and get one.

“But I just think they had a lot of quality about them. So they should at that level they play, but our boys battle and battle and they will never give up.

“But you don’t get two bites of the cherry unfortunately when you play sides at that level.

“It’s very hard to beat them after the second time. Yes, I’m very proud of my players for what they have achieved for the club and for the Kent League football itself.”

Tonight’s 16^th minute opener, which set Hayes & Yeading United on their way, was the turning point of a game, that was just one too far for Herne Bay.

“It was because it’s exactly what happened Saturday,” said Lillis. “They scored virtually the same time, which was a mistake really from us, bad defending, which could have been dealt with.

“But when we came in second half I just reminded the boys, “you’ve got a chance again to come and make a name for yourselves,”

“But there was just something missing tonight, a little bit of that cutting edge, maybe.

“They worked so hard Saturday. I don’t know, maybe it might have been too much for them.”

Following their 4-1 home defeat to Colliers Wood United, which ended the club’s FA Vase campaign, Lillis’ squad will re-group this weekend, ahead of next weeks Kent League Cup matches at Sevenoaks Town (Tuesday, 9^th October) and Tunbridge Wells (Saturday, 16^th).

“Obviously we’re disappointed losing any game but I just think we take a positive out of it,” said Lillis.

“The boys have got a bit of a well deserved rest on Saturday, re-group, and play again Tuesday in the Cup.”

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Andy Forster, Shaun Bremner (Reggie Oliver 58), Aaron O’Leary (Steven Hanson 82), Roy Guiver, Martin Chandler, Nathan Eastwood, Simon Brown, Aaron Firth, Dave Soutan, Rhys Lawson (Ben Brown 73).
Subs: Martin Collins, Joe Kane.

Booked: Rhys Lawson 28, Roy Guiver 70

Hayes & Yeading United: Delroy Preddie, Danny Allen Page, Toby Little, Peter Collins, Nevin Saroya, Will Hendry, Liam Collins, James Mulley (Steve Perkins 76), Simon Martin (Kieran Knight 86), Staforde Palmer, James Edgerley (Michael Barima 66).
Subs: Miles Jones, John Peacock.

Goals: Will Hendry 16, Stafforde Palmer 84, 90

Booked: Liam Collins 10, Peter Collins 44, Nevin Saroya 57, Delroy Priddie 90

Attendance:  364
Referee: Mr Carl Brook (Hastings, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Graham Bryant (Hawkinge, Kent) & Mr Martin Staveley (Folkestone, Kent)