Herne Bay 2-2 Chipstead - Battered Chips

HERNE BAY 2-2 CHIPSTEAD
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Preliminary Round
Saturday 30^th August 2008
Mike Green reports from Winch’s Field

THE MAGIC of the FA Cup is most definitely alive and well at Winch’s Field on a sweltering afternoon, as Herne Bay and Chipstead must fight it out again on Tuesday night.

Despite being a league lower than their opponents, the Bay dominated for long periods in the first half, only for their Ryman League Division One South visitors to firstly grab an unexpected lifeline on the stroke of half-time, then levelling things up as the 210 crowd were wondering which way the pendulum would swing in an enthralling final quarter.

Afterwards, Chipstead manager Micky English was heard to say that in the first half his side were “battered” by Herne Bay.

For how the Bulmers Cider Kent League side weren’t out of sight by half-time is a mystery.

Because, to be frank, the Bay had the chances not only to reach the first qualifying round but the first round proper, such was their dominance.

They should have been in front inside the opening minute as Luke Harvey saw his shot driven across the face of goal.

Seconds later Harvey released strike partner Marc Jones, who was through on goal, one-on-one with James Wastell, but seemed to hesitate allowing a combination of keeper and lanky defender Nathan Campbell to deny him.

Ten minutes had gone when the Bay forced three corners in quick succession - the best chance fell to Rob Goodger, whose header flew inches wide of goal - and still the Bay poured forward.

Four minutes later Jones was again released with the goalkeeper to beat but this time having seen his shot beat the keeper it also bobbled agonisingly wide of the right post.

Finally, the goal their dominance warranted arrived on 20 minutes. And is surely the first contender for that well known Christmas blooper tape!!!

Defender Andrew Waring played the ball back to his keeper and then looked on in horror as Jones dispossessed the keeper inside the six-yard box, ramming the ball home from all off a yard.



BLUNDER:  Chipstead goalkeeper James Wastell wishes the ground would swallow him up as his mistake gifted Marc Jones the opening goal.
Photograph courtesy of www.hernebayfc.net

As happens so often, one became two almost immediately. Bay full-back Lewis Taylor flew down the left-wing, leaving defenders in his wake, before driving the ball across the face of goal, where at the far post Harvey showed great intelligence to square rather than shoot for Danny Lawrence to bundle the ball over the line.

Herne Bay strode forward at every opportunity and on 32 minutes were again left scratching their heads.

Martin Chandler’s free-kick drew a fine block from Wastell and somehow the rotund keeper was able to block Lawrence’s follow up.

Three-nil at this point would have killed the game surely but this after all is the Greatest Cup Competition in the world and wouldn’t you know it, in first half stoppage time, Chipstead got the lifeline they barely deserved.

A corner from the right was headed goal wards by Campbell and the central defender was as surprised as many to see the ball loop over Dan Eason and into the net.

The goal stood despite loud protests from the Bay keeper.

Unsurprisingly it was Chipstead who had the bit between their teeth after the break and with the sun beating down, the Bay visibly wilted.

Yet Chandler, after some sublime skill, was inches away from restoring the two-goal lead. Lawrence’s through ball was controlled on the chest by Bay’s assistant-coach and his shot beat Wastell but also the far post.

Chandler was then booked for something he said to referee Mr Rendell and from the resulting free-kick the ball was forced across the face of the bay goal for Neil John to equalise.

Again, huge protests from the Bay defence, this time against Danny Oakins, who the defence claimed kept the ball in by using his hand.

But the goal stood and full credit to the Bay as they again raised their game.

Harvey, a constant threat in the Chipstead side all afternoon, dispossessed Waring by the corner flag and pulled the ball back to Darren Marsden, who stung Wastell’s palms from twenty-yards.

At the final whistle several Bay players collapsed in a heap, but they needn’t be disappointed as their manager afterwards was full of nothing but praise.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Barry Morgan admitted that his side should have been out of sight by half-time.

“But you know what pleased me most, it was the way we reacted brilliantly after they equalised,” he said.

“We still played the football that I want us to.

“Half-time definitely came at the wrong time for us. We really should have had it sown up by half-time but lets not forget we were against a team playing higher than us.

“It was good to hear their manager say that he thought we should be in their league.”

Herne Bay will have their star striker Stuart King available for Tuesday night’s replay at High Road.

And Morgan said: “He’s probably going home now thinking job done but I know I still have fresh options for the replay.”

So, with a wily grin, the Bay boss concluded: “We’ll see what happens.

“I’m told it’s a good playing surface down there and whilst they’ve got players coming back, so have I.”

Meanwhile, Herne Bay chairman Mr John Bathurst revealed last night that the club have received a seven-day approach from Ramsgate for Will Graham.

Herne Bay: Dan Eason, Simon Moore, Lewis Taylor (Andy Forster 84), Sean Bremner, Rob Goodger, Steve Hanson, Martin Chandler (Stephen Baines 77), Darren Marsden, Luke Harvey, Marc Jones, Danny Lawrence.
Subs: Aaron Burrett, Mike Turner, Joe Nelder

Goals: Marc Jones 20, Danny Lawrence 28

Booked: Martin Chandler 65, Marc Jones 73

Chipstead: James Wastell, Jamie Findlay, Chris Head, Nathan Campbell, Andrew Waring, Richard Williams (Darryl Coleman 45), Aaron Cole-Bolt (Reis Aslan 83), Gavin Quintyne, Danny Oakins, Neil John (Jamie King 86), Josh Smith.
Subs: Lawrence Buchann, Joe Grant.

Attendance: 210
Referee: Mr L Rendell
Assistants: Mr G Kane & Mr R Wilkins