Wembley blown away by impressive Herne Bay

HERNE BAY got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start, defeating Combined Counties League side Wembley 4-0 on the new playing surface at Winch’s Field today, writes Stephen McCartney.

With a new full squad available it was decided to field two different sides in the two halves and from this it can be seen there will be tremendous competition for first team places this season.

After many seasons of playing on mud and weed, it was a resplendent Winch’s Field for the club’s opening match of pre-season.

“The pitch was the best ever seen with a complete covering of grass and even mower cut stripes,” chairman Mr John Bathurst told www.hernebayfc.net.

Herne Bay responded to the playing surface with a scintillating display of passing and clinical finishing, which resulted in the opening goal after 15 minutes.

Former Lordswood pair, Louis Taylor and Darren Marsden dominated the left-hand side and from his full-back position Taylor broke through and unleashed a low shot from outside the area, which the goalkeeper failed to hold.



PITCHING IN:  Louis Taylor opened the scoring for Herne Bay during their 4-0 win over Wembley - on the newly laid pitch at Winch's Field.
Photograph courtesy of www.hernebayfc.net

Two minutes later Marsden, ghosting past several defenders, struck a shot on the run, only to see the ball ricochet off the crossbar, with the goalkeeper beaten.

Newly appointed skipper, Luke Harvey, was upended inside the penalty area on the stroke of half-time, but former Folkestone Invicta midfielder Martin Chandler saw his penalty saved by the Wembley goalkeeper.

Only Marsden and Simon Moore played the entire 90 minutes as Herne Bay manager Barry Morgan made nine changes at the interval.

It took only five minutes of play before the Kent side doubled their lead. Marsden dispossessed the goalkeeper and slotted home.

A fine move brought Marsden’s second when Rob Lawrence took the ball down the right flank, putting Adam Todd through, who then pulled the ball back to Marsden to coolly side-footed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Herne Bay wrapped the game up in the 88^th minute when Marc Jones raced through and sent a quality cross into the box where Mike Turner was waiting to lash home from close range.

Mr Bathurst, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, briefly spoke of his delight at the team’s good performance.

He said: “It was a very good performance with flowing passing football on the new superb playing surface at Winch’s Field.

“Wembley were swept aside by the quality of Herne Bay’s play - a great start to the season.”

Herne Bay: Brad Ashmore (Shaun Smith 45), Max Ciano (Andy Forster 45), Louis Taylor (Sean Bremner 45), Aaron Burrett (Chris Pate 45), Simon Moore, Will Dunlop (Mike Turner 45), Martin Chandler (Marc Jones 45), Danny Lawrence (Adam Todd 45), Darren Marsden, Luke Harvey (Neil Perkins 45), Rhys Lawson (Rob Lawrence 45).

Match report courtesy of www.hernebayfc.net