Bay named an unchanged starting eleven side following Tuesday night's win against Margate. Among Bay’s substitutes was Liam Friend who has missed the six league games after being injured at Chichester in the FA Trophy.

Bay won the first corner, in the 4th minute which was taken short by Jack Parter to Monty Saunders whose cross was flicked on by Joshua Reid and caught by Croydon’s keeper Amadou Tangara.

Croydon showed speed going forward and Kadell Daniel set up Brandon Pierrick to fire a low hard cross across the face of the goal in the 6th minute.

Minutes later, Croydon had the lead. This time, former Crystal Palace player Pierrick picked out the unmarked Daniel, who had time to turn and placed his shot from 22 yards past Crump.

Bay almost got caught out overplaying at the back by Croydon’s pacey frontmen, but a poor touch allowed Dan Carrington to recover. Moments later, Parter saved the team on the goal line, hooking the ball away after a header from Malachi Dotse seemed destined to score. Before Bay could fully clear, another cross found Pierrick, who cut inside Hillier and shot, but Crump made a great save low to his right.

Kane Hayman and Monty Saunders worked an opening for Scott Heard to cross, but unfortunately, his shot was directly at the keeper. Bay came close to equalising in the 21st minute when Saunders' cross was won by Ethan Smith. His stabbed shot hit the upright with the keeper beaten. The rebound fell to Kane Rowland, but his was incorrectly given offside.

Saunders and Heard combined again to work on an opportunity for Reid to get in a cross. It was blocked though by the near post defender with players waiting deeper.

Bay had loud shouts for a penalty ignored when Tangar pushed through Heard as he was waiting for a mishit clearance to drop.

Heard then had to clear a shot off the line from Dotse after Pierrick created a chance for Croydon.

Bay were still creating opportunities and a long-range effort from Parter was straight at the keeper to save, and Reid won a free kick in a good position after he was fouled breaking down the right. However, the free-kick was overhit by Heard and went straight out.

Bay were level in the 38th minute through Rowland’s 6th of the season. Bay built up from the back starting from Salmon’s pass to Parter who played forward to Saunders. Saunders played inside to Heard who spotted Smith's run down the left. Smith crossed left-footed to Rowland who had lost his markers to stretch and tuck the ball home.

Then Reid’s dangerous cross was dropped by Tangara but although Rowland got a touch on the ball, Tangara’s momentum helped him to recover.

Right on half-time, Hillier was bundled over giving a free kick to Bay, Carrington pumped the ball long to Rowland whose flick on put Kane Haysman through, but his shot was comfortable for Tangara to save.

What ended up as a satisfactory half for Herne Bay soon turned sour. Dotse sent the ball out to Pierrick who returned it into the centre of the pitch where Nya Kirby was in acres of space. From beyond the edge of the “D” he curled a right footer beyond Crump for a 2-1 lead with 48 minutes played.

Bay wasted another freekick when Rowland tried to take a quick one which went straight to a Croydon defender.

In the 54th minute, a promising attack for Bay ended with a horrific injury for Haysman. Saunders won a challenge in his penalty area, played a one-two with Reid and then passed to Rowland out on the right wing. He squared to Haysman who teed the ball up with his right foot and sput to volley goalwards. Unfortunately, the defender tried to block the shot and caught Haysman’s foot causing severe lacerations which needed treatment on the pitch and also a trip to the hospital. We would like to thank AFC Croydon’s physio as well as our own, for the treatment they gave Kane. With Haysman still down, Saunders' shot was parried by Tangara.

After a lengthy delay, when the game resumed there was an exchange of corners with no real chance for either side. Bay’s substitutes came on but it wasn’t a day to remember for Bay.

Bay conceded two goals in the 83rd minute & 85th minutes. Daniel scored his 2nd of the game when he turned and beat two or three defenders in the box, before playing across Crump into the far side of the goal. The 4th and final goal was from Croydon’s substitute, Tom Collins, who volleyed in a mis-punch by Crump from a corner.

In the 10 minutes added on. Bay spurned two chances that might have been converted earlier in the season.

After conceding four goals in three consecutive league defeats, Bay face a critical need for reflection and regrouping ahead of Tuesday night's important clash with Hythe Town

Herne Bay; Crump, Hillier, Parter, Carrington, Salmon, Heard, Reid (Kuchkov 77’), E Smith, Haysman (Salako 60’), Rowland, Saunders (Hill 90+9’).

Subs Unused; Friend, Brooks

Yellow Card; Heard (90+6’)

Next Fixtures:
Tuesday 5th November 19:45, home v Hythe Town (Isthmian South East)
Saturday 9th November 15:00, away v Eastbourne Town (Isthmian South East)