Herne Bay’s third sending-off in four League matches, and terrible playing conditions of high winds and heavy rain, made it an uphill challenge for Bay who showed such promise recently.

Bay was without the suspended captain Liam Friend and played into the wind as the game kicked off. Things became much harder in the 9th minute when outside the penalty area,
Josh Bexon mis-controlled a back pass and slid in to challenge the Ashford forward who had got to the ball first and tried to knock it past him. When Bexon handled it gave the referee no choice but to show the red card.

Ethan Smith had to take the goalkeeper’s for the second time, and he didn’t have much to do because Ashford United also had difficulty, mostly overhitting the final pass. They had a couple of corners and Michael Salako earned one for Herne Bay too when his left-wing run and cross had to be turned behind by a defender.

Not a lot happened in the first half hour despite Ashford United being camped in the Herne Bay half for the first half hour.

After a goalline clearance by Sinn’kaye Christie, United marksman Gary Lockyer found space at the far post to head home a corner to give the home side a 1-0 break.

Bay made a half-time substitution - Josh Reid for Jack Hillier and changed to three at the back, as the central midfield was missing the regular choice Smith.

However, it was Ashford who got the second goal in the 53rd minute. Matthew Bodkin broke down the left wing and squared the pass along the penalty area, and Gabe Campbell buried it beyond the unfortunate Smith.

Bay should have got a goal back a minute later when Ashford United’s centre-back gave the ball away, presenting Salako with a chance that he would normally have taken, but Mitchell Beeney got down well to save to his right.

Monty Saunders made an important challenge after Bodkin’s flicked header set Louis Collins free. He suffered a knee injury moments later and was replaced by Artem Kuchkov.
Bay replaced Kane Haysman with Alfie Hill, and Sky Salmon came on for Parter who surely deserved a better game to notch up his 100th appearance for Herne Bay.

Josh Reid had a lot of possession in the closing stages and after coming close to finding Kane Rowland in front of goal, he won a Herne Bay corner. Dan Carrington challenged well and laid the ball back to Scott Heard who deftly lifted the ball over for Salako to head the ball home.

Bay tried in vain to push bodies forward for an equaliser, but the Ashford United substitute ended that hope when he was well-placed to tap home a cross and give them a third, which seemed harsh all things considered.

Herne Bay: Bexon, Hillier (46’), Parter (Salmon 78’), Christie, Carrington, Heard, E Smith, Haysman (Hill 69’), Salako, Rowland, Saunders (Kuchkov 58’)

Subs Unused: Woodfine

Red Card: Bexon (9’)

Yellow Cards: none

Next Fixtures:
Tuesday 10th December 19:45, home v Sittingbourne (Isthmian South East)
Saturday 14th December 15:00, home v East Grinstead (Isthmian South East)