Herne Bay: Plumley, Salmon, Saunders (Roberts 64’), E Smith (Kuchkov 61’), Friend, Christie, Reid (Ndozid 58’), Heard, Salako (Rowland 72’), Oluwasemo, Haysman (Osinfolarin 58’)

Subs Unused: None
Yellow Cards: None
Referee: Teddy Osborn

Match Sponsor: COYS Construction

Herne Bay ended fears of a relegation battle with an emphatic victory over Lancing on Saturday, which sent the Sussex down to Step 5. Two recent defeats against promotion-chasing sides still had Bay looking over their shoulders at the Phoenix Sports and Littlehampton's scores. However, the thrilling nine-goal bonanza was Bay’s highest score at the Isthmian League level and a relief from the worries.

Manny Oluwasemo led the goalscoring chart with three goals on his return to Herne Bay after signing from the Kosovan side KF Isogu. Mike Salako and Artem Kuchkov hit doubles, with Jordy Ndozid and Theo Osinfolarin rounding off the scorers.

Lancing kept the same starting eleven that were beaten 1-0 at home by Sittingbourne last week, and Manager Jamie Collins brought in Oluwasemo for Kane Rowland for Bay.

Bay got off to a flying start and only 5 minutes into the game, Josh Reid’s reverse pass to Scott Heard was threaded through to the path of Salako, who tucked the ball under Alieu Secka for his 20th goal of the season.

Bay’s second goal came in the 19th minute. Oluwasemo picked up the ball in midfield and passed out wide to Reid, who played a one-two with Ethan Smith. Reid won a free kick when he tricked the defender into a foul. Heard took the free kick, which was blocked by the one-man wall, and when it rebounded to Heard, he made no mistake and whipped his second attempt into the box. Sinn’Kaye Christie had the centre-back all over him, but the ball rebounded off Salako to Kane Haysman, who hooked the ball back to Salako, who prodded it past the Lancing keeper.

It looked like Salako could have a quick hat-trick when there was an opportunity to shoot from outside the box with the keeper off his line, but he chose to pass instead, and the defence recovered.

It was soon forgotten when Smith pounced on some slack defending. Lancing keeper’s short pass to Faris Fhallouqi, who was caught too long on the ball. Before Fhallouqi could recover with a sliding tackle, Smith laid the ball square to Salako, who managed to loft the ball across goal to Oluwasemo, to open his Herne Bay goalscoring account from close range.

We were treated to some moments of magic between Heard and Reid as they pushed hard for a 4th before half time, and Haysman nearly got it from a very close header. It came though, when Kie Plumley’s long clearance was headed into the path of Oluwasemo, who held off the centre-backs to fire home from 22 yards.

Bay kept pushing for more goals in the second half. After Smith had been fouled by Fhallouqi, earning the game’s only yellow card, Heard tried his luck from the free kick, 25 yards out. Secka dived to his left to push the curling ball away.

Collins made several changes, bringing on Jordy Nzodid, Kuchkov, Osinfolarin and Roberts in quick succession, and there was some promising interplay involving these players. In the second of these, Osinfolarin’s left-footed cross was headed back across goal by Salako to Oluwasemo who headed downwards for his debut hat-trick.

Kane Rowland replaced Salako as Bay continued to attack. A flowing move produced a corner, and Heard’s cross was initially too high for Nzodid, but as the ball rebounded to him, he touched and spun to score his first for the Bay. There were 78 minutes on the clock, and it was 6-0 to the Bay.

The next goal from Kuchkov came less than a minute later. Rowland started the attack, and a lovely pass with the outside of his foot by Heard, was perfectly timed for Kuchkov’s run, and he tucked the ball beyond the keeper for 7-0.

Kuchkov bagged his 2nd soon after. Oluwasemo’s cross was headed goalwards by Kuchkov and saved by Secko, but the rebound fell to Kuchkov to tap in.

Bay’s defence had not been troubled too much all match, and Liam Friend and Christie had successfully thwarted any attacks, so although it was disappointing that a goal from Lewis Lembikisa in the 89th minute prevented the clean sheet, it was a well-placed shot.

Osinfolarin had been having an exciting time out on the right wing and got the goal he deserved when another Heard’s assist was smashed home to cap off the 9-1 victory, moments before the referee called time.

Next Fixtures:
Saturday 8th April 19:45, away at Beckenham Town (Isthmian South East)
Saturday 12th April 15:00, home to Erith Town (Isthmian South East)