Herne Bay: Plumley, Osinfolarin, Saunders, E Smith, Friend, Christie, Reid, Heard, Salako (Rowland 54’), Ndozid (Haysman 54’)
Subs Unused: Lartice, Roberts, Kuchkov
Yellow Cards: Ndozid
Referee: Maros Valko

Herne Bay struggled to make an attacking impact, which was in stark contrast to the weekend’s match, and spent long periods of the game defending against a Beckenham Town side that still hopes to make the playoffs.

The best goalkeeping display out of the many keepers Bay had used this season, by Kie Plumley, and some resolute defending by captain Liam Friend, SinnKaye Christie and stand-in full-backs Monty Saunders and Theo Osinfolarin, kept the score at 0-0 for eighty minutes until two late goals got the victory the home side deserved.

Plumley was called to action for the first time in the 3rd minute when Louie Theophanous shrugged off Michael Salako before taking the ball into the box and forcing a very good save low to his right for a Beckenham Town corner.

In the 7th minute, Jordy Ndozid's foul allowed Beckenham's fluent midfield to string together a series of passes, creating a chance for Steven Townsend, whose shot narrowly missed to the left. Moments later, Friend and Christie delivered tremendous blocks to deny further goal attempts. When Beckenham's fullback surged forward at pace, Osinfolarin stepped in with a perfectly timed tackle to defuse the danger.

Herne Bay's attack lacked sharpness as play frequently broke down before they could penetrate the final third. The absence of width limited their options and posed little threat to Beckenham's solid back line. Around the half-hour mark, Scott Heard tried to spark some momentum with a pair of efforts—one sailing over the bar and the other drifting wide

Theophanous was a constant danger throughout the match. After being put through by Bloomfield’s clever flick, he fired a shot just wide of the right post. Moments later, Chalker’s low cross sped across the six-yard box, evading everyone. As Beckenham piled on the pressure, Christie and Saunders stepped up with crucial challenges to deny Theophanous yet again

In the last five minutes of the half, after a foul by Ethan Smith, a quick free kick was taken and Bloomfield created another chance for Theophanous, which was saved by Plumley, and within a minute Plumley once again thwarted the same player.

In time added on, a rare chance for Bay came from Saunders’ free kick was headed over the bar by Heard.

So at half-time, Herne Bay went in 0-0.

Freddie Nyhus tested Plumley with a long-range shot that was comfortably saved. Then, Bay's best chance of the game came in the 56th minute when substitute Kane Rowland found himself with space in the penalty box. He struck his shot well, but it hit the near post, agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.

Beckenham then hit the woodwork themselves after Christie cleared a dangerous ball into the box, for a corner, their captain Jack Holland’s powerful header struck the bar. Plumley then saved a Bloomfield shot, and when Nyhus outfought Heard, Plumley had to save with his legs to keep it at 0-0.

Plumley then had to save from Beck’s centre-back Mudiaga Wanogho, who shot from a distance as they began to show frustration. Two more corners followed, but Bay’s defence was holding firm.

Unfortunately, at the eighty-minute mark, Christie was robbed by Townsend in the penalty box when he should have cleared. In a flash, he shot, and although Plumley got a touch, it ended up going in. Less than three minutes later, Nyhus and Townsend again worked an opening for Theophanos and, despite being closed down by Christie, managed to get in a shot which slightly deflected past Plumley.

It was a disappointing end after defending so well for so long, but with the lack of opportunities at the other end of the pitch, it was a deserved victory for Beckenham Town.

Next Fixtures:
Saturday 12th April 15:00, home to Erith Town (Isthmian South East)
Saturday 19th April 15:00, away to Three Bridges (Isthmian South East)
Easter Monday 21st April 15:00, home to Deal Town (Isthmian South East)