Bay made three changes to Tuesday nights starting eleven. Injured Jack Parter was replaced by Jack Hillier, Dan Carrington came in for Joel Odeniran, who had been recalled by Folkestone, and Mo Kamara started instead of Artem Kuckvov.

New Phoenix Sports manager Darren Anslow, formerly of Beckenham Town, made seven changes to his side. Their attempt to get off the bottom place was underway, so Bay knew they couldn’t afford to be complacent.

Frankie Smith was alert in the 2nd minute, intercepting a through ball, and moments later Bay’s keeper Harry Brooks made a crucial save after a free-kick was headed dangerously across the face of the goal.

Bay had a couple of free-kicks in front of the away dugout. The first was played short, and Frankie Smith’s cross found Carrington, but his shot was easily collected by Phoenix keeper Taite Holtam who was previously on loan to Herne Bay at the start of the season. The second was crossed by Scott Heard, and Mike Salako headed wide under pressure.

In the 22nd minute, Kamara chipped into a crowded penalty box. Ethan Smith nodded the ball back to Kane Haysman, who turned and shot, but the ball was cleared for a Bay corner.
Seventeen minutes in, Bay broke quickly down Phoenix’s left, and the referee played advantage after Salako was fouled. Ethan Smith's cross was just out of reach for Kane Rowland, and Heard's follow-up couldn't find a blue shirt in the box.

Bay were frequently caught offside, yet a promising run by Ethan Smith across the 18-yard box resulted in a yellow card for Phoenix’s Ernie Cheeseman. Unfortunately, Frankie Smith skied his attempt to break the deadlock.

Bay opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Kamara started the move from Bay’s half, laying the ball off to Rowland, whose right-footed pass to Salako split the defence. Salako found time to run into the penalty box, played the ball back to Heard, who then picked out Haysman’s run. Haysman had no trouble scoring his 6th of the season from six yards out, much to the delight of the 30 travelling supporters.

Bay’s second goal came from a more direct approach. Brooks collected an overhit free-kick and launched a long clearance upfield to Ethan Smith, who timed his run perfectly and slid the ball past Holtam for his first league goal in Bay’s colours. The score remained 2-0 at halftime.

Phoenix improved in the second half. Malachi Morris’s driven free-kick was punched away at the near post by Brooks, and an almighty goalmouth scramble somehow saw the Bay defence keep the ball out.

Bay sealed the win with a third goal in the 56th minute. Rowland's persistence won possession from Sergio Uyi, passing to Ethan Smith, who was tripped for a penalty. Salako stepped up and slotted the penalty past Holtam, who had dived the wrong way.

Brooks made another smart save, this time down to his left from Richard Pingling, but couldn’t do much to stop Phoenix from scoring in the 71st minute. Pingling got behind Bay’s defence, and Marcus Elliott was in space to control and tuck home after avoiding Sky Salmon’s stretch to intercept.

Bay appealed for another penalty after some impressive work by Joshua Reid, but it was turned down. Phoenix’s William Efame saw his curling shot deflected over for a corner off Hillier.

Despite the pressure, Bay held on for the three points and now look forward to Tuesday night's trip to Sittingbourne.

Herne Bay; Brooks, Hillier, F Smith, Carrington, Salmon, Kamara (Saunders 80), Rowland, E Smith, Salako (Reid 80), Haysman, Heard.

Subs Unused; Kuchkov, Hill, Wilson
Yellow Cards; Carrington (52), Salmon (79)