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Lillis off to a dream start

Herne Bay’s young team gave manager, Jason Lillis, the start he was dreaming of on Saturday at Winch’s Field.

Right from the kick off the Bay side set a blistering pace against a strong-looking Greenwich team.

As early as the 5th minute, Bay midfield dynamo Ronan O’Connor unleashed a great shot from the edge of the Greenwich penalty area to put the Bay 1-0 up.

Herne Bay continued to surge forward at every opportunity with Dan Kedwell, Simon Brown and Imran Englefield all going close and only smart goalkeeping by Bereer in the Borough goal kept the score to one.

With the game 15 minutes old, Jack Delo in the Bay goal cleared with a long clearance that was latched on to by  Kedwell who drew Bereer off his line and coolly lobbed the advancing keeper to put the Bay 2-0 up.

This inspired the Borough team to try and reduce the arrears with Saville and Raines both going close and only a great save at the feet of Raines by Bay’s Delo stopped the Greenwich team cutting the arrears.

 In the 38th minute, Herne Bay went 3-0 up after Delo’s quick throw-out to Jamie Winch on the right flank.

Winch made ground and sent over a glorious cross which Borough keeper Bereer mis-judged and could only grasp at thin air as the ball flew into the net.

After half-time, Greenwich came out a different side and took the game to Herne Bay and for 15 minutes, penned the Bay side in their own half. In previous years, Bay sides would have laid down under pressure, but not this team.

Kedwell fought for every ball up-front and on 60 minutes released a great through-ball to Simon Brown who duly dispatched the Bay’s fourth goal. 4-0.

Lillis rang the changes for the last time 15 minutes from the end. Joe Kennett, Luke Harvey and Dave Southan coming on for Michell, Englefield and Hammond respectively.

The Bay’s pace dropped somewhat and a certain amount of complacency set in which was not helped by some strange refereeing decisions  culminating in booking several players from both sides in the 81st minute.

After some good pressure by the Greenwich front men, Delo was beaten but Bay Stephen Lloyd went full length to stop Borough scoring and the referee adjudged it to be handball and awarded Greenwich a penalty, subsequently red carding Lloyd in the process.

The Borough made it 4-1 from the spot with Raines converting. After the final whistle, the Bay’s crowd of 144 all left with smiles on their faces and Jason Lillis had a smile as wide as the Thames Estuary on his face.

If the Bay continue to play like this, the crowd could easily double in future weeks.

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