Kentish Football 
Herne Bay 0-0 Hythe Town - Hythe haven't completely got both hands on the title yet, says Halsey
Wednesday 06th April 2011
HERNE BAY 0-0 HYTHE TOWN
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Wednesday 6th April 2011
Stephen McCartney reports from Winch’s Field
HERNE BAY manager Simon Halsey insists the Kent League title race is still alive - despite this top-of-the-table clash ending in a disappointing stalemate.
Hythe Town remain in the box seat and remain five points clear of Herne Bay, as both sides move into the final five league games of the season, before the pair lock horns again in the Kent League Cup Final at Folkestone’s Cheriton Road ground on 7 May, knowing that one of them will be playing Ryman League football for the very first time next season.
Hythe Town’s direct approach saw left-back John Walker pump ball after ball into the Herne Bay penalty area time after time, but the home side’s defensive unit held firm from the barrage of aerial raids.
Byron Walker was to miss Herne Bay’s best chance from open play during the first half, although Hythe Town striker Gary Mickelborough struck the crossbar early in the second half, but both sides had to settle for a point to extend their unbeaten runs to thirteen and twenty games respectively.
“First time we ain’t scored since, I can’t remember how many games,” said Halsey afterwards, acknowledging that this was the first time that both sides haven’t scored this season.
“It’s one of those games where it’s fast and furious. The ball was in the air a lot and we had to deal with that.
“I said to them, ‘make sure we don’t lose tonight and we’ll still be in it’ - and we are. We’re still in it. We’ve grabbed the point so we’re still in it.”
When asked whether tonight’s draw has ended his side’s title challenge, Halsey insisted, “No! Not a chance! What’s that? Five points still. How many games to play? Fifteen points to play for. No chance is that over!
“Come the last game of the season, when someone tells me it’s four points and we’ve only got one game then I’ll phone them up and shake hands. It’s no way over.”
Hythe Town boss Scott Porter said he was the happier of the two managers, although to his side’s credit, they were not jumping up and down at the final whistle, as the title edges even closer.
“Like I say this was never going to be the decider,” said Porter. “We’ve got five more games to go and there’s going to be more twists and turns. I’ve said that all along.
“Herne Bay are a good side. Either side could’ve won it tonight but a draw’s a draw and like I say, we’ll take that.”
The 323 fans inside Winch’s Field were treated to a nail-biting game where both sets of players didn’t want to give anything away.
Hythe’s direct approach - when John Walker pumped a couple of early free-kicks from his own half into the opposing penalty area - but Brendon Cass struck a right-footed half-volley wide and Pat Kingwell’s low driven shot was smothered by Herne Bay keeper Dan Eason.
Herne Bay’s chairman John Bathurst confirmed that Hartlepool United were going to send a couple of scouts to watch the game, with speculation mounting from the boardroom that it was Hythe’s central defender Pat Kingwell that they were casting their eye on.
Sadly, both sides relied on set-pieces a little too much, as Herne Bay’s first chance arrived by this method in the 19th minute.
Ben Brown chipped a right-footed free-kick into the box and James Campbell came up from the back and rose to plant a bullet header past the far post.
Herne Bay’s 19-goal striker, Byron Walker squandered the best chance to break the deadlock halfway through the first half.
The 24-year-old was released down the middle and he rode Dave Cook’s challenge and raced towards goal, but exposed goalkeeper Kieron Mann pulled off a fine block, diving low to his right to ensure that the ball didn’t roll into the corner of the net.
“Byron’s had the best chance of the game,” said Halsey. “He should’ve scored but I’m not going to knock him because he’s been scoring for fun for me and he works his socks off for me and he’s done very well for me.”
Dominant Herne Bay continued to press Hythe and Brown whipped in a corner from the right, which saw Mann flap at the ball and the ball dropped to Campbell at the far post, but the ball bounced off the central defender and Mann was able to pounce on the loose ball.
Hythe regained their confidence and created a hat-trick of chances towards the end of the first half.
Mickelborough’s audacious over-head kick bounced comfortably into Eason’s gloves and Kieran Byrne flashed a low right-footed shot wide after Cass knocked the ball down into his path, before Byrne’s skilful run with the ball saw him cut the ball back for Nick Barnes, who lashed a first time right-footed drive over the crossbar from 30-yards.
“We had a good first fifteen minutes and then we complicated things by the way we played and we put pressure on ourselves just by our own mistakes,” admitted Porter.
“We got to half-time and we had a good chat. The boys came out a lot better second half and I’m proud of my lads tonight.
“It’s not an easy place to come. The pitch is nice and massive, wide, and obviously they’ve got good wingers.
Hythe Town meant business during the early parts of the second half, and almost broke the deadlock after 38 seconds.
Greg Smith pumped the ball up field and Cass directed a header to find Lee Winfield down the right and he cut the ball back to Smith, who whipped in a first time cross, which was glanced wide by 29-goal striker Cass.
Campbell gave away possession to Byrne, who released Mickelborough, who cracked a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which thumped against the Herne Bay crossbar, with the clock timed at 48:09.
Herne Bay skipper, Luke Harvey, hooked a right-footed shot into Mann’s gloves after Brown’s free-kick was headed out to him on the corner of the penalty box.
Herne Bay winger, Dan Lawrence was then released down the right - winning a foot race with John Walker - and his cross from the right was met by the unmarked Byron Walker, who nodded the ball across Mann but also past the far post.
On the hour mark, Ronnie Dolan put the ball into the penalty area and Eason was caught in two minds whether to stick or twist, but Byrne squandered the opportunity as he went for goal with a first-time shot, which he hooked straight at the keeper at the near post.
A poor clearance from the Herne Bay keeper was brought under control by Winfield’s chest, before Hythe’s longest serving player clipped the ball down the right channel for Cass, who cut inside left-back Tom Bryant and his excellent low centre was not steered home by Mickelborough, who slid in at the near post.
All the game needed was a goal to really set the cat amongst the pigeons, but the game was on a knife-edge throughout.
Yet another predictable ball over the top by John Walker was flicked on by Cass and Mickelborough (who scored against Hereford United) was thwarted by a well-timed sliding challenge from Toby Ashmore, the sponsor’s Herne Bay man-of-the-match.
With time ticking, it was the Hythe bench that were getting increasingly frustrated by some of the baffling decisions from the match officials, before both sides created chances to win it at the death.
Michael Jenner floated in a free-kick into the Hythe penalty area and giant right-back Steve Hanson’s glancing header was brilliantly tipped over by Mann.
Hanson held his head in his hands as he came within inches of being the club’s hero on the night and Halsey acknowledged that it was a “great save from the goalie!”
And had Hythe grabbed an injury time winner, then the visitors would have been a step closer to the Ryman League.
Yet again it was John Walker’s free-kick which was punted into the penalty box and Ashmore sent a looping back header towards his own goal, but Eason managed to tip the ball over the crossbar at the last moment, as both sides had to settle for a point apiece, just like the 2-2 draw at Reachfields Stadium back in early September.
But Halsey isn’t cracking under the pressure and insists his side will push Hythe Town all the way in their last remaining five games.
Herne Bay face Sporting Bengal (home), Beckenham Town (home), Fisher (away), Holmesdale (home), before finishing their campaign at VCD Athletic.
Hythe Town, meanwhile, face Holmesdale (home), Sevenoaks Town (away), Norton Sports (away), Beckenham Town (home) and complete their campaign at Tunbridge Wells.
Halsey said: “Of course it looks like the title is their’s, but I think they know full well it ain’t! They haven’t completely got both hands on it yet!”
Porter, who avoided the manager-of-the-month curse, having scooped the award for March, admitted that there was no point celebrating tonight - the title has not been won tonight!
“There’s a long way to go and we need to stay focused and professional,” he said.
“We’ll take each game as it comes. As soon as we’re sat out there I’m talking about the next game straight away, getting our minds focused on that and that’s what we’ve been like for a long time now.
“We’re unbeaten in how many games - twenty - so we just take each game as it comes and we’ll do the same for Saturday. This game is gone now and we move on to Saturday.”
Porter, who guided the club to the first round of the FA Cup where they club enjoyed a day out at League Two side Hereford United last November, was pleased his side were resilient against their nearest challengers.
“We’re just happy to keep the unbeaten run going. The togetherness in the changing room is good. We’ve got some good characters in there. Obviously it showed when we were under a bit of pressure in the game. People dug in and got behind the lads. I’m very pleased.”
Herne Bay: Dan Eason, Steve Hanson, Tom Bryant, Toby Ashmore, James Campbell, Michael Jenner, Dan Lawrence, Ben Brown (Nathan Eastwood 84), Byron Walker, Luke Harvey, Michael Turner (James Corbett 77).
Subs: Rhys Lawson, David Crofts.
Booked: Michael Jenner 73
Hythe Town: Kieron Mann, Greg Smith, John Walker, Pat Kingwell, Nick Barnes, Ronnie Dolan, Dave Cook, Lee Winfield, Gary Mickelborough, Brendon Cass, Kieran Byrne.
Subs: Simon Austin, Sam Conlon, Gavin Ransley, Dan Cook, Ben Humphrey
Booked: Nick Barnes 86
Attendance: 323
Referee: Mr Keith Stone (Ramsgate)
Assistants: Mr Simon Jackson (Ashford) & Mr William Sanderson (Margate)
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