Herne Bay 0-1 Flackwell Heath (aet) - We showed what we're capable of, says Halsey

Saturday 14th November 2009

HERNE BAY 0-1 FLACKWELL HEATH
(After extra time)
FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round
Saturday 14th November 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Winch’s Field

HERNE BAY manager Simon Halsey says he was happy with his side’s reaction following Barry Morgan’s controversial departure from Winch’s Field last Monday.

However, the Kent League side were dumped out of the FA Carlsberg Vase as a looping extra time 40-yard effort from 22-year-old Mitchell Woodward completed a smash-and-grab raid as Hellenic League side Flackwell Heath booked their place in the last 64 of the competition.

The heroics of the home club’s ground staff ensued the game passed an early morning pitch inspection and the playing surface was in a decent condition - that was until a downpour within an hour before kick-off made the pitch tricky and the heavy winds made playing football difficult.

Halsey had been promoted from number two to boss following Morgan’s departure and Herne Bay chairman, John Bathurst, writing in his programme notes said, “Barry won manager of the month for October and the curse of the award struck again with our result at Faversham.

“Unfortunately after some frank exchanges of views between myself and Barry on Monday, Barry stood down as manager. A real curse of that manager of the month award.

“I would like to thank Barry for everything he has done for the club over the last two seasons, particularly with the players he has brought to us and the football we have been playing since the start of the season.

“He has had his critics but nobody can deny he brought fast, flowing football back to Herne Bay which is much better than watching the long ball game that most teams in the Kent League play.”

Despite the heavy winds, the rain did stay away for the vast majority of this FA Carlsberg Vase second round tie, but real goalscoring chances were at a premium as both sides got stuck in throughout.

A cross from Flackwell Heath midfielder, Kevin Franklin was met by a powerful header from striker Robert Charles, but his effort went wide of the right-hand post, after eleven minutes.

A run from Danny Lawrence saw him cut the ball back to Herne Bay’s leading goalscorer Lee Harvey, whose angled drive across Warren Carter flashed agonisingly wide of the foot of the far post in Herne Bay’s first chance.

The visitors from Buckinghamshire twice went close just before the half-hour mark.

Herne Bay goalkeeper Dan Eason was grateful to team-mates Stephen Hansen and Danny Lawrence for goal-mouth blocks as Flackwell Heath started to gain the upper hand.

Herne Bay missed a trio of decent chances towards the end of the first half.

Midfielder David Crofts’ right-footed drive from 30-yards arrowed agonisingly over the top of the post; Darren Marsden fired straight at Carter and then Rob Lawrence dragged a low shot agonisingly past the far post after being played in behind the Flackwell Heath defence.

However, the hosts should have broken the deadlock after just 90 seconds into the second half.

A floated free-kick from the inside right channel from left-back Shaun Bremner was flicked on by Harvey and central defender Jamie Maxted was there at the far post to head straight into Carter’s grateful arms.

Flackwell Heath called Herne Bay’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Eason into a fine finger-trip save in the 58th minute, to prevent Stuart Maclennan’s scoring with a 30-yard drive.

The Bay piled forward to prevent playing an extra 30 minutes in what were energy zapping conditions.

Hansen slammed a low drive from an acute angle, which was turned aside by the diving Carter in the 77th minute and following a run from Bremner down the left, Carter made a brave save at Rob Lawrence’s feet, and was relieved to see the ball trickle agonisingly past the foot of the post.

Bremner tried his luck with an angled 30-yard drive, which forced Carter to dive low to save.

The loyal supporters that braved the bleak weather conditions did not want an extra 30 minutes - but that’s exactly what we got as Herne Bay couldn’t break a workmanlike Flackwell Heath side.

But they came within inches of scoring the winner 153 seconds into extra time.

Simon Moore’s free-kick was met by a towering glancing header from Harvey, which sailed agonisingly past the left-hand upright.

But the Flackwell Heath players mobbed Woodward when his speculative looping 40-yarder - 97 seconds into the second period - dropped into the roof of the net, despite Eason’s stretching to try to tip the ball over.

But despite their exit, Halsey, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, praised his side’s endeavour in horrible conditions.

“Very disappointing, the score,“ he said. “I’ve just said to the boys, a bit disappointing when they think about the result, but to be honest I can’t be disappointed with their performance.

“I’m over the moon for the way they adapted themselves to the conditions. I thought we was the strongest side by fair.

“They didn’t even look like having a sniff until we had one lapse of concentration. The fella’s picked it up, he’s had 10-15 yards to run to be fair, which is not acceptable!

“And to be fair it’s the only 20 seconds of the whole game our midfield weren’t there, other than that it was a great strike from him so that’s the disappointing side of it.

“As a team, putting on a performance like that, I don’t think it’s anything about being my first game in charge, that is what they’re capable of.

“I’ve never seen Darren Marsden work defensively so much! We all know he’s great going forward with Crofty alongside him. I thought he was outstanding in the centre midfield but just disappointed with the 30 seconds lapse in concentration.”

Halsey slated Essex based referee, Mr Graham Atkins, for not awarding his side a second half penalty when Michael Turner was sent crashing to the ground.

“The referee’s bottled it in the second half,” he fumed. “It’s a stonewall penalty! He’s the only one in the whole ground who doesn’t think it’s a penalty. There bench is looking at me, shrugging their shoulders!”

Halsey was quick to praise his side following Morgan’s departure earlier in the week.

“They’ve been absolutely outstanding all week,” said the former VCD Athletic and Whitstable Town number two.

“We had a meeting Wednesday night, training was good after the meeting, and they’ve been superb today.

“We had the whole 22 man squad here so I can’t fault their effort and commitment, which they knew which is what I want from them.”

Halsey admitted this was a chance missed, especially having watched Flackwell Heath play in midweek.

Chance missed? “Yes, definitely! A home draw, the weather’s levelled the game up. We’ve played like that in conditions like it but if the pitch would have been firm and the wind wasn’t that strong, I think we would’ve won the game but we haven’t!”

Herne Bay: Dan Eason, Simon Moore, Shaun Bremner, Jamie Maxted, Stephen Hansen, David Crofts, Danny Lawrence, Darren Marsden, Rob Lawrence (Stuart King 85), Luke Harvey, Michael Turner (Aaron Knight 106).
Subs: Andy Forster, Michael Jenner, Neil Perkins.

Booked: Jamie Maxted 115

Flackwell Heath: Warren Carter, Jamie Tripp, Adam Davis, Mark Weedon, Jack Harding, Kevin Franklin (Ben Sturgess 109), Steve Miles (Connor Saville 90), Stuart McLennan, Callum Coull, Robert Charles (James Pritchard 88), Mitchell Woodward.
Subs: Harry Pritchard, Matt Flint.

Goal: Mitchell Woodward 107

Booked: Mitchell Woodward 3, Stuart Mclenna 47, Robert Charles 53

Attendance: 165
Referee: Mr Graham Atkins (Southend-on-Sea, Essex)
Assistants: Mr John Whan (Hockley, Essex) & Mr John Farrant (Basildon, Essex)