I’ve been in football a long time and I’ve never seen a league won or lost on goals, says Halsey

HERNE BAY boss Simon Halsey says he feels devastated after losing the Kent League title race in the last 82 seconds of the season yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.



Herne Bay knew they had to beat third-placed VCD Athletic and pray that Tunbridge Wells beat Hythe Town in what turned out to be a gripping climax to the Kent League season.

Tunbridge Wells grabbed a 2-0 lead at the break at Culverden Stadium, courtesy of a fine long-range strike from Andy McMath and Keelan Mooney’s nineteenth goal of the season, on the stroke of half-time.

Elsewhere, at Oakwood, VCD Athletic were leading Herne Bay 1-0 at the break, courtesy of a fifth-minute breakaway goal from James Duckworth.

Dan Lawrence had a goal ruled out for offside for Herne Bay within the first three minutes of the second half, before Darren Marsden saw his 70^th minute penalty saved by Vickers’ keeper Jack Bradshaw.
 
Herne Bay kept their own title aspirations alive when they levelled just two minutes later, this time Toby Ashmore held his nerve to score from the spot.

With Hythe back in the game at Culverden Stadium, courtesy of Ronnie Dolan’s 58^th minute strike, Duckworth beat Herne Bay keeper Dan Eason with a thirty-yard curler, but Herne Bay clawed themselves back into the game with Lawrence heading home.
 
But Hythe levelled with 43:38 on the clock when Tunbridge Wells keeper Michal Czanner, who can expect a frosty reception when he plays Herne Bay next season, helped in Brendon Cass’s sweetly struck shot to clinch Hythe Town the title.

By the time that news filtered through that Byron Walker had headed home a last-gasp winner for Herne Bay – stretching their unbeaten run to eighteen games - Hythe Town were celebrating, with skipper Dave Cook was holding aloft the Kent League crown in front of delirious team-mates, management staff and supporters on the much criticised pitch at Culverden Stadium.

”Obviously disappointed in a manner but pleased that we took it to the last minute of the last game of the Kent League (season), so a bit of pleasure in that but obviously disappointed and devastated in the manner – it’s an own goal by the sounds of it,” said Halsey today.

”We’ve done exactly what we had to do.  We made hard work of it a bit.  I know VCD very well, I knew they was going to be a good side and like Tunbridge Wells they didn’t lie down.  They had a massive say where the title’s going.  They took the lead twice but fair play to my boys, in a game with so much resting on it, we didn’t die but we’ve gone and won the game 3-2.

”Full credit to my players, the club, the committee and the supporters.  They’ve been fantastic for me and I can’t praise the boys enough what they’ve done this season and we have to push on now.”

It was a case of mixed emotions when slender striker Byron Walker, 24, nodded in his 22^nd goal of the season.

Halsey explained, “I knew that Hythe had gone to two-all and we was two-all and we scored and the lads ran straight over to me and I think they could just see my body.  I was absolutely delighted for them as we’ve won another game but from my body I could just see it drain out of them as they ran towards me knowing that I’ve known Hythe had drawn.

”A bit of elation down to disappointment really for the boys.  At the end of the day we had to win our game and we have done that and I’m absolutely over the moon with our record of only losing two league games all season, 17 clean sheets, 17 of the games that we’ve only let in one – we’ve set loads of records, I know it’s nothing to really go on about but it’s something they’ve achieved but the ultimate is we haven’t taken the league but there you go.

”We’ve lost it on goals.  I’ve been in football a long time and I’ve never seen a league won or lost on goals but there you go.”

1.  Hythe Town  30 games – 21 wins – 5 draws – 4 lost – 82 goals – 33 against – 68 points - +48

2. Herne Bay 30 games – 20 wins – 8 draws – 2 defeats – 64 goals – 30 against – 68 points - +34

Halsey added, “It’s another stepping stone for my young side and they are a young side.

”If you think about it as well, Hythe have got a lot of experience of this level and above and they’ve learnt it all and my young side now have got to win the games and turn that draws column into wins as well, not all of them, obviously as we’d be an excellent side if we could do that.

”We now need to convert some of the draws into wins and see what happens next season.”

“My players are devastated.  I’ve spoken to a lot of them today and they’re devastated to go so far and not get anything at the end of it apart from a pat on the back but they’re young, they’re very buoyant and they’ll get over it.”

But Halsey congratulated rival boss Scott Porter and his Hythe Town team for crossing the finishing line in first place.

”Full credit to them, crickey.  Full credit to them for carrying on.  I’m here talking about myself and Herne Bay Football Club but at the end of the day we have to all heap credit on Hythe.

”They were 2-0 down with their backs against the wall and they’ve dug it out and carried it right though to the 90^th minute so we have to hold our hands up and say well done!

”I texted Scott last night and congratulated him and said pass it on to all your players and all your staff and well done for a job done.

”We have to hold our hands up to them.  The table don’t lie.  We’ve matched them on points but they won it on goals so there you go.”

Holders Herne Bay lock horns with Hythe Town to contest the Kent League Cup Final – at Folkestone Invicta’s Cheriton Road on Saturday (3pm).

”I don’t want to get one over Hythe, as like last year I want to get to a Cup Final and win it, as I’ve done with lots of games this season, we’ve gone and won it.

”It’s going to have a little bit as we want to stop them doing the double.  It’s got a little bit on it now but we’ll be preparing exactly the same as it was against Sevenoaks last year.  It will be no different.  I don’t want to get one over on them.  I just want to retain the Cup we won last year.”

When asked about his own future at Winch’s Field, Halsey replied, “I will get the Cup Final out of the way next Saturday, we’ll have a break, have a holiday with the family and asses my situation and obviously sit down with John (Bathurst, the chairman) and the sponsors of the club to see if they’re happy for me to carry on.

”It’s a case of getting Saturday out of the way, get on holiday, recharge the batteries and see what’s going to happen.”

Herne Bay chairman, John Bathurst, meanwhile, expressed how he feels this weekend, in his match report on the club’s official website www.hernebayfc.net.

”Gutted would be a suitable reaction to the outcome following this, the final fixture of the season,” he said.

”The only consolation I can draw from this is we took the league title race to the final minute of the season.

”Congratulations go out to Hythe Town and congratulations with commiserations to our players, Simon and Andy (Hyland) for providing a season to remember.

”It is still not all over, as we now have to pick ourselves up and prepare for the Premier League Cup Final against Hythe next Saturday.”

Mr Bathurst explained the ecstasy turned agony following Walker’s winning goal.

”The players went mad racing over to the dug out to celebrate with the manager, but Simon knew that Hythe had got the point they needed and this was soon realised by the players and the celebrations cooled down.  At the final whistle muted applause from the Bay support.

”The players had done everything Simon had asked of them.  They won the game but the footballing Gods were not looking over us.  They were at Royal Tunbridge Wells!”

Mr Bathurst added, “Bay have now been runners up four times in my chairmanship.  I am beginning to thank that I am not lucky enough or destined to win this elusive title.”

Hopefully no rash decisions will be made over the summer.  Halsey has got Herne Bay playing some beautiful football during his time that he has been at Winch’s Field.  It’s only a matter of time that this great club plays at its real level – the Ryman League.  Keep patient!


Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.hernebayfc.net

Herne Bay  v  Hythe Town
Safety Net Associates Kent League Cup Final
Saturday 7^th May 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU