Three Bridges 0, Herne Bay 3: Four league defeats in a row for Faili's men

One good goal, one give-away goal and one tired goal sealed the win for Herne Bay.

Bridges were missing some key players once again with Drew Cooney unavailable and Callum Donaghey and Tony Garrod still injured, to name a few, but it was good to the return of Allan Tait late in the game having been out injured since August.

On a pitch which was in remarkably good condition after all the recent rain, Herne Bay seemed to settle first and produce chances, although their tactic seemed to be to play the ball long with the speedy forwards to run on to. After 10 minutes, Sam Hasler twice had long looping shots well saved by Three Bridges goalkeeper Kieron Thorp .

Three Bridges started to play better, passing the ball around and also using the long diagonal ball. A cross from Hakeem Adelakun was just too strong for Sam MacVicar to connect to on 15 minutes.

Kieron Thorp pulled of a reaction save on 25 minutes, when a clearance was deflected back to him, heading straight for an empty goal.

After 30 minutes, came the best Three Bridges move of the first-half involving four players. A run from Ben Godfrey down the right, a cross to Sam MacVicar who cleverly flicked the ball to John Lansdale who gave a pass to Hakeem Adelakun but his shot just grazed the outside of the goalpost.

After some poor Three Bridges defending, Herne Bay went ahead a few minutes later when a hard direct shot from Sam Hasler found the net, which for some reason led to Ben Godfrey being cautioned.

With Mark Pulling replacing the injured Jamie Crellin at half-time, the second -half had barely started before Herne Bay went further ahead.

A really silly mix-up between Kieron Thorp and Mark Pulling over who should clear the ball led to neither doing the clearance and it allowed Danny Williams to run-on and tap the ball into an empty goal.

Ben Godfrey received a second caution and left the game which caused Three Bridges to bring on Allan Tait up front and Mitchell Casselman in mid-field. This did not make the play any better as after 85 minutes Joe Nelder found himself un-marked in the box and his shot was wide of a diving Kieron Thorp.

Now with four League defeats in a row, Three Bridges have dropped eleventh position in the Senior Division South.

Three Bridges - K Thorp, D Mobsby, M Whitehead, J Lansdale N Brake, J Crellin (Capt.)(M Pulling 46mins), S Sargent, L Carney (M Casselman 81mins), B Godfrey, H Adelakun (A Tait 81mins), S MacVicar.

Unused Subs - M Daniel, S Otobo.

Disciplinary - B Godfrey (sent-off for 2 cautions on 35 and 77 mins). J Lansdale (caution 60mins).

AEROTRON Man of the Match - STEVE SARGENT

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