Herne Bay 3-1 Broadbridge Heath

For the trip to Herne Bay Heath manager Chris Simmons welcomed back Matt Penfold and Mason Doughty who both missed the midweek trip to Horndean but he was still missing his skipper Ryan Brackpool and the influential midfield maestro Louis Evans.

Within a minute of the start, the quickest yellow card of the season was shown to Tad Bromage for a trip on prolific striker Michael Salako as he drove towards the Heath penalty area but the resulting free-kick was comfortably saved by Heath keeper Alfie Hadfield.

Heath’s first chance came on 6 minutes when Sam Lemon combined well with Jamie Chesworth down the left flank before the defender floated a deep cross towards Ashley Mutongerwa running in at the far post but his first time right footed effort flew wide of target.

Within a minute the Bears were a goal down, a counter-attack down the right flank saw Gil Carvaho’s cross converted from close range by Salako sneaking in at the far post ahead of Kyle Sim to head home past Hadfield.

Heath responded well and created the better openings with Lemon’s right foot shot from distance flying inches wide of the post, Bromage heading over the bar from Sim’s long throw, Mutongerwa’s looping header onto the roof of the net and Lemon again heading narrowly wide from Chesworth’s left sided corner but it remained 1-0 at the break.

Heath were punished for those missed chances 4 minutes into the restart when Salako made it 2-0 converting a left wing cross from close range.

Gradually the Bears got back into the game and pulled a goal back on 57 minutes when Stan Berry played a 1:2 with Lemon on the edge of the box before dispatching a right foot shot into the bottom left corner of the net, his first senior goal of the season on his starting debut.

Heath again looked the more likely side to score with Kyle Sim going on an amazing run, beating three players before rifling a right foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that was saved at the second attempt by the Herne Bay keeper.

On 77 minutes and against the run of play the hosts made it 3-1 and again that man Salako was the difference when a corner from the right was played to the far post where it was headed back across the goal to Salako who was on it in a flash to head home from close range and complete the scoring.

The Bears should take a lot of credit from their performance, they did create a lot of good chances but just weren’t clinical enough on the day.

Team: Hadfield, Sim, Chesworth (Acheampong 45), Waddingham, Bromage, Terry (Lindsey 88), Penfold, Mutongerwa, Doughty, Lemon, Berry.