Stones:Kevin Hudson (7), Jamie Kempster
(9), Barry Jefferies (8) (Franklin 75), Paul Foley (6),
Steve Coatham (7), Steve Robinson (6), Adrian Webster
(7), Steve Butler (8), Richard Sinden (7) (Court 75),
Neil Davey (6) (Ribbens 31), Martin West (8). Subs:
Ian Court (6), Shane Franklin (6), Paul Ribbens (8)
The Stones continued their amazing run of form on Saturday
with a welled earned victory at Herne Bay in a match,
which looked to be over in the first 20 minutes!
With
a couple of changes to the squad, Smale serving a 2
match suspension, was replaced by Steve Robinson in
the starting line up, whilst Shaun Franklin, a new signing
from Kingstonian, entered the Stones squad as substitute
together with Paul Ribbens now recovered from his back
injury.
Things started well for the Stones as they dominated
the opening exchanges against a Herne Bay side who had
lost their last three home games. Barry Jefferies had
an early chance from a free kick in the opening minutes
which went wide but it wasn't long before the Stones
took the lead on 11 minutes when Barry Jefferies looped
in a curling corner to the near post which was missed
by both Paul Foley and stand in goalkeeper John Warden
to gift Stones the lead. Stones continued to force Bay
onto the back foot with a succession of corners and
Robinson nearly converted an effort 3 minutes later
from another corner.
The large travelling Stones contingent didn't have
long to wait for the second however when Jamie Kempster
(right)
played a delightful ball through the Herne Bay defence
to leave Steve Butler clear on goal. Unfortunately,
Butler left too much of an acute angle to score but
the keeper could only parry his effort into the path
of Richard Sinden who bundled the ball over the line
to make it 2-0. Sinden was then gifted an opportunity
to double his tally on the day just a minute later when
Webster put in a cross from the left but Sinden's shot
was somehow cleared off the line to deny the striker
his second.
But then the unthinkable happened as Herne Bay made
their first real attempt on goal on 26 minutes as Herne
Bay made a move down the left. The resulting cross fell
for Herne Bay's top scorer Scott Appleton who was unmarked
10 yards out, lobbed the ball over Hudson to claw back
a goal. But with the Stones seemingly shell-shocked
from the first, they were even more shocked when after
giving the ball away from the kick-off, Martin West
let the ball run through for Hudson only to see Scott
Peachey intercept the ball, round Hudson and slot it
home from a very acute angle to equalise. There was
further bad news for the Stones when Ward was forced
into substituting Neil Davey (below), who was carrying
a knock, to be replaced by Paul Ribbens.
But
the shock was short lived when the Stones fans witnessed
one of the best goals of the season from Jamie Kempster
on 36 mins. The move, unsurprisingly, involved Steve
Butler who made a run from the half way line down the
right wing and as he whipped in his cross, Jamie Kempster
having made a sprinting run from well inside his own
half coolly volleyed the ball home to put the Stones
rightfully back in the lead to the elation of the fans
stood behind the goal. And so the Stones one way traffic
began again with Kempster having another opportunity
a minute later, this time from a Webster cross, but
Kempster just failed to connect with the ball on the
goal line and the ball was cleared. Kempster then set
up a similar chance for Sinden with a cross cut back
from the left hand side but Sinden failed to put enough
of his boot onto the ball at the near post and the ball
went the wrong side of the far post and out for a goal
kick.
Herne Bay still managed to break for the odd assault
but were restricted to long range shots which were mostly
well of target. Their best effort came near the end
of the first half when Hudson was forced into a diving
save at the feet of Dave Peachey and prevented another
equaliser.
The second half could have then seen Herne Bay catch
Stones off their guard again when a far post header
went wide of the target but Stones were let off the
hook soon and soon extended their lead on 52 minutes.
Webster earned a free kick on the left hand side just
outside the area and taking the free kick he curled
it into the 6 yard box where Steve Butler flicked the
ball along the line for Barry Jefferies to bundle the
ball over the line. The reaction from the players was
dramatic as they bundled on top of Jefferies and saluted
the jubilant crowd… these weren't players playing
for the money, these guys were genuinely playing to
win and their reaction proved the point to both home
and away supporters alike.
Further chances fell for the Stones as the game went
on and Jefferies nearly claimed his hatrick
on 68 minutes when Steve Butler laid off a ball for
Jefferies inside the box only to see his effort saved
at the near post, and Ribbens also nearly scored with
15 minutes left when his shot was charged down by the
keeper. Court and new midfielder Shaun Franklin were
introduced at that point to replace Jefferies and Sinden
(right), but when someone in the crowd uttered the words
"I can see this being a real nail-biter if Herne
Bay score again" found his words come ominously
true with just two minutes on the clock, as a cross
was bundled over the line by Appleton to set up an agonising
last few minutes. Thankfully the Stones held on to earn
their fourth successive victory as well as setting a
precedent for our next match at home to Tunbridge Wells…
1-0 against Thamesmead…2-0 against Erith…3-0
against Hythe…4-3 against Herne Bay…will
we score 5 next week! Let hope so!
One final word, you had to feel sorry for John Warden
in Herne Bay's goal, who usually plays in the number
4 shirt, a fact that was definitely obvious by the number
of mistakes he made! But credit to the guy who had to
put up with a barrage of comments about his keeping
abilities throughout the match from 200 supporters behind
his goal, but in the end he was warmly applauded by
the crowd and he applauded back…it's moments like
that which make football so enjoyable!
With
a couple of changes to the squad, Smale serving a 2
match suspension, was replaced by Steve Robinson in
the starting line up, whilst Shaun Franklin, a new signing
from Kingstonian, entered the Stones squad as substitute
together with Paul Ribbens now recovered from his back
injury.
played a delightful ball through the Herne Bay defence
to leave Steve Butler clear on goal. Unfortunately,
Butler left too much of an acute angle to score but
the keeper could only parry his effort into the path
of Richard Sinden who bundled the ball over the line
to make it 2-0. Sinden was then gifted an opportunity
to double his tally on the day just a minute later when
Webster put in a cross from the left but Sinden's shot
was somehow cleared off the line to deny the striker
his second.
But
the shock was short lived when the Stones fans witnessed
one of the best goals of the season from Jamie Kempster
on 36 mins. The move, unsurprisingly, involved Steve
Butler who made a run from the half way line down the
right wing and as he whipped in his cross, Jamie Kempster
having made a sprinting run from well inside his own
half coolly volleyed the ball home to put the Stones
rightfully back in the lead to the elation of the fans
stood behind the goal. And so the Stones one way traffic
began again with Kempster having another opportunity
a minute later, this time from a Webster cross, but
Kempster just failed to connect with the ball on the
goal line and the ball was cleared. Kempster then set
up a similar chance for Sinden with a cross cut back
from the left hand side but Sinden failed to put enough
of his boot onto the ball at the near post and the ball
went the wrong side of the far post and out for a goal
kick.
hatrick
on 68 minutes when Steve Butler laid off a ball for
Jefferies inside the box only to see his effort saved
at the near post, and Ribbens also nearly scored with
15 minutes left when his shot was charged down by the
keeper. Court and new midfielder Shaun Franklin were
introduced at that point to replace Jefferies and Sinden
(right), but when someone in the crowd uttered the words
"I can see this being a real nail-biter if Herne
Bay score again" found his words come ominously
true with just two minutes on the clock, as a cross
was bundled over the line by Appleton to set up an agonising
last few minutes. Thankfully the Stones held on to earn
their fourth successive victory as well as setting a
precedent for our next match at home to Tunbridge Wells…
1-0 against Thamesmead…2-0 against Erith…3-0
against Hythe…4-3 against Herne Bay…will
we score 5 next week! Let hope so!
