A very entertaining game of football played in the correct spirit but spoiled by an official who gave out 8 cautions during the course of the ninety minutes; 6 against Herne Bay whose supporters felt they were very harshly treated.

The game itself ebbed and flowed with both sides pressing to get the early breakthrough but it was the visitors who made that breakthrough after 23 minutes when Jack Barry headed in at the near post from a well flighted corner. Bay threatened with Tom Carlton looking particularly dangerous and it was Carlton who brought Bay level when he pounced on to Alex Mulrooney-Skinners cross and curled his volley into the top corner giving keeper Steve Phillips absolutely no chance on the half hour. Further chances were created by both teams but the game remained level up to the interval.

Bay came out firing for the second half and for the first twenty minutes looked well on top with Bradley Schafer and Carlton testing Phillips with good shots. Mulrooney-Skinner was causing a lots of problems down the right flank and Bay should have taken the lead when he sent a tantalising cross across the face of the goal eluding both Miles Cornwell and Jake Embery, who just failed to make contact. Cornwell followed this with another chance but he couldn't get his foot around the ball in order to get his shot on target.

Then against the run of play Phoenix were back in front. Another penalty; Danny Rumbol alleged fouled Jeff Duah-Kessie, and Ashley Probets made no mistake from the spot kick. I think this is Bays 6th penalty given away in the 10 matches we have played this season.
This gave Phoenix the impetus they needed and from another breakaway attack full back Lee Bird struck a volley from fully 45 yards which beat Jordan Beeney at his near post.
Bay fought back and pressed hard to get back in the game but Phoenix defended well, clearing off their line, blocking shots until the 86th minute when Embery was brought down by two defenders as he broke through on goal. Embery got up took the ball and coolly sent Phillips the wrong way to bring Bay back into the game. From the very next attack it appeared that Embery had his feet taken away by a poor challenge but the official waived away all of Bays appeals and Phoenix came away with the ball with a fast counter attacked allowing Alfie Aldridge to smash the ball into the roof of the net to secure the victory.