Holcombe II 2 Herne Bay 0

BAY parted company with coach Roly Brookeman during the week but it did not change their fortunes on the pitch as they lost here to a side they had beaten earlier in the season.

The visitors were competitive in the first half and at one point thought they had won a penalty. Not so, and to make matters worst Holcombe took the lead from the restart.

Bay were unable to raise their game after the break, Holcombe adding a second goal.

This Saturday it's a battle of Division One's bottom two as Bay host King's Alleyn at Herne Bay High School, a veritable six-pointer no less (2.30pm).

Herne Bay: Wigington, Jeays (C), Thundow, Burton, Stevenson, Clifton, Hawkins, Andrew, Dale, Hooper, White, Bray, Alex Kerly.

Spencer 0 Canterbury II 1

CITY club seconds cemented their mid-table London Premier Division position thanks to this away win.

The only goal of the game was scored by Lee Barratt.

Holcombe 2A 1 Canterbury Pilgrims 2

THIS was always going to be a close affair and in a busy first half Pilgrims created a number of chances without finding the net.

Holcombe, by contrast, defended for most of the half but did have a late effort from a corner ruled out.

The deadlock was broken early in the second half when Johnny Webb's cross was deflected to the back post by Luke Wicken, Tom Williamson on hand to sweep the ball home for the away side.

The game opened up from that point, Holcombe becoming visibly frustrated at the scrappy nature of the match.

Ben Parker won the ball deep in the Canterbury half and sent a long diagonal pass to Williamson. who beat his man before slapping the ball home to double Canterbury's advantage.

Holcombe grabbed a consolation goal late on from a short corner, the defending from Pilgrims positively comical.

Crawley 3 Canterbury III 1

THIS turned out to be a game of what ifs for Canterbury thirds.

What if Harey hadn't been carted off to hospital after five minutes?

What if they had made more of the pressure they enjoyed for long spells?

What if they hadn't gifted Crawley their three goals?

Canterbury's performance was an improvement on last week, despite which they found themselves 2-0 down at half-time.

From the restart the home side made it 3-0 before Lea bagged a consolation from the penalty spot.

It was all Canterbury for the remainder of the game, but despite winning 10 corners and creating a number of chances they could not reduce the arrears further.

Herne Bay II 5 Gore Court III 0

THIS emphatic home win keeps Bay top of South League Kent Division Two.

Despite the final scoreline, however, the first half was an even affair with only Richard Wade's goal separating the sides.

Bay doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half through Elliot Woods before a three-goal salvo in the space of five minutes settled the matter.

The goals came from Byron Gould, with a pair, and Adam Prebble.

This Saturday Bay are away to third placed Old Bordenians II.

Herne Bay II: Sales, Marks (C), Barton, Symons, Prebble, Wade, Nash, Willey, Scott, Reeves, Fraser, Lunn, Gould, Woods.

Canterbury IV 2 Marden Russet III 2

FOURTHS snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat and on reflection 2-2 was a good result, especially as Russets had won the reverse fixture 8-0.

Canterbury took the lead on 10 minutes, Jack the Kiwi scoring his first goal for the club, and soon after the break Adam Tapper doubled their lead.

But the visitors were much stronger in the second half, creating a number of chances.

The home side held strong until the final 10 minutes, Marsden scoring twice to earn a share of the spoils.

Marden Russets III 2 Herne Bay III 3

VICTORY in this highly competitive game leaves Bay sitting third in Kent Open Premier B division.

They took the lead through Adrian Hawkes, from a short corner, Simon Smith adding a second before the break, although Russets did reduce the arrears.

The second half was a tense affair, the home side levelling before Hawkes scored a late winner, again from a short corner.

On Saturday Bay host Wellcome at Herne Bay High School (1pm).

Herne Bay III: Maybourn, Andy Kerly (C), Hawkes, Harding, Gould, Williams, Smith, Marsh, Ives, Robinson, Thompson, Cathcart.

Herne Bay V 0 Marden Russets IV 5

STRUGGLING Bay held out for 20 minutes before the goals started to flow.

Marden were 2-0 up at the break, sealing victory in the second half.

Bay are away to Ashford V on Saturday.

Herne Bay V: Lunn, Wood (C), Newell, Tim Freeman, Chris Smith, Craig Smith, Thatcher, Hindley, Salvatori, Forwood, Cripps, Akram, Foster.

Gillingham Anchorians 4

Canterbury Millers 2

DAN George and Paul Sharratt scored for Millers, alas in vain.

The defeat leaves them sitting second from bottom of Division Two.

Canterbury V 1

Old Bordenians IV 3

SAM Curd's goal was not enough to help fifths slipping to a home defeat that leaves them at the wrong end of Open Premier C.

Gravesham II 0

Canterbury Griffins 1

A GLADIATORIAL effort from Griffins, and in particular Geoff Philpott, helped them pull off the result of the season against league leaders Gravesham away.

A well organised Gravesham side started confidently but the Griffins defence could do no wrong.

The only goal of the game came after 20 minutes, Gary (twinkle toes) Laslett following up a Richard Laslett effort to find the back of the net.

Veterans

Haslemere 0 Canterbury 5

VETS romped to this away win, one which keeps them top of the Wessex Vets League.

The goals came from Chris Stephens and Pete Hickson, with two each, and Graham Brown.

Stephens played an absolute blinder.

Sutton Valence 3 Canterbury Friars 2

FRIARS were a goal down inside a minute in this away friendly, but by half-time they had turned the game around and led 2-1 at the break.

The goals came from James Cox and Jones.

But two second half goals gave the home side victory.

Restorative pasties, chips and ale were taken afterwards.

Ladies' hockey

Herne Bay 5 Burnt Ash II 4

BAY started this game at a furious pace and were rewarded with an early goal from Sophy Forwood.

They then kept pushing on and Forwood added a second goal.

But the away side refused to roll over die and scored twice to make it 2-2 at the interval.

After the break the home side moved up a gear, regaining the lead courtesy of captain Lucy Vanhinsbergh.

Amay Mason then popped up in the right place at the right time to make it 4-2.

But the visitors remained determined and were rewarded with a third goal.

They then levelled the game for a second time.

However in the dying moments Mason scored her second of the day to give the home side a deserved victory.

Herne Bay: Moore, Nash, Coffey, Foreman, Hopkins, Burton, Ives, Mason, Gentry, Godden, Vanhinsbergh, Forwood.

Cliftonville III 0 Herne Bay II 2

THIS Division Five derby was always going to be close, and so it proved.

Bay looked determined from the start, putting the home side under early pressure and taking the lead after Cox picked up a ball in midfield.

Bay doubled their advantage when some lovely team passing released Watson, who skilfully made her way into the opposition area and scored a brilliant individual goal.

Cliftonville tried to rally and pressed forward in search of a goal, but strong defending from man of the match Sam McKinvin kept them at bay.

An even second half saw chances fall for both sides but Bay held on, helped along the way by some good late saves by keeper Sarah Wills.

Herne Bay II: Wills, Atkinson, Devonport, Gilbert, Cox, Mackinnon, Reid, Mckinvin, Rochford, Richardson, Hahner, Anelay, Watson, Howard.