Herne Bay Harriers 1 Grasshoppers 11

Harriers entertained the League leaders from Lydd.

Unfortunately for Harriers the visitors lived up to their billing and played some scintillating football with their passing and movement off the ball.

The visitors scored three goals in the first seventeen minutes and in a five minute spell mid way through the half doubled their lead.

At this stage the game was lost but Harriers showed some determination to compete and the addition of S. Hillier in defence tightened things up and J. Bennett had the game of his life.

Harriers did pull a goal back when H. Evans found some space on the left wing and crossed the ball for the onrushing B. Harding to thump home a header from eight yards with the keeper flat footed.

A late Grasshoppers response restored their six goal advantage at the turn around.

Harriers clearly wanted to show some improvement in the second half and despite conceding early in their heads did not drop and for half an hour avoided further goals through shear effort against a superior football side.

Unfortunately, the effort and work rate took its toll and three late goals in the last five minutes did not do Harriers justice.

A tough lesson was learnt from an outstanding side.