Following the great win last week, expectations were high in this local derby against Herne Bay Youth.

We started slowly and developed some of our usual bad habits but contained the game  well and always looked a threat.

We created many chances, namely from some eloquent passing from Matt and George but their defence were up to the task and kept us at bay.

Herne Bay Youth counter attacked on a couple of occasions but our new look back 4 were up to the task. Elijah (“do little” to his team mates) has really settled into the team now and was again pivotal as a right back and with Nick, Lewis and Danny finding their form we are starting to look very solid at the back. Josh made a fine save following an iffy decision just outside the box which created a chance that should never have been given.

We went into half time still at deadlock and repeated the usual team talk, we tried to emphasise the need to play more that the one dimensional tactics in the first half and this was taken on board, as soon as the ball was being played around using the wings chances became frequent and their defence started to break down.

Ashley (super sub) came on in place of Luke and instantly made a great impression with some strong runs, soon it paid off with a half chance from the edge of the box, he skilfully gave himself half a yard of space and buried the ball in the left hand corner.

As soon as this deadlock broke the teams confidence came back and another super goal from Nick Hope followed 2 minutes later.

The game looked in the bag at this point but after another dodgy decision on the edge of the box gave the opposition another great chance, Josh once again had this covered.

Minutes later we conceded a corner and after not clearing our lines the ball was taped in. A couple of further changes were made to the line up by moving our new recruit Aaron into the central midfield position allowing Rob to play the right mid role.

No sooner than these changes were made we started to look threatening again. Rob played a blinder and set up the 3^rd goal with a great pass to Nick who beat the keeper but was robbed of the goal by our goal poacher Luke. Nick got his revenge 2 mins later with a super strike to make the game beyond reach.

A good solid performance by a team that’s growing in confidence and has aspirations for the season, we just need to start with this confidence and play the way we train in the first half as well as the second half.

A tough first round cup match this weekend against Red Arrow from the first division. No pressure on us though.

Scorers : Nick Hope 2, Luke 1, Ashley 1

Team : Elijah Meenan, George Darling, Nick Hope, Danny Judge, Mike Monks, Lewis Pressley, Aaron Waters, Nick Roy, Ashley Barton, Rob Taylor, Josh Luck, Matt Wakerly, Luke Walden.