PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Soham
Teams : Bury v Herne Bay United

Herne Bay United played their last league game of the season on Saturday
15th May against top of the table rivals Bury. The two sides went into the
game level on points, United had to win the game to secure their 11th
championship in a row.(Apart from the year they did not enter). Bury knew a
draw was all they needed to win the league.

Both sides started cautiously, 9 minutes into the game the deadlock was
broken when Jess L’anson put Bury ahead with a well taken finish. United
responded almost immediately with Barker hitting the post from close range,
2 minutes later United were level when Barker pulled the ball back to McVey
whose first time shot was deflected past the goalkeeper into the top corner
of the net by Hosking. Bury pressed again and they went ahead 3 minutes
later when a cross from Shaun Pearce rebounded off defender McVeys foot, past
an unsuspecting Priestley in Uniteds goal. Within a minute of the restart
Bury won a dubious penalty, which L’anson scored. Bury were now 3-1 up and
the championship looked as though it was slipping away from United.

HBU are a side that never give up, with 10 minutes of the half remaining
striker Brendan Barker scored after team mate Sam Jackson put him through
with a defence splitting pass. The score was now 3-2. With 6 minutes left
United ’s team work again caused panic in the Bury defence, Neil Austin
capitalised this time, cooly slotting home from the edge of the box to
bring the scores level at 3 – 3.

Bury also were not going to give up without a fight, and went back in front
with another deflected goal with 2 minutes remaining in the half. Then with
only 20 seconds left on the clock, L’anson scored his third of the game,
and Bury’s 5th. There was still time for Austin to notch his 2nd of the
game, making the halftime score 5-4.

HBU knew they were 25 minutes away from losing their title and were determined
not to let that happen. 3 minutes into the half Austin brought the scores
level at 5-5. Almost immediately from the restart Hosking finished another
well worked move to put United in the lead for the first time in the game.
Bury came back at United but could not break through their defence. The
next ten minutes of game saw HBU take control and it appeared Bury were
finished, but with 8 minutes remaining Shaun Pearce scored with a long shot
to bring the scores level again. If the score remained the same, Bury would be
crowned champions. Again United pushed forward, forcing Bury keeper Ben
Wells into a string of fine saves. He couldn’t keep them all out though,
and with 6 minutes left Austin scored his 4th of the game, putting United
in the lead, 6 – 7.

Bury came back at United, and it was United’s keeper Garlick, who made 4 or
5 worldclass saves. Try as they might Bury could not find an equaliser,
Hosking made it 6-8 with 4 minutes left. Player manager McVey completed
the scoring with a well taken penalty in the last minute of the match. The
game ended Bury 6, HBU 9. Herne Bay United had done it, they were Premier
League champions. After the game player manager McVey said ‘I’m proud of
the lads, we knew it was going to be difficult, Bury are a very good side,
but we stuck to our game plan, and due to the hard work and commitment from
the team we got the result we needed. We had a mountain to climb after
losing our first game of the season, against Bury at home. We’ve won every
match since, and it makes being champions all the sweeter having won it at
Bury’s home rink. The lads can’t relax just yet though, as we are going for the League/Cup double. We play Manchester in the Cup final. The players have responded brilliantly in training this year, and are improving all the time. I have found coaching and playing a strain at times
this season, but winning makes it all worth while.’

More info:
Reporter: Aileen Barker