Herne Bay United’s second team, HBU2, in the Premier League in their 1st season winning Promotion from ND1, have been gradually finding their feet at this level improving steadily. They have 3 games remaining. The first of the three was against Grimsby and the 2nd match on Saturday evening. In their previous encounter they had lost by a single goal and wanted this time to turn the result in their favour. It took them 6 minutes to get their 1st goal and it was courtesy of Paul McVey. Paul has returned to HBU after six years in Ireland and has brought his experience as a former England and 1st team player to the team. Before the half-time whistle he had added a second goal and Arran Bowyer and capt Joe Fidock increased the score to HBU2 4 – Grimsby 0.
HBU2 were quicker off the mark in the 2nd half with Joe King scoring within thin five minutes followed by one from Steve Clarke to make it 6 – 0.
Grimsby had no reply with the HBU ‘keepers playing well until their youngest team member Nick Johnson slipped one in with 12 and half minutes left. This was to be their only goal and the home team slotted in 4 more courtesy of Paul McVey 3 and Joe King 1.
Final Score HBU2 10 – Grimsby 1
A superb result – 1 down 2 to go!
Sunday morning started early for HBU with the 1st Round of the National Senior Knockout Cup against Grimsby. For this match the Club was entitled to use any of its players but with a 2nd crucial Premier League game to be played after it the choice was limited and only 1 change was made. HBU were not quite as sharp as the previous evening opened the scoring after 5 minutes with a goal from Neil Austin followed 5 minutes later by one from Brendan Barker. The last and final goal from either team was by Nic Espejo giving a half time score of HBU 3 – Grimsby 0
In the 1st minute after the restart Simon Hosking made it 4 and Matt Barton increased the lead to 5- 0. Grimsby had not managed to convert any chances that came their way until with just over 10 minutes left Andrew Sims slipped one past keeper Garrett Priestley
Simon Hosking restored the goal gap but Andrew Sims had a second chance with 2 mins remaining. That was how it remained – HBU 6 Grimsby 2.
HBU have to meet Middlesbrough (away) in the next round of this competition.
HBU2 v Middlesbrough.
The team faced what they expected to be the most difficult of the 3 matches left on their schedule. Middlesbrough currently in 3rd place in the League had beaten them in the away match convincingly.
Undaunted and lifted by their good result the previous evening against Grimsby the HBU2 team went on the attack shocking the opposition by scoring 5 goals in the 1st half. These came, in the order they were scored, Joe Fidock, Paul McVey, Jon Barton,Paul McVey & Joe Fidock. HBU2’s Paul Nelson in goal was on his best form to keep a clean sheet frustrating the Middlesbrough team.
Five minutes after the restart, their perseverance paid off and their captain John Jones scored their first goal. Paul McVey pulled one back but Middlesbrough saw HBU2 were tiring and making a few errors and managed to get a goal from Mike Ableson and 2 more from John Jones before the final whistle.
Final score HBU2 6 – Middlesbrough 4
The team have only 1 more game to play and that will be at the Pier on Saturday 27th May at 7.40pm v Sheffield.
