Report: Bay seal historic promotion – Kent Online

Herne Bay earned promotion to Isthmian Premier for the first time in the club’s history as they beat Ashford in the Isthmian South East play-off final on Saturday.

In-form winger Kieron Campbell broke the deadlock after a goalless first half before substitute Aaron Millbank won a penalty which he converted himself to seal the 2-0 victory as Bay finally beat Ashford at the third time of asking this season.

Bay made a good start to an entertaining and fairly end-to-end first half in front of a bumper 1,865 crowd at Homelands.

With three minutes played, the dangerous Rory Smith drove forward from midfield for Bay, who had booked their final berth with a shoot-out success over Haywards Heath after a 3-3 draw on Tuesday. But he couldn’t quite pick out top scorer Zak Ansah.

Soon after at the other end, Gary Lockyer threatened for the first time, seeing his effort well blocked by an away defender.

Ashford striker Lockyer again troubled the visiting defence in the sixth minute as he tried to add to the incredible 37 goals he had already got for the campaign but Bay goalkeeper Jordan Perrin palmed the ball away to safety on his way to a sixth clean sheet in seven games.

Referee Abigail Byrne dismissed Herne Bay penalty appeals for handball in the ninth minute, Mike West having directed a Smith corner towards goal before a United player intervened.

Herne Bay boss Ben Smith. Picture: Randolph File

The 12th minute saw Herne Bay’s Dan Johnson and United’s Tommie Fagg clash, although there was only a warning for either player at the end of it all.

Three minutes later, the home contingent felt they should have been awarded a penalty themselves for Bay captain Laurence Harvey’s challenge on Tashi-Jay Kwayie. Their protests fell on deaf ears, though.

Lockyer had another opportunity midway through the first period, heading Bradley Simms’ left-wing cross wide at the back post.

Away chants of Smith’s name rang around Homelands in the 28th minute as the forward’s snap-shot forced United goalkeeper Jordan Carey into his first real action of the afternoon.

With 32 minutes on the clock, Smith latched on to a clever flick from West and saw his strike crash against Carey’s left-hand post, before Tommy Warrilow’s Nuts & Bolts went close at the other end.

Herne Bay winger …….

Source: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/sport/report-ashford-v-herne-bay-266448/