Invicta 1 – 3 Herne bay United

Time: 19.45
Date: 16th Feb
Location: The Bay Arena

Herne Bay United returned to the top of the premier league maintaining their 100% record of 7 wins in 7 premierleague games this season with a 1-3 win over local rivals Invicta.

United controlled the game right from the outset and never looked to be under any pressure. Invicta defended well but as the half wore on United started to create a few chances. With 12 minutes remaining in the first half United’s Danny Butcher picked the ball up midway in his own half, sprinted half the length of the rink before firing an unstoppable slap shot into the top left hand corner of the goal to put United ahead (0-1). Invicta did not let their heads drop and managed to equalise through Joel Defiguerado, who scored with a close range volley to tie the game at 1-1. United responded with a string of chances which were all saved by Invicta’s goalie (Joel Carnell), who was having a very good game. Then with 5 minutes left in the half a mishit pass from invicta captain Peter Halvorsen fell straight to United’s captain Fabio Vicente who cooly slotted the ball home past a helpless Carnell in Invita’s goal to restore united’s lead. (1-2). At halftime the score remained (1-2).

The second half mirrored the first. United controlled the game, limiting Invicta to long range efforts which were easily saved by Jay Williamson in United’s net. United were creating more chances and Joel Carnell was having to work extremely hard in the Invicta goal. Then with 14 minutes left United’s Brendan Barker struck a fierce slap shot that hit Carnell in his visor of his helment, the ball rebounded straight out to Neil Austin who rifled the ball from outside of the penalty area straight into the top corner of the goal to make it 1-3 to United. The rest of the match passed without incident. United controlled the game in defence and attack. Invicta continued to battle but never looked like scoring the goals necessary to bring them back into the match. The game ended 1-3.

After the game United’s David Todd said: “We are very pleased to get the 3 points. Invicta are an improving side. There are no easy games in the premier league anymore. We have been learning a whole new system of play and it is going to take time for us to get used to it. It’s fantastic that we are top of the league and undefeated, this year is all about developing our style of play, and bringing on the younger players to give us the foundation to build on moving forward. The lads are working hard and we are just taking each game as it comes. It’s exciting to be a part of it”.

United Manager Phil McVey added: “To completely change the system that the team plays is a huge undertaking. The players are all working hard to get it right, it isn’t going to happen overnight. That said we have become so more solid in defence, playing the way we used to play we were always vulnerable to the counter –attack and that is how we conceded most of goals in the last few years. We are looking far more solid at the back, at the moment we are not scoring the amount of goals that we would like, but that will come in time. I told the players in the dressing room, when it does click in attack someone is going to be on the end of a thrashing. We need patience, it not a quick fix. We have lost the league for the last 2 seasons, this season is all about developing a style of play that can take us back to the top and enable us to challenge for the title for years to come. It is not just the 1st team, we are teaching this at every age group within the club. That said we find ourselves sitting top of the league with 21 points out of 21. I would still say that we are 3rd or 4th favourites for the title. Grimsby are the current champions so they would have to be one of the favourites, the other main favourites are Manchester. They have only dropped 3 points so far and are looking very strong. Bury are also in with a chance. We are not thinking about the title this year, we just need to concentrate on our own performance in our next match.”

Team List: Jay Williamson, Joe Singleton, Karl Smith, Danny Butcher(1), Fabio Vicente(1)(C), Neil Austin(1), David Todd, Brendan Barker, Tom White, Eddie Mount

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