by Andrew Gidley

Two goals in six minutes by Michael Rae ended Herne Bay's Wembley dream at Darlington Road on Saturday afternoon.

Tommy Bryant fired Bay ahead after 10 minutes, lashing the ball home after the home defence had failed to clear Michael Jenner's free-kick.

Simon Halsey's (pictured) men had the best of the early exchanges before Bay keeper Dan Eason saved Jonny Gibson's free-kick and Rae put the home side level after 32 minutes. Bay lost out in midfield and Rae, scorer of the first goal at Winch's Field last week, ran-on before firing home.

He made it 2-1 six minutes later, allowed to get free on the right hand side of the area before sliding an angled drive into the far corner.

Rhys Lawson blasted a half-chance over the bar shortly before half-time before Rae almost put the tie beyond Bay, heading powerfully against the post in the last action of the first half.

West Auckland defender Andrew Green, lucky not to be booked for an earlier challenge on Dan Lawrence, was sent-off two minutes after the break for striking Luke Harvey as the pair tangled for the ball and he was shown a straight red by referee Robert Madley.

Harvey saw his low shot saved by West Auckland keeper Mark Bell before Lawson went agonisingly close to an equaliser, getting the better of his marker inside the box, only to see the ball hit the underside of the bar and bounce clear.

Halsey sent on youngsters Liam Wellings and Karl Williams but West Auckland went close twice in the closing stages, Mattie Moffatt seeing Eason save his first effort and then tip away the follow-up lob.

A disappointed Halsey said: "It's been a great journey and I never thought when we started out that we would get this far.

"I'm only young in managerial years but I've learned so much from this run and I'm sure the experience will stand me in good stead in years to come.

"Other results have gone our way in the league and now I've got to make sure I pick the right side and we are mentally right to go again at Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday."

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