Sam Denly says his Herne Bay side must learn to close games out after throwing away two points against Merstham on Tuesday.

After striving for 89 minutes to break down a physical Merstham team who had two players sent off, it looked as though Bay would finally get their full reward when Joe Nelder pounced on a goalkeeping error to put the home side in front.

But within a minute, nine-man Merstham had equalised through Tutu Henriques and they then held on to claim an unlikely point which kept Merstham second in Ryman League, Division 1 South behind Faversham.

Boss Denly said: “It was frustrating that, after going in front so late, we weren’t able to see the game out and that’s something that has happened a few times this season. Even at Hythe on Saturday, when we were 2-0 up, we conceded a goal which made for a nervy ending.

“Three points against Merstham would have been massive but we weren’t direct enough.
“We kept the ball well but played it sideways a bit too often. But although I was disappointed, getting a point is still a good result against a side who are second and who I feel are the best team we’ve played against this season.

“They are well organised and when they went down to 10 men early on, they just parked the bus for 80 minutes, with two banks of four.

“It was hard to break down but the draw means we are now unbeaten in five league
games.”

Bay are at home to Three Bridges on Saturday and expect to be pretty much at full strength.