Father sets up son’s treble
Express Autocentre Maidstone & Mid Kent Sunday League
It was a family affair in Division 2 for Park Royal Reserves after Ken Gardiner helped son Elliott on his way to a hat-trick against Coxheath & Farleigh.
Ken twice set up Elliott with through balls for a 2- 0 lead at the break and Gardiner junior capped his player-of-the-match display with a neat finish before the end. In between, Aaron Chapman had added a third.
Two own goals cost secondplaced Castle Colts a win over Premier Division leaders Larkfield Green.
The sides shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw, with Green’s Daniel Bromley also netting for the pacesetters. Chris Pett (2) and Paul Vanns were Colts’ scorers at the right end.
East Malling’s Lee Blundell and Ross Ibottson sealed a 2- 0 win over reigning champions Park Royal. Malling are third, five points off the top but with three games in hand on the leaders.
It was end-to-end action as Hollingbourne beat Fisherman’s Arms 5- 4. Kurtis Buckingham, Chris Hendry, Mark Swift, Nick Nowotny and Joe Terry outscoring James Savage, Barry Simpson, Dan Skinner and an own goal.
K Sports put struggling Langley Athletic to the sword 9-2, despite trailing 2- 0 and having Joe Lewis sent off.
Paul Booth pulled one back before half-time but Sports took control with player-of-the-match Josh Brown scoring four. Jason Parsons made it 6-2 and Ryan Charman scored the seventh from the spot. Neil Sobers and Olly Wells added late goals for the 10 men. Snodland Town hit double figures to end 2016 at the top of Division 1. Lowly Whitehawks had no answer as Billy Bleach led the rout with four goals, closely followed by Anthony Hunt, who claimed a hat-trick. Ben Smith (2) and Shane Tree also netted as Town took top spot from East Malling Reserves on goal difference.
Barming Youth consolidated third with a 6-3 win at Cross Keys.
Gary Owen scored a quick double to put Barming in control and it was 4- 0 at the break when Matt Terry and Brendan Russell scored.
Toby Smith and Ryan Cooke completed the win in the second half, with Jake Bott (2) and Andy Waters replying.
Barming Blues turned in their best performance of the Division 3 season with a 3-1 home win over Cranbrook Town. Adam Bergin, Dan Shields and Ignacio Marset did the damage.
Leaders Kings Park Rangers were held by Oakleigh Rovers, for whom Harry Haswell netted twice. Paul Bailey did likewise to give Rangers a four-point lead going into the new year.
Division 2 Maidstone Kestrels upset the odds with a 5- 4 penalty shoot-out win over Premier Division Star United in the Yalding Challenge Cup. Brad Brokker and Pedro Almeida scored for Star before Jack Horton and Lewis McKay levelled.