Hodgson’s a safe pair of hands
Express Cabs Maidstone Boys Primary League
The Express Cabs Maidstone Boys Primary League held their League Cup finals at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead ground on Sunday.
In the under-13 final, MPE started strongly against Kings Hill Colts and Tommy Clark headed against the bar.
The pressure soon told with Clark scoring from six yards, but Kings Hill were level on 32 minutes when Joseph Clapham punished a defensive mix-up.
With the MPE defence rattled, another error allowed Ryan Devlin to fire Colts into a half-time lead.
Kings Hill keeper Charlie Hodgson, who was named player-of-the-match, made several fine saves after the break to ensure his side held on for a 2-1 win.
MPE also featured in the under-14 final, where they faced Borough Green Juniors.
Green went ahead midway through the first half thanks to a goal from player-ofthe-match Jack Elliott.
Issac Frimstone equalised for MPE when a free-kick wasn’t cleared.
MPE had keeper Jack Webster to thank for a string of good saves, the best of which denied David Hjelm.
Benn Boyce almost won the game for MPE towards the end of normal time, but Nick Chaplin denied him with a good block at the end of a fine solo run.
In extra time, Green’s Alex Cable latched onto a through ball and scored to make it 2-1, which is how it finished.
Kings Hill, of Division 1, went into the under-15 final as favourites to beat Division 2 side Barming Colts.
Colts keeper Shane Hogben kept his side in the game with some outstanding saves, although he was finally beaten by Harry Mitchell, who ran onto a long ball and finished well.
Harry Bradford chipped Hogben to make it 2- 0 and Barming then saw Liam Aldred stretchered off with a back injury which held play up for several minutes.
The break seemed to benefit Colts, who pulled one back through James Kirwan, but Kings held on to lift the trophy.
Hogben was named player-of-thematch.