Kentish Express Ashford & District
SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE ROUND-UP
Kennington claimed another vital three points in their hunt for a top-five finish as they triumphed 3-2 at Stansfeld in Division 1 courtesy of an injurytime winner.
A bright start by the visitors saw them dominate the early exchanges, with Sam Conlon and Gary Lockyer both going close in the opening 10 minutes. However Stansfeld took the lead, through former Gillingham and Luton player Luke Rooney who pounced on a loose ball and drove into the box before finishing well past keeper Tom Barnes. Kennington continued to cause problems for the Stansfeld defence with Brad Jordan finding pockets of space to create chances.
A great attacking press from midfielder Tom Scorer led to the top goal scorer running through on goal before coolly rounding the keeper and tapping the ball home to bring the scores level.
Following attacking pressure from forward pairing Lockyer and Conlon, Lockyer had a fine effort saved before Conlon picked up the rebound, turned inside onto his left foot and struck the ball into the bottom corner.
A good start to the second half was soon halted as the hosts capitalised once again on a defensive error. A lack of pressure on playmaker Rooney gave the midfielder time to loft the ball into forward Billy Shinners who controlled and finished well to make it 2-2.
Both sides attacked in search of a winner and had it not been for some brilliant defensive work by the Kennington defence and keeper Barnes, the visitors may well have returned home with nothing. Substitute George Latham was the saviour for Kennington, scoring the winning goal in the 92nd minute. Some patient build up play led to Scorer being released down the right and he didn’t waste the opportunity to create a final chance as he turned inside the full-back before pulling the ball back for Latham to control and strike the ball low past the Stansfeld keeper.
The win keeps Kennington in fourth place, eight points clear of sixth-placed Holmesdale.
Kennington: Barnes, Negus, Greenfield, Phillips, Penfold, Clarke, Brown, Jordan, Scorer, Lockyer, Conlon: Subsitutes: Clements, Hughes, Latham, Hastings, Edwards.
Lydd Town scored twice early on at Rochester United before running out 3-2 winners after conceding two late goals.
Strikes from Piers Fuchter and Dale Horton in the fifth and sixth minutes gave Lydd a dream start. Horton put the visitors 3-0 ahead three minutes after half-time but Town wobbled a little in the closing stages, leaking goals in the 88th and 90th minutes. The win moved Lydd up to 13th place.