Kentish Express Ashford & District
Scorer double turns tie
KENNINGTON 4 CROWBOROUGH 2
Kennington reached the second round of the FA Vase after a memorable 4-2 victory against SCEFL Premier Division side Crowborough Athletic on Sunday.
Tom Scorer scored two goals in the space of three firsthalf minutes to put Ton in a commanding position early on.
He scored with a left-footed effort from distance, before powerfully heading home from Rob Greenfield’s excellent delivery from the left.
Kieran Scantlebury pulled a goal back just after the half-hour which changed the complexion of the tie going into the break, however Ton re-gained their two-goal cushion when Craig Calvert’s in-swinging corner was headed on at the near post by George Latham, evading all to nestle inside the far corner, beyond keeper Billy Johnson.
Johnson was in action soon after when Scorer was bearing down for his hat-trick, but was equal to the task
Greenfield also had a great opportunity to put the tie beyond reach of the visitors from the penalty spot, only to see his effort crash back off the crossbar. The penalty was given after Harry Stow was upended inside the box.
However it was Crowborough who struck next, with Tom Boddy looping the ball over keeper Tom Barnes with five minutes remaining.
Crowborough were forced to finish the game with 10 men, a player suffering an injury after the visitors had used their allocated three substitutions.
With Ton exploiting gaps, Gary Clarke tapped home to seal the tie in injury time, after good work from substitute Charlie Owen.
Manager Dan Scorer, said: “It’s just nice for the players to get the reward for all their hard work and also for myself and my management team and the backroom and the chairman and people like that, that have worked hard to get us to this point so I’m really made up.”
He added: “Two years ago we were playing in the Kent County League so this tops off the rise of Kennington in my time and hopefully it’s a good indication of where we’re going.”
One of the Crowborough players travelled to Ashford in Middlesex by mistake and was unable to make the kick-off.
Kennington: Barnes, Stow, Greenfield, Phillips, Sedenu, Penfold, Clarke, Calvert, Scorer, Latham, Conlon. Substitutes: Hughes, Owen (for Calvert 70min), Tomsett, Brown (for Latham 57min), Fisher (for Scorer 75min), Philpott, Goddard. Attendance: 277
■ Ton are in cup action at Homelands again on Saturday, in the Kent Senior Trophy against SCEFL Division 1 rivals Rochester United (3pm).