Kentish Express Ashford & District
Clarke and Philpott ruthless in front of goal
MERIDIAN VP 0 KENNINGTON 7
Four goals from Gary Clarke – including a 10-minute hat-trick – alongside a treble from Ryan Philpott, helped Kennington romp to victory at Meridian, writes Simon Jasinski.
The result maintains Kennington’s position at the top of the Southern Counties East League Division 1 table, ahead of a showdown with fellow in-form side Holmesdale at Homelands on Saturday. A bitter wind made conditions far from straightforward in south east London, however Ton coped well going against it in the first half, heading into the interval two goals up and with a man advantage following a second caution for Meridian’s Jack Sycamore. Dan Scorer’s side then put on a display of ruthless finishing in the second half – capped by two fine goalscoring performances from Clarke and Philpott.
It took until the 22nd minute for Ton to break the deadlock, when Clarke’s ball over the top found Philpott following a knock-down – the striker with a neat piece of skill rolling the ball across his body before unleashing a left footed effort which went in off the far post. Ton made it two just before half-time. A free-kick by Charlie Owen – earned after Sycamore received his marching orders – missed every one bar Clarke who ghosted in at the back post to shoot left foot across the keeper.
With the wind now more favourably at their backs,
Ton started the second half as they left the first – keeper Joe Mant’s long punt from a freekick inside his own half was allowed to bounce inside the box, for Clarke to jump highest and loop a header over the Meridian keeper.
Clarke secured a perfect hattrick – left-foot, header and right-foot – in just 10 minutes of play, slotting home a penalty after Harry Lavender was fouled.
Clarke then hit a fourth – and Ton’s fifth – on the hour, this time a close range finish following Calvin Sedenu’s flick-on.
Philpott weighed-in with two further strikes to complete a hat-trick of his own – first a volley from the edge of the box, before completing the scoring with 15 minutes to play, reacting quickest inside the six-yard box.
Saturday’s opponents Holmesdale are fifth, four points behind Kennington but with three games in hand. Kennington: Mant, Hughes, Crimmen, Stow, Sedenu (Greenfield 66), Clarke, Lavender, Owen, Philpott, Conlon, Haylock-Ashdown (Latham 61). Unused subs: Fisher, Brown, Scorer.