Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Ruthless visitors pile on the agony for strugglers
Canterbury men
Canterbury’s gloom worsened in the National Premier Division as they went down 3- 0 to a clinical Beeston at Polo Farm on Sunday.
Elliot Hibell scored a brace while Mark Gleghorne was also on target with a penalty stroke, his 14th goal of the campaign.
The city club remain second bottom with three points from 10 games, three more than bottom side Loughborough Students and three less than Brooklands MU who are third-bottom and above the relegation play-off place.
Canterbury 2nds produced a gutsy display to overcome leaders Hampstead & Westminster 2nds 3-2 and keep their hopes of defending the London Premier Division title alive.
Sam Barrett muscled his way to the opening goal and although the visitors – coached by Kwan Browne – levelled after half-time, Sam George’s fine run won a short corner which Harry Roberts converted to put Canterbury ahead.
The hosts added a third which meant a late effort from Hampstead was a consolation as Canterbury closed the gap at the top.
The Pilgrims were brought down to earth with a bump after last week’s win by a 3- 0 defeat at Brighton & Hove in South League Kent/sussex Regional 2. The 3rds suffered defeat by the odd goal in five at home to Holcombe 2As in South League Kent Area Division 1.
The visitors were gifted three goals but there were some positives for the city club including a good individual display from Glen Prebble and a great team goal finished by Laurance Marshall.
The 4ths enjoyed a 2-1 win at Ashford 2nds to move away from the foot of the same division.
Tim Launois scored two and Matt Bye got the other as the Millers pipped Sevenoaks 3rds to sit 3rd in Division 2.
The depleted 5ths were edged out by a late goal to lose 2-1 at Herne Bay 2nds in Kent Open Premier Premier B.
The Griffins went down 6-3 at Maidstone 3rds in Premier C and sit secondbottom and Mark Batchelor, Tony Panayides and Martin Southam’s superb strike were in vain.
The struggling Squires slipped to a 5-1 defeat at Maidstone 4ths and are second bottom of Kent Open Division 1.
The Friars romped to an 8- 0 win at Gillingham Anchorians 4ths to go third in Division 3 thanks to five goals from Paul Lee and a hat-trick from John Ratcliffe.