Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
City take their chances to make it two in a row
Southern Counties East
Canterbury City made it back-toback wins in the Premier Division with a 2-0 success over Lordswood on Saturday. Jack Delo kept out an effort from Frank Griffin early on, while at the other end, keeper Ryan Chandler dived to cut out a low cross from Joe Nelder. Ian Pulman managed to put Dave Pilcher through on goal but despite two side-steps past challenges, his shot was well turned aside by Chandler. A combination of a defender and Delo managed to keep the ball out after a Lordswood corner before the break, while Adam Hooper also fired straight at the City keeper. After half-time, Lords had another effort scrambled off the line before City took the lead against the run of play on 54 minutes when Joe Kennett headed a free-kick past Chandler to break the deadlock. Matt Martin, Pilcher and Gary Mickelborough went close to a second, while Jack Mahon fired wide at the other end. Pilcher saw Chandler off his line and tried a 40-yard lob which the keeper clawed away but from the resulting corner, Sam Conlon glanced home the second at the near post. Pilcher was thwarted by the flying Chandler before the close and Lordswood were denied a goal back by some committed defending before substitute Dan Wisker was sent-off in stoppage-time.
Whitstable eased into the next round of the SCEFL Challenge Cup, seeing-off Division 1 opponents Holmesdale 2-0 at the Belmont on Saturday. A header in each half from Harry Goodger and debutant Shaun Welford – who started on the bench – proved the difference, while Dan Eason had to be alert to preserve the clean sheet at the other end. Tom Bryant had an early low shot saved by Jack Rankin. The keeper then cut out a cross from Goodger, who also glanced a header wide from a Harry Brown free-kick. Louis Sprosen and Goodger had efforts blocked before Holmesdale went close when a long throw by Lewis Chambers found unmarked John Burtonshaw whose header clipped the top of the bar. Goodger’s fierce free-kick was turned wide by Rankin but Whitstable scored the opening goal on 35 minutes when Carl Harrold sent in cross from the right and Goodger beat Rankin to the ball, heading it over him and into the net. At the other end, Victor Sodiende sent in a low cross for Chambers but Eason was off his line quickly to cut out the danger Rankin denied Goodger after the break but within minutes of appearing off the bench, Welford met a Harry Brown cross at the far post to open his Oystermen account. Welford and Goodger had efforts blocked, while Sodiende was denied by some good defending by Ashley Brown. Welford headed over and was denied by Rankin before a weak backpass from Stuart West in the dying seconds saw Eason out smartly to thwart Burtonshaw.