Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Home win maintains unbeaten sequence
Club round-up
Canterbury 2nds maintained their unbeaten run in Higgins Group London League Premier Division with a 3-0 home win over Surbiton 2nds.
All the goals came in the second half with Sam Barrett opening the scoring after the ball had dropped to him in the Surbiton D.
Nick Buckingham’s deflection doubled the lead before man-of-the-match Harrison Smith linked well with Richard Keir who finished with a classic sliding slap shot.
Pilgrims went down 3-1 to Southwick 1sts in Kent/sussex Regional 2, although they were aggrieved to have goal disallowed with the score at 2-1.
James Bray’s clinical finish put the Grims ahead in the second half but they promptly conceded twice to give their hosts the initiative.
Grims thought they had equalised only for the umpire to claim use of the foot and Southwick wrapped up the points from a short corner. Man-ofthe-match was Will Gilltrow.
An early goal from Liam Mitchell put the 3rds on the way to a 2-0 win over Sevenoaks 3rds in Kent Area Division 1.
Further pressure failed to yield any more goals and in the second half Canterbury found themselves on the wrong end of five green cards and a disallowed PC.
However Andy Howard and his defence held firm and Canterbury then started to create a bit more again gaining some reward with a second goal via Matt Lea who moved the ball around the keeper before slotting home.
Glen Prebble scored for the 4ths as they drew 1-1 with Old Williamsonians 2nds in Kent Area Division 2 while the Millers came from behind to run out 2-1 victors over Holcombe 3rds in the same division.
Ben Young brought them level, picking up an aerial out of defence from Jac Watts to beat two defenders and slot home from a narrow angle.
The decisive goal came from a penalty corner in the second half with man-of-the-match Watts placing a drag flick, perfectly to the left hand side of the keeper.
Millers keeper Alan Mckibbin made a number of fine saves in the closing stages to preserve the score-line and give his side their first away points.
Canterbury 5ths lost 7-3 to Cobdown 1sts in Kent Open Premier B despite goals from Jack Mason (2) and A. Tedder.
Canterbury Griffins remain top of Kent Open Premier C after edging Sevenoaks Acorns 2-1.
Griffins took the lead from their first short corner, Jim Senior, smashing in from the top of the D but Sevenoaks came back strongly and Chris Sharp in goal made a number of good saves.
A well-taken poacher’s goal from man-of-the- match Alex Laslett made it 2-0 at half-time but Sevenoaks came out strongly in the second period and pulled one back with 15 minutes to go.
Steve Laslett had an excellent game at sweeper.
Squires suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat at home to Holcombe 5ths in Kent Open Division 1.
The decisive goal came in the opening stages but Squires then settled with Kevin Goulden, Stuart Drakeley and Graeme Kemsley able to deal with most attacks. On the few occasions they were breached keeper Dave Kiernan produced some excellent saves.
Liam Durrant and Ali Scott-kilvert ran all game and slotted in well with Graham Brown but a number of short corners just did not roll the right way and the resultant scramble from onecorner towards the end of the second half just needed a tuck back rather than a shot into the keeper’s pad.
Three goals in five second-half minutes knocked the stuffing out of the Friars as they lost 4-0 to Burnt Ash 6ths in Kent Open Division 3.
Jonathan Adams, playing his first senior match, gave an assured performance while Kyran Tritton put in some useful tackles as did Chris Ward.