Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Advantage cut after rare loss for leaders
League leaders Herne Bay 2nds suffered a 5-4 defeat to second-placed Sevenoaks 4ths in the Kent Men’s Outdoor Open Premier A. Sevenoaks struck first through a short corner follow-up shot. Bay were quick to respond with a short corner from Ada Hawkes. Bay stepped up their game with two goals from Simon Collins making it 3-1. Sevenoaks then brought the teams back level just before half-time. Shortly after half-time, Les Gurubathan made it 4-3 but two more goals from the visitors gave them a win. Bay are still top-of-the-table but their lead has been cut to just a point. Up next are Folkestone Optimists 3rds. A late winner denied Herne Bay 1sts a deserved point when they played at Canterbury 3rds in the Kent Area Division 1. Bay broke the deadlock through Adam Jones’ deflected shot from a Kristoff White assist but Canterbury equalised just before the half was up. They then took the lead and it looked as they they would hold on but three minutes from time, White slammed a loose ball into the net to level. Straight up the other end, though and Matt Lea’s mis-hit shot looped over the helpless James Wigington. Bay are bottom of the table and host Sevenoaks 3rds on Saturday. The 3rds won 4-3 at Maidstone 3rds after coming back from a goal down. James Nash, Tom White, Lewis Quirke and Matt Young were all on the scoresheet as they won an entertaining game. The result lifts them above Maidstone to second. They host Canterbury Griffins on Saturday. Bay’s 4ths slipped to second in the Kent Division 3 after losing 4-3 at Holcombe. Despite goals from Alfie Forbes, Harry Mckenna and Peter Brundle Holcs proved too strong on the day. Bay host Folkestone Optimists 7ths on Saturday. The 5ths moved up to third in the Kent Division 4 after a 9-2 win over Ashford 6ths. There were three goals each for Jamie Newman and Jos Fielder-geurts, two for Steve Collins and one for Mark Hart. The ladies’ 2nds had a 2-1 win over University of Kent women’s 1sts in Kent Women’s Division 3. The win keeps them ninth and they host Tunbridge Wells Ladies 4ths on Saturday. The 3rds lost 8-3 at Marden Russets 2nds in Kent Women’s Division 4.