FOOTBALL Talking-to stems the goal flow Faversham Strike Force

Faversham Strike Force were lashed by the wind, rain and their manager’s tongue following an error-strewn 7-4 defeat at Hawkinge in their Kent County League Premier Division clash on Saturday. The Force were unable to cope in a first half which saw them playing into an icy gale and driving downpour, as they barely got out of their territory and shipped five goals to the hosts. In a rare bright spot, the visitors did pull themselves level early on through Ali Adam but a series of defensive mistakes proved costly and they went into the interval 5-1 in arrears. Manager Gary Axford delivered a fiery half-time pep talk and got the response he was looking for. Adam, Dinu Catlin and Tom Axford all found the net to pull the Force to within two goals of their opponents before a late Hawkinge clincher gave the scoreline a convincing appearance. “The weather was absolutely atrocious and so was the result,” said Axford. “I had some harsh words at half-time to try to avert a thrashing and in part it worked but the damage was already done. “We must stop conceding sloppy goals. “No preparation in the world would have stopped us conceding some of those goals – it killed us in the first half.” The result left Strike Force seventh in the Premier Division with 25 points after 16 matches. The host Fleetdown United on Saturday (kick-off 2pm) in their final match of the year. n The appalling weather put paid to the majority of youth matches at the weekend. It did not stop the under-11s, however, who played some of their best football of the season, against Ramsgate at Faversham Rec. Harvey Pelling scored two fantastic goals while there were great performances by defensive duo George Ruffle, the player of the match, and Elliott Hall. The under-8s travelled to face Herne Bay Youth and warmed to their task in the second half with goals coming from Albert Biscoe and Henry Gossling (two) with Theodor Vancea named best player on the day.

Sheppey v Canterbury

ANDREAS CARTER KENT COUNTY LEAGUE Premier Division

Staplehurst ... 17 13 2 2 39 19 41 Bromleians ... 17 11 2 4 63 33 35 Borden Vill .... 18 9 5 4 34 22 32 Peckham Tn.. 15 10 1 4 47 18 31 Hawkinge ..... 17 8 3 6 52 33 27 N Romney..... 15 8 1 6 24 22 25 Fav Strike ..... 16 8 1 7 36 45 25 Otford Utd..... 15 7 3 5 28 25 24 Tudor Sports . 16 7 3 6 24 24 24 Kings Hill ...... 13 7 2 4 24 17 23 Fleetdown..... 17 5 6 6 22 28 21 Metrogas ...... 15 4 1 10 26 41 13 Bexley .......... 14 4 1 9 17 32 13 Farnboro OB . 16 2 5 9 18 34 11 Crockenhill ... 17 3 2 12 35 61 11