FOOTBALL Red card can’t spoil big day

CANTERBURY LEICESTER N

City survived the controversial dismissal of Chris Saunders to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Vase at Salters Lane on Saturday.

Saunders, who scored City’s opening goal, picked up two yellow cards – the second awarded after he had gone over in the Leicester Nirvana penalty area eight minutes from time.

City felt they had strong claims for a penalty but the referee ruled Saunders – on his home debut – had dived and the midfielder was sent packing.

Nirvana sensed their chance but City – with full-backs Michael Turner and new signing Ryan Cooper outstanding – held firm surviving seven minutes of time added on to book their place in the last eight for the first time in the club’s history.

Play started at a rapid pace and City keeper Jack Delo had already saved well from Abu Cisse when the home side went ahead on eight minutes.

A free-kick into the Nirvana box was only partially cleared and Saunders took a step to one

2 1

side before crashing the ball home, in off the underside of the crossbar.

Shortly after Dean Grant almost doubled the lead when he lifted the ball over visiting keeper Michael Antkowiak only for a covering defender to clear.

Next came Saunders’ first yellow, for a foul, and Nirvana then had a chance to level as the ball fizzed across the City box with Chris Anastasi just unable to get a touch.

Antkowiak was quick off his line to deny Grant who then arrowed a shot just wide of the far post before making it 2-0 from City’s next attack.

An under par clearance from Antkowiak was easily headed back into the danger zone by Bola Dawodu and Grant took the ball out to the right before stroking it past the keeper .

Nirvana’s Cisse then had two chances in quick succession, seeing Delo beat away his initial shot before slicing the rebound well wide. The visitors threatened again when William Gonga’s overhead kick had to be palmed over his own bar by the City keeper.

Nirvana’s equaliser, on 58 minutes, followed another positive spell with Swain sweeping the ball past Delo after a break down the right.

The momentum looked to be moving in Nirvana’s favour but City responded by introducing Ollie Lee and Jordan Casey into the fray.

A long stoppage for a head injury disrupted play but on resumption, City nearly grabbed a third goal when Adam Woollcott stabbed the ball just past the post after good work by Grant and Casey.

The odds looked to be tilting in Nirvana’s favour when Saunders saw red, but City dug in deep fighting for every ball and keeping Nirvana largely pinned back deep into their own half.

Lee twice went close for City, first with a header, and then with a hooked volley. Finally, in the 97th minute and with Nirvana having barely had a sight of City’s goal since the sending-off, the referee called time.

Delo, Michael Turner, Cooper, Harvey, Sayer, Woollcott, Lightfoot (Lee), Saunders, Grant (Froggatt), Dawodu (Casey), Tenyue; Subs: James Turner, Rob Lawrence. Attendance: 334

City:

Abbey Rangers 1.

KENT SENIOR TROPHY Semi-final Fixtures: Saturday:

Beckenham v St Peter, Chatham v Hollands & Blair.

SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE Premier Division

Fisher ........... 25 18 2 5 54 22 56 Corinthian..... 24 18 2 4 55 29 56 Beckenham .. 25 15 5 5 53 32 50 Cray Valley.... 23 15 4 4 71 28 49 Chatham....... 22 16 1 5 69 27 49 Sheppey ....... 25 14 2 9 58 39 44 Bearsted....... 23 11 2 10 44 49 35 AFC Croydon. 23 10 5 8 42 37 35 Deal.............. 26 9 8 9 40 43 35 K Sports........ 24 10 4 10 35 53 34 Canterbury.... 22 10 3 9 43 36 33 Crowboro...... 26 10 3 13 37 62 33 Lordswood.... 22 9 5 8 41 40 32 Erith Town..... 22 8 6 8 37 44 30 Glebe............ 24 9 3 12 35 42 30 Tun Wells ...... 22 8 3 11 43 46 27 Punjab Utd.... 25 4 8 13 38 48 20 Hollands & B. 22 3 3 16 24 51 12 Croydon........ 23 2 0 21 25 62 6 Rusthall ........ 24 1 3 20 18 72 6 Results: Saturday: Rusthall 0 Crowborough 1, Sheppey 0 Fisher 1. Tuesday: Bearsted 1 AFC Croydon 3, Punjab Utd 5 Rusthall 1, Tunbridge Wells P-P Hollands & Blair. Fixtures: Saturday: AFC Croydon v Sheppey, Cray Valley v Rusthall, Croydon v Corinthian, Erith Town v Deal, Fisher v Punjab Utd, Glebe v Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells v Bearsted. Tuesday: Lordswood v Hollands & Blair, Punjab Utd v Canterbury. Wednesday: Cray Valley v Bearsted. Challenge Cup Quarter-final Result: Tuesday: Sheppey 0 SC