Patched-up Friars lose despite defensive efforts

Canterbury Friars lost 5-2 away to Gravesham and Wellcome Unicorns in South East Division 8 Invicta. Canterbury only scrapped 11 players together at the last minute thanks to Pete Ratcliff stepping in. Nevertheless the Friars were 3-0 down inside 12 minutes, partly due to their own decision-making and partly because of Gravesham’s midfielders, who were outperforming their Canterbury opponents. But Friars got back into the game with a fiercely-struck John Aikin goal at a short corner.

There were glimpses of a comeback with Paul Donovan in the thick of it while the defence, including Mike Barton and Chris Ward, impressed.

But Gravesham rolled their four substitutes and, in the latter minutes, took back control, claiming two more goals and a well-deserved win despite Pete Bowell getting a second for Canterbury. Tom Parkin and Ward were both named Canterbury’s top players on the day and the side now sit fifth in the table. Two-goal Barry Thomas and a solitary effort from Ash Hooker led Canterbury’s over-50s to a 3-2 home success against Holcombe on Sunday. Canterbury men’s Squires hammered Burnt Ash 5ths 7-0 in SE Division 6 Invicta. Burnt Ash started pretty well but, after 10 minutes, Jim Laslett opened the scoring.

His effort was quickly followed by goals from Olly Curtiss, Laslett again and Tony Panayides to deflate the opposition.

The goal-glut helped settle Canterbury down and allow all to play expansive and textbook hockey.

Further efforts were scored by Jo Miles and Adam Watkins and there was a second for Curtiss.

The men’s Millers lost 2-0 to Sevenoaks 4ths in SE Division 2 Invicta. Freddie Mcmullan was player-of-the-match.

A strong Canterbury ladies’ 3rds squad arrived to face leaders Folkestone in confident mood for their SE Division 1 East encounter, but they lost 4-2.

Ellie Johnson and Nat Goldring struck for Canterbury, whose player-ofthe-match was Bex Goldring. Canterbury sit ninth in the table.

In SE Division 3 Invicta, Canterbury’s 5ths lost

2-0 against Ashford 3rds, despite a player-of-the-match performance from Julia Owen.