Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
A five-star display
Faversham Strike Force Sunday men’s reserves made it through to the Roger Cork Memorial Cup Semi-final with a 5-2 victory at Blean.
Sonny Tong and Tom Smith both scored before the break but Blean pulled one back shortly after the restart.
The Force then regained control, though, and put the tie to bed long before the hosts’ late consolation thanks to an own goal and further efforts from Brad Falconer and Chris Axford. Strike Force Women played some good football but got scant reward in a 3-0 defeat to Sellindge in South East Counties Kent Division 1 East. Justine Cook made a solid debut in goal while Jade Childs’ hard work in midfield won her the player-of-the-match award. A storming late comeback by under-15 Lightning in their 5-2 win over Canterbury Eagles sent them to the top of their division. Despite Rye Leigh’s opener, the Force trailed with 20 minutes left.
Harvey Pelling’s screamer brought them level and they surged ahead when Hayden Kelk’s wing wizardry set up Lewis Martain Hall. And they sealed the points through further strikes from Stanley Hughes and Kelk. Pelling and Martain Hall shared player-of-the-match honours.
Under-13 Lightning rode their luck against Kennington but won 4-2.
An own goal, Toby Sears’ brilliant volley and a Argjend Nimanaj brace secured the win, with Connor Kilshaw named their player-of-the-match.
It was cup action for under-13 Thunder who battled bravely against a Tankerton side from the division above before succumbing to a 4-1 loss. Will Jones’ scoring streak continued with a fine strike from Archie Johnson’s assist that handed his team an early lead. Tankerton then wrested control but Ollie Bright was superb in goal and was named top player on the day. Samuel Moffett, William Perkins and Ronnie Booth netted for under-11 Thunder as they hosted Bromley Green. Under-11 Hurricanes continued their good form against Herne Bay Harriers. Elliott Jones put in a composed performance, including a goal and an assist, to be named player-of-the-match, while Sid Biscoe, Ellison Gashi and Riley Hawkins also netted.
Felix Redman bagged four and Ethan Purcell added a brace for under-7 Hurricanes against Ramsgate Black.
Dexter Steyn secured playerof-the-match honours.
HERNE BAY HARRIERS
Herne Bay Harriers under-10s played another East Kent Youth League fixture at home to Total Football Development Youth on Saturday.
The Harriers took a deserved lead through a superb solo effort by Karl O’driscoll on the counter-attack as he carried the ball from his own half at lightning speed at the end of a tight first half.
The second half saw more sustained pressure on the Youth goalmouth until O’driscoll drilled in a second. Player-of-the-match went to defender James Musk for excellent coverage of the pitch and use of the ball to help Herne Bay play out from the back.