Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Seconds beaten again as struggles continue
THE 2nds’ struggles continued in London Premier Division with a 5-2 defeat at Reading 2nds.
Nick Buckingham and an own goal accounted for the city club’s tally.
Pilgrims are second in South League Kent/Sussex Regional 2 but had to settle for a 3-3 draw at Ashford 2nds.
Link opened the scoring from a penalty corner before the break but despite Lea adding a second from a penalty flick, the hosts rallied to lead 3-2 with eight minutes left.
The Ashford keeper kept the visitors at bay and Lea hit the bar before Johnny Webb fired the equaliser but Canterbury failed to capitalise on a last-gasp penalty corner.
Prebble scored twice and Neale and Oates got the others as the 3rds recorded a fine 4-2 win over Lewes 2nds to improve their survival chances in the same division.
The struggling 4ths suffered a 2-0 defeat at Old Williamsonians 2 to sit bottom of Kent Area Division 1 but Ben Hare fired a hat-trick and Simon Hare a double as the Millers cruised to a 5-1 win at Deal to stay second in Kent Open Premier A.
Keeper Chris Paine saved a penalty stroke. Millers: Chris Paine, Lee Hare, Roger Dunn, Chris Goulden, Chris Stephens, Neil Barnes, Simon Hare, Jason Weaver, Hidi Moro, Ben Hare, Mark Batchelor, Jolyon Miles.
The 5ths went down 3-0 at Bromley & Beckenham 6ths in Kent Open Premier C but the Griffins played out a 4-4 draw against Ashford Vets in Division 1 thanks to two goals each from Tim Ashenden and Hugh Verrier.
Graham Brown got two and Andrew Thrush the other as the Vets won 3-0 against Epsom in the Wessex Vets League.
Alex Williams bagged two as the Friars beat Sutton Valence 5ths 4-2 but it was skipper Tony Jones who stole the show with a goal the day after his 70th birthday.
Jim Senior got the other as Canterbury came back from 2-1 down to go seventh in Kent Open Division 3, with a guest appearance from Sean Kerly.
The under-14 boys eased into the regional round of the EHB tournament, putting 10 goals past Horsham and nine past Holcombe without conceding.
ELLIE KERLY scored the only goal for the Ladies 2nds as they lost 4-1 at West Herts in East League Premier Division.
A young 2As side put up a fight against Division 1 South leaders Broxbourne at Polo Farm before losing 2-0.
Fine work from keeper Aurora Mears and excellent defending by Moira Clewes kept the visitors out until 10 minutes from time, when Broxbourne opened the scoring and a penalty corner five minutes later sealed the points.
The 3rds saw their lead at the top of Kent Division 1 cut to a point after being held to a goalless draw by second-bottom Holcombe.
The city club were missing their regular forward line but still put Holcombe under pressure, although they could not break the deadlock.
Liz Boatman netted two as the 3As produced a fine display to beat Old Williamsonians 2nds in Division 2.
The city club were 3-1 ahead at half-time with Kate Berry and Gemma Luckhurst adding to Boatman’s double.
On Sunday, the Ladies over-35s booked their place in the National Cup quarter-final with a 4-0 win at Bromley & Beckenham.
Kellie Litchfield finished off a fine team move to open the scoring before Wendy Cameron deflected a pass from Alex Hooker into the top corner.
Jackie Laird’s excellent solo effort made it 3-0 at half-time while after the break, Moira Clewes fired in the rebound after a Mel Clewlow shot was saved.