City bounce back from Cup defeat

FOOTBALL

Canterbury City manager Simon Pettit admitted it had been ‘a week of ups-and-downs’ after his side made it back-to-back wins in Southern Counties East League with a 2-1 win at Lordswood on Tuesday night.

Shaun Brown wasted the best of three first-half chances, beating the keeper but seeing the ball trickle past the post. Just before the hour, Pettit was beaten to a corner by Jimmy Humphris who put the hosts ahead.

Pettit replaced himself with Matt Adams and within moments Adams was sent through by Brown, only for the ball to get stuck under his foot as he tried to round the keeper.

Alfie Munday’s trickery earned City a penalty which was fired home by skipper Gareth Cornhill with 15 minutes left and the visitors continued to press for a winner.

Eventually, a direct ball from Nick Bagley drew the keeper, only for Brown to beat him to the ball and slot home.

In the dying moments, Munday beat three challenges before being brought down for a second spot-kick, though Pettit was annoyed when Cornhill allowed Munday to take it and the kick was fired straight at the keeper.

Just two days earlier, the team had been in the doldrums after a 5-0 humbling at Dorking Wanderers, in City’s first FA Cup appearance for 14 years.

The hosts progressed through the extra preliminary round tie to set up a clash with fellow Sussex County League Division 1 side Hassocks after opening the scoring on eight minutes and adding two more before the break.

The fourth arrived 14 minutes from time and a late fifth sealed a gloomy trip home for City, who had recorded a 2-0 win over Deal in their opening home game of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division season the previous Wednesday.

Danny Shearing fired home the opener before the break and Brett Mills kept the hosts ahead with a stunning penalty save and follow-up block eight minutes into the second-half.

With 10 minutes left, substitute Sam Reed burst down the right and crossed for Brown to control and fire past Nick Shaw to secure the win.

Pettit said: “To get two wins in the league is great but I was disappointed with the Cup defeat and I told the players that. I can’t put my finger on why we didn’t turn up.”