Harlequin leave it late

Faversham Harlequin produced an upset to beat St Stephens in the Canterbury League Charity Shield at Salters Lane last Friday.

Harlequin were promoted from Division 2 to Division 1 last season but were handed the spot in the curtain-raiser against Premier Division opposition as Harlequin’s senior side have become Faversham Strike Force and joined the haart of Kent County League.

The Thanet side took a first-half lead in a game of limited chances at either end but Harlequin levelled 10 minutes from the end of normal time when Lee Marsh turned in a corner.

With no further chances before the end of 90 minutes, the game went into extra-time which proved an even affair without much in the way of goalmouth action.

Quins’ Sam McDonald suffered an awkward fall after a 50-50 challenge and suffered a broken elbow, causing a lengthy stoppage and leaving his side, who had used all their substitutes, to complete the game with 10 men.

It was during added time at the end of the second period of extra-time and with penalties looking inevitable, that a Jay West set-piece found Marsh again to secure the first silverware of the season.

The St Stephens, hoops, and Faversham Harlequin

teams with officials before the Charity Shield

match at Salters Lane last Friday. Left and right,

action from the game