Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
City trophy hopes sunk by substitute’s treble
S Counties East Lge
Canterbury City could count themselves unlucky after seeing their hopes of a first appearance in a Kent Senior Trophy final ended with a 3-0 defeat by Ashford United at Homelands on Saturday. Their quest for an elusive first win in matches between the two sides goes on, City having now not won in 10 meetings. Ben Smith’s side had defender Patrick Nzuzi sent off for a second yellow card three minutes into the second half and were down to nine men – with Ollie Brown off the field receiving treatment – when United hat-trick man Adrian Stone broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining. The United substitute added two more in 60 seconds in stoppagetime. Smith’s side deserved more, with Nzuzi’s dismissal a key moment in the semi-final. City had done well to hold out, until the prospect of extra-time beckoned. Club officials claimed Nzuzi’s red card was soft, feeling a lot worse had gone unpunished by referee Chris Myatt, who also showed yellow cards to Alfie Nunn and United trio, Rory Hill, skipper Stuart West and Shaun Welford. Nzuzi had a difficult afternoon, being booked only 13 minutes in, for a foul on lively winger Ryan Palmer, who had an assist in all three United goals and his departure put City under even more pressure. However, they dug in and resolute and disciplined defending frustrated Ashford, with Nick Shaw pushing Ben Davisson’s shot over. He also pulled off a fine save to deny Jason Goodchild. Palmer and Hill then hit the woodwork, before match-winner Stone came off the bench with 21 minutes left. He headed in the first and sidefooted the second from close-range, before drilling home the third. City hit the bar late on but a determined effort against the odds proved not enough. Two of City’s games have been re-arranged for next month. They host Erith & Belvedere on Wednesday, March 15, and visit Croydon on Wednesday, March 29, both games kicking-off at 7.45pm. City aim for a fourth successive Southern Counties East League Premier Division away win when they travel to Lordswood on Saturday (3pm).