Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
City’s fourth loss in five
Southern Counties E Lge
Canterbury slipped to 10th in Southern Counties East League, Premier Division after suffering a fourth defeat in five matches at Sheppey on Tuesday night.
Jordan Casey and Matt Martin drew early saves from Sheppey keeper Steven Lawrence but the deadlock was broken against the run of play three minutes before the break as the Ites broke from their own penalty area and scored through Remell Davis with their first shot on goal.
Martin equalised on the stroke of half-time but it was 2-1 to the hosts nine minutes into the second half when Davis grabbed his second past Jack Delo after a goalmouth scramble.
After picking up his first booking for a pull-back to stop a Sheppey break with 11 minutes to play, Joe Nelder was shown a red card with two minutes left.
Although Dave Pilcher’s last-minute free-kick drew a diving save, Timmy Babbington made certain of the points in the third minute of time added on with a fine finish.
It was second straight loss for City after they went down 2-1 at Beckenham on Saturday. Richard Atkins opened the scoring inside the first minute at Eden Park Avenue as Town broke after clearing a City set-piece.
Martin levelled nine minutes later from a Darren Marsden pass but the winner arrived three minutes before the break through Jake Britnell after City failed to clear a free-kick.
Two yellow cards in six minutes saw Gary Sayer sent-off as City failed to mount a comeback.
Whitstable also slumped to a second consecutive defeat in the same division on Saturday after a disappointing display against Chatham at the Belmont.
An early Oystermen free-kick was headed just wide by Danny Williams and then a defensive mix up gifted Whitstable a corner, although the home side were nearly caught out by a quick break when Chatham found themselves two-on-one and Lee Friend shot over when he should have done better.
Ricky Freeman tried his luck with a long shot that was easily saved by Ryan Nicholls while Dajon Golding broke clear again for Chatham but could only find the side netting.
A good cross by Freeman on 20 minutes was collected by Nicholls but Shaun Welford sustained a knee injury trying to get on the end of it and limped off.
Justin Ascheri shot straight at Dan Eason, while at the other end, debutant Chris Saunders was kicked in the head challenging for a ball in the Chats box and later needed eight stitches.
His replacement Louis Sprosen was thwarted by Nicholls and Ascheri fired wide while Eason held a Friend effort before the break.
After half-time, Williams headed at Nicholls and Macca Murray curled over before the breakthrough came on 58 minutes when Eason failed to claim a free-kick into his box allowing Friend to fire home the loose ball.
Murray was denied by Nicholls and Williams shot just wide but the hosts could not find a leveller.