FOOTBALL ROUND-UP: CATALIN SPARKS STRIKE FORCE COMEBACK WITH SECOND-HALF DOUBLE BLAST

Faversham Strike Force claimed a hard-earned point from their trip to face Peckham Town in south east London on Saturday. The Force were looking to build on last week’s thumping win over Kings Hill in the Kent County League Premier Division and they made an excellent start – Tom Axford slotting a confident penalty into the bottom corner. The high-flying hosts soon exerted control, however, and raced into a 3-1 lead by the interval following a fiveminute triple goal blitz. Manager Gary Axford used half-time to regroup his side and they put in a magnificent second-half display to get back on level terms thanks to Dinu Catalin’s brace. “You know you’re in for a battle against the London sides and that’s exactly what we got,” said Axford. “They are a good team and this was an excellent test for us. Thankfully we passed it with flying colours and everyone should be proud of the effort they put in to get back into this match.” n Canterbury City’s Disability A team have started the new year with a flurry of 1-0 wins. Dave Martin became City’s first goal scorer of 2019, with a powerful shot to secure victory against Charlton Athletic. Nathan Russel showed tidy footwork to score the decisive goal against Maidstone United. Martin struck again, this time from the spot, as City beat Swanscombe Tigers but their winning run was ended by a goalless draw against Charlton Athletic Deaf. City goalkeeper Mark Bowman has yet to concede in 2019. The B team returned to action with a draw against top of the table Faversham. City started brightly with Lemare beating two Faversham players to put City 1-0 ahead before an unmarked Faversham player equalised from close range. City’s second game against RMB was a battle of the goalkeepers, with City’s Wright and his counterpart both producing a string of fine saves. Debutant Sam Slaughter and teammate Crosbie were the driving forces in game three, both scoring to help secure a 2-1 win. Wright was again man-of-the-match against SE Gulls keeping out possibly the best team in the league but City tasted defeat in their final game, losing 1-0 to Maidstone United. n Jude King claimed his side’s first hat-trick of the season as Canterbury City under-16s beat Betteshanger Welfare 9-1 to move off the bottom of East Kent Youth League Division 1. An early corner caused panic in the away defence and King slotted home. Ben Wiebe-williams then hit the bar, but King was on hand to tuck in the rebound. Archie Tennant then added a third and Jack Nickolson was was put through by Tom Franks to score a fourth. Welfare came out strongly for the second pulling a goal back, but debutant Josh Payne and WiebeWilliams added further goals for City. Alfie Ashdown set up Wiebe-williams and Dan Newton added City’s eighth goal before King completed his treble.

Joe Danton, Patrick Higbee, Josh Naylor, Ben Malone (C), Bailey Whitely, Jude King, Ben Wiebe-williams, Tom Franks, Josh Payne, Archie Tennant, Alfie Ashdown, Spencer Lela, Jack Cracknell, Dan Newton, Jack Nickolson.

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