Canterbury’s highs and lows

Southern Counties East League

Canterbury City’s Easter weekend saw the relegationthreatened Premier Division outfit involved in two 5-1 matches.

They were beaten at home to Punjab United last Saturday despite a Rob Lawrence goal but came out on top in their crucial bottom-of-the-table clash at relegated K Sports, two days later. Two-goal Henry Arnold, Seb Rowland, Lawrence and George Baker struck to leave City four points behind thirdbottom Holmesdale, having played three fixtures more. Boss Danny Lawrence said: “Against K Sports on Monday, we saw the side that we have become and put in a much better performance.

“We knew that they would start strongly and we needed to match their fight in the first 20 to 25 minutes because I know what the side has in terms of quality.

“We tweaked a couple of bits at half-time and saw a dominant display, second half, so I was really pleased.

“I said to the boys before the game ‘Let’s get three points and just take the season as deep as we can’ and who knows what might happen?” Canterbury visit promotionchasing Erith Town on Saturday. Faversham Strike Force took a massive step towards the Division 1 play-offs with a sixpoint haul from their weekend double-header. Consecutive draws had put Gary Axford’s men under major pressure but they found some of their best form this term without conceding a goal.

Striker Tom Barton was pivotal - first bagging both goals in his side’s 2-0 win at Lewisham before adding another two in their 3-0 victory over a Lydd side who started Monday second. Kane Taylor claimed the other. A triumph against second-bottom visitors SC Thamesmead in this Saturday’s final league game will see Faversham into the play-offs and Axford has called for great home support again after Monday’s match was watched by more than 150 spectators.

“These were two really tough games and to emerge with our first consecutive clean sheets of the season is a sensational effort,” he said. “We’re right back in contention now and I hope the town will come out in force and get behind us next weekend.

“The supporters were fantastic on Monday and could make the difference again.”