Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Burgess brace the highlight of impressive first half
A first-half Debbie Burgess double helped in-form Faversham Strike Force Women to a 5-2 victory at Betteshanger Welfare in SE Counties Kent Division 1 East on Sunday. Burgess scored in the first minute after a delightful Maddy Chapman through-ball. That momentum was maintained, with Diba Artingstoll converting a second and Burgess adding another before the interval after the hosts had briefly reduced the arrears. Defenders Jade Hynes and Kimi Bolden ensured Betteshanger never got a foothold on the game.
The second half saw a change in personnel up top - with Millie Wallace leading the line, assisted ably by Emma Brown who had clinched a bronze medal for England Deaf Futsal’s team in Brazil a week earlier. The irrepressible duo scored and assisted each
other’s goals, with help from a clever dummy from Eve Chappell for the fifth. A serious-looking late injury to a Betteshanger Welfare player was the only thing to sap the Force’s momentum as they climbed to second.
Matt Corr had a goal ruled out for offside as the under-15s slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Ramsgate Green. Luca Simler was player-of-the-match. Under-14 Thunder fell to a 6-2 defeat at Dover Rangers, in which the highlight was two fantastic solo goals by Will Jones. Sammy Laker was player-of-the-match. Harry Baldwin claimed a brace - one a penalty - but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 4-2 loss for under-14 Lightning against Deal Town Rangers. Under-13 Thunder played some exceptional football as they ran out 4-0 winners over Herne Bay Harriers thanks to Dexter Willmott, Ethan Hickford, Alfie Rickwood and Joshua Piercy. Skipper Ethan Whelan was player-of-the-match. Ethan Gilbert netted for under12 Thunder at East Kent Cobras, Jayden Fryer was player-of-the-match. Under-11 Thunder shone against Eastry Ravens as Kian Gardner picked up player-ofthe-match honours for his superb creativity.
There were braces for Oscar Connor, Freddie Parker, Leo Hudson and Mateo Maloneyleal, and a Riley Edwards goal. Under-11 Lightning were also in the goals with doubles for Charlie Elliott-hare, Ellison Gashi and Sid Biscoe. Finn Crawley, Archie Collins and player-of-the-match Zakk Ellis also found the net. Darcy Magee scored and was a constant thorn in the side of Roseacre Raiders as she was named under-9 Lionesses’ top player. Nancy Neale put in a blistering display featuring a goal from the halfway line. Under-8 Lionesses were on top form against Whitstable Town with fine strikes coming from Amelia Wicks and Madeleine Smith and Roisin Duffy - their two best players on the day. Nicola Western was heroic in defence, too.
Ethan Purcell scored a double hat-trick for under-8 Hurricanes against Hernhill Herons Yellow, as he was named the game’s best player. Anton Mamrych, two-goal Connor Reeves and Dexter Steyn, with his first goal for the club, also struck.