West Kent Sunday Football League Report – Thursday May 8^th, 2008

West Kent Sunday Football League – Junior Cup Final


Sporting        2    Tunbridge Wells Foresters        2
Sporting won 4-1 on penalties

For the first time in the history of the WKSFL Junior Cup penalties were required to separate the sides after 120 minutes of excellent action at Culverden Stadium writes Andrew Newman.

The two finalists have enjoyed good seasons in Division Four with TW Foresters still in with an excellent chance of the title. And they signalled their intent early on in front of a bumper crowd by taking the lead on ten minutes through Alex Carey. Sporting began to get a share of possession but were rocked when Foresters increased that lead via Matt Parsons. The half time break came at the right time for Sporting who needed to regroup.

And regroup they did in the second half getting the early goal necessary give them hope of mounting a comeback. Marc Oakley made it 2-1 and this inspired Sporting who had the better of the second period. In the end the pressure told with Oakley breaking down the left and his low shot gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Extra time saw the sides again evenly matched and both had chances to perhaps claim victory. Goalkeepers Dan Brisefer (Sporting) and Josh Kneebone (Foresters) both made good saves to keep their sides on terms and penalties soon seemed inevitable. Sporting took the first one and converted whilst there was drama with the first Foresters penalty. Brisefer stopped this with his feet only for referee Steve Seymour to award a re-take after consultation with his assistant. And Brisefer made a similar save to give his side the advantage, which they never ceded. Another Foresters penalty was blazed over the bar while Sporting converted all four of theirs to claim the cup amidst much celebration from their players and fans.

Division Two

Blantyre House made no mistake in securing the points necessary to take the Division Two title and an instant return to the top flight writes Andrew Newman. They were in midweek action against Dormansland Rockets Reserves and initially found their opponents putting up a spirited performance. The Rockets did take the lead but Blantyre were on terms by the break before scoring five unanswered goals in the second period. Ryan Herrick (3), Leon Duffy (2) and Dwayne James were their marksmen.

East Peckham Predators entertained near neighbours Paddock Wood United and won 5-2 thanks in main to a hat trick from Tom Haines. Sam Crisp and Scott McGuire were also on target for the hosts with Alex Emery getting both the visiting goals.

Division Five

There was plenty of action in Division Five during the week with Biggin Hill ‘A’ confirmed as champions with six points in two days. They won on a Tuesday night at AFC Foresters Reserves with Jon Chorley (2) and Justin Vaughan (2) sharing the goals in a 1-4 success. They returned home two days later to face Tonbridge Town knowing that a victory would secure the title. But in the end they did not have to kick a ball for that to happen with the visitors unable to raise a side.

Elsewhere Bank Holiday Monday saw Crowborough Town Reserves entertain Southborough Reserves with the latter coming out on top thanks to a brace from Ricky Johnson.

The news was better for Crowborough, 72 hours later as they beat Insulators ‘A’, 3-1 at Goldsmiths. Alex Crouch (2) and Tom Wood were on the mark for the Crows.

On the same night Rusthall Rangers Reserves entertained AFC Foresters Reserves at Colebrook with Rangers claiming the points. Paul Hazelden (2), Aaron Harris and Ralph Loveridge each found the net in a 4-1 scoreline.

West Kent Sunday Football League – Senior Cup Final

Gardeners Arms 3 Kemsing United 2

Artois United, Jarvis Brook and King William IV can sleep easy as their roll call of WKSFL Senior Cup winners from outside the top flight will not be added to writes Andrew Newman.

Division Two outfit Kemsing United gave it a good go at Culverden Stadium in the glorious sunshine but Gardeners Arms came back from a 1-2 deficit to win 3-2. A drab opening saw Kemsing create the best chance but Benji Agana could not convert. And it was Gardeners that broke the deadlock when Karl Smith prodded home a loose ball. After the break, Kemsing enjoyed their best spell and scored twice in quick succession. Firstly Dave East met a left wing cross and put it back across Gardeners goalkeeper Ben Carter and into the net. Soon after another cross from the left was headed home brilliantly by Agana who rose between two defenders and got enough power to beat Carter.

At this point Gardeners looked shell-shocked and they needed to respond. The Tonbridge side showed why they have been a force in the WKSFL for a number of years by doing just that, as Lee Cooper was put through and he made it 2-2. With the game heading for extra time a free kick was floated into the Kemsing penalty box and Jon Loveday rose to send a looping header into the net for the winner.

On the final whistle WKSFL council member Geoff Mills presented the Senior Cup to Gardeners captain Stuart Pyne.

West Kent Sunday Football League Report – Sunday May 11^th, 2008

Division One

Ramsfield ended their Division One season in mid table with a 3-1 defeat of Insulators writes Andrew Newman. Lawrence Jeffrey gave them a half time lead with the Paddock Wood side responding after the break and drawing level through Adrian Bird. A Gareth Keeves effort into the top corner put the Rams back in front with Keeves then crossing for Jon Walter to get the third.

This Sunday sees the championship decider between Pembury Sunday and Simla at Woodside, Pembury with a 10.30am kick off.

Division Two

FC Sporto put themselves in pole position to grab runners-up in Division Two by beating champions Blantyre House, 4-1 in their final game. This means that Kemsing United need to win all four games of their double headers against Rusthall Rangers and Insulators Reserves by a margin of 19 goals to pip Sporto on goal difference. Sporto did as much as they could by defeating Blantyre with goals from Phil Betts (pen), Simon Groves (2) and Steve Mandaluff while Darren Moore replied for the Goudhurst outfit.

Pembury Sunday Reserves remain in the hunt for third place after their 9-1 hammering of Rusthall Rangers. There were hat tricks from Mark Boorman and Barry Leete while Scott Evans (2) and Tom Gent were also on target.

The closing weeks of the season has seen Armada in as good a form as any team and on this basis they could mount a challenge for the top-flight next campaign. Their penultimate fixture saw a 2-4 win at Paddock Wood United where Tim Warran-Smith, Ant Child and Andy Young were amongst the goals. Scott Golding and Ben Martin were the United marksmen.

Division Three

Division Three champions White Hart Wadhurst signed off with a 1-12 defeat of Hadlow United leaving them six points clear of second placed AXA Monarchs having dropped only three points all season.

There were also plenty of goals at Biggin Hill Reserves albeit more evenly spread around as the hosts beat Hawkhurst United, 7-5. Casey Ham (2), Alan Smith (2) and Ben Sands were on target for the Hawks.

Farm confirmed a third placed finish with a 1-2 success at Crowborough Town. When the pair met in the semi-final of the Intermediate Cup it was Town that prevailed but this time Farm came through, thanks to a late winner from Anis Yahyaoui. Biffa Martin had put the home side ahead only for Dean Squires to respond within two minutes in a game where both sides missed penalties.

Division Four

All roads lead to Colebrook (10.30am kick off) this Sunday as TW Foresters entertain Tonbridge Origin with the Division Four title up for grabs. A draw will be enough for Foresters despite them being held last Sunday by Sporting. In a repeat of the Junior Cup final that took place less than 72 hours earlier it was Foresters that took the lead before Marc Oakley and an own goal put Sporting in front. Back came the home side to take a 3-2 lead and it looked likely to end that way until Bes Bardhoshi grabbed a late equaliser for the visitors. Alex Carey (2) and Jamie Pither were on target for Foresters.

Meanwhile at Paddock Wood, visiting Tonbridge Origin kept their title hopes alive with a 1-3 success. Paul Smith got the goal for the hosts.

Division Five

Third place in Division Five is still up for grabs with Pembury Sunday ‘A’ leading Southborough Reserves by one point with both having a game to play. The former were 4-0 winners over Tornado’s last weekend courtesy of Matt Weeks, Jamie O’Connell, Richard Stanton and Jamie Richardson.

Southborough took all six points from their double header against Insulators ‘A’ scoring ten times without reply. Appearing on the scoresheet at various points were Michael Powell (4), Andy Murrell (3), Dave Shaw and Chris Crouch (2).

Champions Biggin Hill ‘A’ also faced a double header against Rusthall Rangers Reserves with both games ending tightly. After a goalless first fixture, Biggin Hill won the second game, 0-2.

Crowborough Town Reserves finished their season on a high note with a 2-0 defeat of Tonbridge Town. First half goals from Andy Scott and Craig Longhurst gave Town the spoils.

Division Six

There were seventeen goals at the Division Six fixture between Brenchley Reserves and Cross Keys United. Highlight for the hosts was a hat trick from Nathan Anderson while James Woodgate were extremely proud of his first goal of the season for Cross Keys as they ran out 5-12 winners. And Woodgate’s team may have set a record in finishing second from bottom in the table yet managed to record a +9 goal difference over the eighteen games.