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Sevenoaks & District Football League Round–Up (06/10/07)
Premier Division
In the Premier Division Sevenoaks Town A cruised to a 6-1 victory over St. Lawrence at Greatness Park. Saints battled throughout and for the best part of the first half matched their opponents. Ben Agana put the A team ahead after twenty minutes play, a lead which was short lived since Saints drew level five minutes later though Jonny Turnbull. Just before the half time break a strike by Darren Briggs restored the A team’s lead and thereafter they never looked back. Joe Creasey scored a brace of goals, Briggs added a second while Ashley Cove also added his name to the score sheet.
Results at this early stage of the season can be topsy-turvy and there is certain proof of this fact at present. Halstead United returned to local action after taking an early exit from the Kent Junior Cup to record a 6-1 winning margin over visiting Sevenoaks Weald. In many ways it was a tale of missed chances for Weald while their opponents took full advantage of their scoring opportunities. In fact Halstead United scored twice during the opening five minutes, which gave them a distinct advantage. Although having one player red-carded the hosts never looked back with Dan Chick getting a hat trick and other credits coming by courtesy of Dan Peake, Chris Johl together with Richard Martin. Giles Thomas netted Weald’s consolation goal.
Nomads saw off the challenge of visiting Borough Green United to win 3-0 while Eynsford and Seal drew 2-2. Eynsford’s strikes came through David Pearson and Paul Foskett.
Keeper Paul Day was the hero for Kemsing United who hung on during the last quarter to earn a 2-1 success over Wilderpark at Raleys Field. Day made several close range saves and one memorable stop to thwart a powerful strike by the skilful Paul Burgess. Against the run of play Kemsing United took the lead just before half time when the Park failed to gain possession in midfield and the ball went out to the left where Ryan Standley surged forward to hit an unstoppable shot beyond the despairing Park keeper Mark Gouldsmith. A poor clearance by the normally reliable Gouldsmith went straight to the unmarked David East on the edge of the 18-yard area who gratefully accepted the gift, rounding the keeper to tap the ball into the open net. A good angled shot by Mark Landymore gave the Park a ray of hope but Kemsing United hung on to claim maximum points.
1st Division
The glut of goals which have been a highlight so far this season continued on Saturday with Hildenborough Athletic hitting the back of Westerham 3rd’s net no fewer than seventeen times. Hammers were left totally embarrassed as rampant Hildenborough, fielding several Reserve team players totally over ran their opponents.
Hildenborough Athletic, who thus take an early lead in Division One, had a number of regular first team players suffering from food poisoning, which meant they had to juggle with their playing staff, the result being they had to call off their Reserve team match against Chipstead A.
After an absence of three years Andrew Fox celebrated his return to football by hitting nine goals with Adam Davies following in the individual scoring stakes netting a hat trick. Also, on target were Joe Bransby, Andrew Cattanach, Matt Reeves, Mark Robertshaw and Julian Goff.
Kingsdown Racers and Halstead United Reserves produced a fine and entertaining match with the visitors twice going into the ascendancy. Danny Lynch from the penalty spot after Graham Hirsch had handled the ball, put Halstead United ahead only for James Rush to bring the scores level but before the break a goal by Russell Tompkins restored the visitor’s lead.There was not a lot to choose between the two teams as the game ebbed and flowed but Michael Brown levelled the scores to give the teams a share of the spoils.
Kirk Foran wrapped up the scoring stakes for AW London in the match against Dunton Green but by this stage of the proceedings they were already trailing 4-1 and facing defeat. Earlier the Green had gone into the ascendancy only for Steve Cotter level the proceedings from a free kick. An own goal then put the Green back in front and from then on they never looked back recording their second success of the season and moving them into third place in the league.
2nd Division
The declining fortunes of St. George's (Wrotham) continued as new boys Old Boars recorded an emphatic 9-2 victory. The only consolation for Saints who have already conceded 33 goals to date was that they doubled their score tally for the season.
As a result of Old Boars success they move up into third place in Division Two behind leaders Crockham Hill who encountered few problems against St. Lawrence Reserves to win 6-0 and Otford United 3rd who drew 2-2 with hosts Seal 3rd.
Close rivals Tonbridge Baptist Church and Hadlow Rovers shared the points from a 2-2 drawn encounter. Josh Marshall and Graham Towner netted for the Baptist Church while Riverhead United and Kingsdown Racers Reserves also shared the spoils drawing one goal apiece.
The loutish behaviour of Kingsdown Racers Reserves was again in evidence at Riverhead on Saturday and after several complaints last season they will be closely monitored during the ensuing weeks ahead. There is no room for such behaviour in local sport and if players are unable to conform and perform in a sportsmanlike fashion then they will not be made welcome in this Competition.
3rd Division
A hat trick by Kevin Nutton was the highlight of Kemsing United Reserves 5-0 win over Wilderpark Reserves. For much of the first half the match was closely contested but a fitter and more disciplined team finally got the upper hand. Chris Wood scored twice to complete the scoring. Nutton will have been pleased to have notched a hat trick against his former club. Left full back Lewis Turner and midfielder Neil Barnes had particularly good games. The undefeated victors thus take an early lead in Division Three followed by Chipstead B.
Despite taking charge of the first half and moving into a 3-0 lead against Westerham 4th, Chipstead B were forced to hand on during the latter stages of the match as the Hammers scored twice to reduce the deficit. Earlier goals by Tom Wearn, Dean Taylor and Will Porter Bean had put the villagers into the ascendancy.
A freak goal by Dave Owens after just five minutes play gave Ightham Reserves a narrow win over Potters FC who in turn failed to capitalise on a number of good scoring opportunities.
There were comfortable victories for Borough Green 4-1 over Tonbridge Baptist Church Reserves whose consolation goal came by courtesy of Rob Mardell and Nomads Reserves against Seal 4th and Orpington 4th who entertained struggling Ide Hill Reserves.
