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West Kent Sunday League Report – Sunday 18th December 2016
NEWS UPDATE - WKSFL SEMI-FINAL DRAWS
The draws were made at this week's management Committee meeting for the
Semi-Finals of the three WKSFL Cup Competitions. Dates to be arranged.
SENIOR - Simla v Armada; Tonbridge Origin or Rusthall Rangers v Dormansland rockets
INTERMEDIATE - Gardener's Arms v Rusthall Club Athletic; Pembury v Green Lane
JUNIOR - Crowborough Town v FC Grinstead; Rusthall Club Athletic v Bricklayer's Arms
We arrive at the last report before two weeks off for Christmas and New Year
in the fairly remarkable situation of most teams being half way or
more through their League fixtures. There has been almost no disruption
because of bad weather, especially where in past years rain from early
November was making pitches too wet to use for weeks at a time.
If this carries on when we resume on 8th January, the Fixtures Secretary
will be in the unusual position of having to arrange a S****g C*p. Don't blame me if there is six feet of snow coming.
WKSFL Intermediate Cup Third Round
Green Lane will be joiningPembury , Rusthall Club Athletic and Gardener's Arms in the semi-final
draw of the WKSFL Intermediate Cup. They made the long trip up to
Bromley to meet SE Spitfires and
returned after a 4-1 win. Two goals from Tom Welch and one each from
Matt Brown and Aaron Dawson did the job. Sean Ludlam scored Spitfires consolation.
Division One
Rusthall Rangers once again
failed to play their game. A meeting of the Management Committee is due
to discuss the issue of the club as a whole. Check back for any
amendments to the league table later. For the time being I have not
added three points to Dormansland Rockets total, whom they were due to play.
Artois United remain at the top of the table, on goal difference, after a narrow 3-2 win against Insulators.
However, as you can see below, only three points separate the top four,
so it's all to play for. Insulators contributed to their own
demise with an own goal, Tim Maynard and Connor Morrow scored Artois'
others. Artois led 1-0 at half time and were the better side. Insulators
came into the game more in the second half and equalised with a fine
goal by Scott Penfold. There were a couple of good saves from the Artois
keeper while Insulators had a good spell, but Artois added a second
after about 65 minutes and another with fifteen minutes remaining. Both
sides hit the woodwork, before a late Penfold penalty made it 3-2.
However, Artois ran out winners and probably just deserved it.
Tonbridge Origin maintained their challenge via a narrow 3-2 win against Armada.
Division one's top scorer Myles Lowden added one to his total, Ant Kent
and Rob Littlejohn were the other scorers. Keith McCormack scored both
for Armada.
Simon Hammond, having scored four for TW Foresters
Reserves last week, returned to a more normal situation and this time
round scored four for Forester's first team in their 8-4 win at home to Goudhurst United.
There was a hat-trick also for Forester's Steve Johnson, with Garry
Hughes strike making up the eight. Goudhurst United hadn't scored four in
one game all season until Sunday, a brave effort featuring two goals
from Will Mantle, one from Michael Peevor and one also from James Found.
The first set of fixtures after our 'winter break' sees Simla v Artois United, a key match up if ever there was.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Artois United |
11 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
45 |
17 |
28 |
25 |
| 2 |
Tonbridge Origin |
11 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
42 |
19 |
23 |
25 |
| 3 |
Simla # |
10 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
43 |
11 |
32 |
24 |
| 4 |
Insulators |
11 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
36 |
17 |
19 |
22 |
| 5 |
TW Foresters |
12 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
37 |
40 |
-3 |
16 |
| 6 |
Armada |
8 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
12 |
18 |
-6 |
8 |
| 7 |
Dormansland Rockets |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
31 |
28 |
3 |
7 |
| 8 |
Blackham & Ashurst |
9 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
17 |
41 |
-24 |
7 |
| 9 |
Goudhurst United + |
10 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
15 |
59 |
-44 |
6 |
| 10 |
Rusthall Rangers |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
30 |
-28 |
0 |
Division Two
Pembury Sunday take over at the top of Division Two after a big 6-0 win at Woodside over Cassidy's Phoenix.
Cassidy's win last week against Paddock Wood broke their goal drought
of four successive games without scoring, but the drought returned this
Sunday. Pembury Sunday, for their part, hit six for the third time this
season and are as yet unbeaten in the League. Steve Harper, the
Division's top scorer, scored twice as did Marc Wyles. Matt Rice-Tucker
and Charlie Johns scored numbers five and six, while in goal Charlton
Farrell kept his fifth WKSFL clean sheet of the season. He is second in
that little competition behind Ben Carter of Gardener's Arms. Something
will probably have to give on 8th January, when Division two's Match of
the Day will see Gardener's Arms meet Pembury in another very important
game.
Paddock Wood's leaky defence (they haven't kept a clean sheet so far this season) proved their undoing when they were held 2-2 at home by Brenchley.
Stefan Draper and one of the Dan Greens (senior or junior, I do not
know!) scored for the Wood, Tom Lowe and Mike Williams' goals for
Brenchley gave them a welcome point.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Pembury Sunday |
9 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
31 |
6 |
25 |
25 |
| 2 |
Gardener's Arms |
8 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
33 |
8 |
25 |
22 |
| 3 |
Paddock Wood |
11 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
27 |
28 |
-1 |
19 |
| 4 |
Green Lane |
8 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
18 |
18 |
0 |
11 |
| 5 |
Cassidy's Phoenix |
10 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
17 |
27 |
-10 |
11 |
| 6 |
Hawkenbury Sunday |
9 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
18 |
22 |
-4 |
8 |
| 7 |
Brenchley |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
20 |
35 |
-15 |
8 |
| 8 |
SE Spitfires |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
26 |
-13 |
7 |
| 9 |
Langton Green |
9 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
24 |
31 |
-7 |
5 |
Division Three
The top two both won, but Tonbridge Invicta came unstuck at Green Street
Blues who, with games in hand, moved up towards the top.
Big win win of the day was for Crowborough Town, who put seven unanswered goals past St John's Yard
at the Hilbert. That was the second game in a row that Yard have
conceded seven without scoring, which does their goal difference no good
at all.
On a pitch a lot smaller than Crowborough were used to it took a while
for their players to settle down and St John's Yard could easily have
scored a couple of early goals. For one of the home side's chances it
was, once again, a really remarkable save by visiting 'keeper Ryan Hunt
that kept a very close range header out. Gradually the visitors started
to adapt their game and after ten minutes Matt Pickett was in the right
place to tuck away a square ball from the right wing to open the
scoring. Although the home team's defence defended strongly, after
sixteen minutes it was a little too strong and for the third week in
succession Crowborough were awarded a penalty which Leon Fisher duly
converted. For the rest of the half St John's kept the very quick Town
attack at bay and the score stayed at 2 - 0 to the visitors
In the second half, as Crowborough were fielding seven players over, or
close to, 40 years old, the smaller pitch suited them down to ground.
Leaving the younger players to do any necessary running the short
passing game suited the veterans and it produced another five goals.
First of all youngster Marcus Alexander added the third goal and five
minutes later Pickett scored his second and Town's number four. Not to
be outdone, and to cap a very impressive display, Alexander then hit a
brilliant shot from well out side the area for his second, and to make
it 5 - 0. To their credit the home side refused to give in and continued
to battle hard, only for the 'battle' to once again give Town a penalty
from which Pickett sealed his hat-trick, his third of the season. With
Town fielding all their substitutes, the game became a little disjointed
although Hunt never looked like 'losing' his clean sheet and Fisher
managed to score his second of the game and bring the goal-scoring to an
end.
But Bricklayer's Arms are still top of the table after beating Speldhurst Rangers
3-1. This week the Bricks travelled to Speldhurst hoping for an
improvement on last week's smashing 9 nil victory at home to Speldhurst.
An easy win was looking likely as Speldhurst started the game with just
nine men.Two minutes in, Rob Gordon slots past the keeper from three
yards only to be ruled offside by the ref. Sadly, the Bricks run of
brilliant form had seemed to come to an end. Speldhurst looked the
better team, defending well and breaking the Bricks back four at times
before managing to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute, scoring from a
long throw in. Some mis-communication between´keeper Alex Gunn and
defender James Goold left Gunn flailing the ball onto Speldhurst striker
Sam Richardson, who duly scored. Deservedly the Bricks went in one down
at the break .
There was a stern team talk from a bewildered and frustrated manager
Terry Harman. Did the players get the message hidden some where in the
profanities? Only time would tell.
The Bricks started stronger in the second half, but still playing sloppy
football trying to force something to happen. Finally, in the 63rd
minute, Danny Lawrence delivered a venomous cross reaching Tommy
Mulcahy, who headed home. This seemed to be what the Bricks needed as
they started finding some form
On the 70th minute, a poor goal kick by the Speldhurst keeper scuffed
the ball to Ben Freeman, who darted down the wing firing in a cross
which was met by a surprised James Bodkin. he miraculously directed the
ball into the top corner. How much he knew about it we will never know
A few minutes later, Freeman rode three Speldhurst challenges on a
run up the pitch, before firing past the keeper for number three.
The Bricks managed to retain possession for most of the remainder of time, but failed to do any more with it
Green Street Blues put a dent in Tonbridge Invicta's
hopes of honours with a narrow 3-2 win at Tintagel Road. Two goals from
Callum Heath and one from Tom Wilken saw them home against Invicta, for
who the scorer was Joe Williams both times.
Whatever magic potion was administered in mid October to the players of Rusthall Club Athletic continues to work. They clocked up their eighth successive win in WKSFL League and Cup matches with a good 5-2 win at home to Ticehurst Village Club.
Five different names were on the scoresheet for the home Club, namely
Jamie Law, Geoff Ashcroft, Rob Johnson, George Webzell with a penalty
and James Scott. The away Club scorers were Rob Briley and Adam
Brotherwood.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Bricklayers Arms |
11 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
44 |
15 |
29 |
27 |
| 2 |
Crowborough Town |
12 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
43 |
22 |
21 |
25 |
| 3 |
Tonbridge Invicta |
11 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
35 |
19 |
16 |
19 |
| 4 |
Green St Blues |
9 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
24 |
16 |
8 |
16 |
| 5 |
Paddock Wood Reserves |
11 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
17 |
29 |
-12 |
13 |
| 6 |
St John's Yard |
12 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
24 |
52 |
-28 |
13 |
| 7 |
Ticehurst Village |
11 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
25 |
33 |
-8 |
11 |
| 8 |
Rusthall Club Athletic |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
21 |
15 |
6 |
10 |
| 9 |
Speldhurst Rangers |
11 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
17 |
49 |
-32 |
2 |
Division Four
The Division Four title looks to be going the way of TW Foresters Reserves, but FC Hayward aren't giving up the chase just yet. The gained a very useful win at Insulators Reserves which sends them up into second place. Perhaps a win for Hayward was on the cards. Insulators Reserves had
won only one of their four home league games before this one, while
Hayward had won two out of three on the road. The outcome was a 4-0 win
for Hayward, all hte goals coming in the first half. It was thanks in the main to a hat-trick from Zak Pollard. Dave
Fowler added the fourth, while Antonio Santos kept the clean sheet in
goal.
An excited report from TW Ridgewaye, who having scored five last week and went three better this, scoring eight against Tonbridge Casuals. The 8-1 win represents the biggest win of their short time in the league.
A great way to go into the Christmas break for
Ridgewaye as they ran in 8-1 winners at Skinner's Field. A tight first
half saw Ted Thomson stab home a goalmouth scramble to put the home side
1-0 in front and this was added to by a delicate
chip over the keeper by Ben Adams which was finished off by George
Blake for 2-0. Casuals grew into the game and managed to pull one back
through veteran Mark Whorlow, after a miscued defensive clearance. Half time score of 2-1 to
Ridgewaye. The first half gave no hint of what was
to come as the home side took control of the game within the first
eight minutes of the restart with three well worked goals.
Ben Adams dipping shot beat the Casual´s keeper for 3-1 before
George Blake finished off a flowing attacking move for
4-1. Then Max O’Neill met an in-swinging Adams corner for 5-1. Further goals from Josh Higgins with a blistering shot,
a second from Max O’Neill and a final flourish from
Ridgewaye’s Captain, Jack Birdsall, rounded of the scoring and gave Ridgewaye
the 3 points that their hard work deserved.
Tonbridge United are battling away in the basement and not giving up. They met Tonbridge Origin Reserves
in the Longmead derby and lost 4-1. Stephen Parsons was their only
scorer, for Origin it was one each from Levi Caruan and Connor
Sutherland, plus two from Dean Larter. That's three games unbeaten now
for Origin, after a fairly poor run during October and November.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
TW Foresters Reserves |
10 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
51 |
19 |
32 |
27 |
| 2 |
FC Hayward |
10 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
34 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
| 3 |
Insulators Reserves |
11 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
33 |
30 |
3 |
18 |
| 4 |
AFC Six in One |
11 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
54 |
39 |
15 |
14 |
| 5 |
FC Grinstead |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
28 |
25 |
3 |
12 |
| 6 |
Tonbridge Origin Reserves |
9 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
28 |
30 |
-2 |
12 |
| 7 |
TW Youth (Ridgewaye) |
11 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
33 |
59 |
-26 |
10 |
| 8 |
Tonbridge Casuals |
12 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
21 |
41 |
-20 |
8 |
| 9 |
Tonbridge United |
8 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
29 |
-23 |
4 |
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