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West Kent Sunday League Report – Sunday 30th October 2016
Division One
Artois United stay on top after their 2-0 victory against contenders Tonbridge Origin.
Both goals were scored by Stafford Browne. Artois United 'kepper Dave
Holdstock earned plaudits for his performance between the sticks, which
included one particularly outstanding stop.
Insulators travelled to Goudhurst
who didn't have a full team. However, they put up a spirited
performance despite ending the game with only eight players. It was 0-3
at half time and finished 0-8. Scorers were Martin Page-Mitchell with
three; Ash Steers three and two for Rob Butler. Max Bridges kept the clean sheet.
TW Foresters recorded their third successive league win and continue their rise up the table. They won 5-1 at Blackham & Ashurst
with two goals each by Luke Turner and Harry Hodgson. The fifth was
scored by Taylor Galvin. For the home side, the solitary goal was by Ben
Freeman.
Dormansland Rockets were unable to raise a team for their match against Simla, who have been awarded the three points.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Artois United |
8 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
33 |
11 |
22 |
19 |
| 2 |
Insulators |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
23 |
11 |
12 |
16 |
| 3 |
Tonbridge Origin |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
13 |
| 4 |
TW Foresters |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
22 |
16 |
6 |
12 |
| 5 |
Simla # |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
29 |
6 |
23 |
9 |
| 6 |
Blackham & Ashurst |
7 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
14 |
29 |
-15 |
7 |
| 7 |
Armada |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
4 |
| 8 |
Dormansland Rockets |
7 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
22 |
27 |
-5 |
4 |
| 9 |
Goudhurst United + |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
35 |
-29 |
3 |
| 10 |
Rusthall Rangers |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
22 |
-21 |
0 |
# three points deducted + three points awarded
Division Two
Gardener's Arms take over at the top after a 4-1 win at Brenchley. There was a hat-trick by Ant Goodwin and one goal from Karl Smith. Rich Sutton scored from the penalty spot for Brenchley.
Pembury Sunday did not have a
game, so they do have one in hand. They will return to the top if they
beat Paddock Wood next Sunday, while Gardener's are doing battle with
Cassidy's Phoenix in the Intermediate Cup.
Paddock Wood recovered from a run of three defeats in League and Cup to claim the points at SE Spitfires
with a 4-2 win. Spitfires are finding Division Two a bit of a struggle
but put up a good fight, scoring twice through Dan White and Dean Rhule.
Paddock Wood's experienced names of Troy Cooper (2) and George Bourne
scored, as did Kane Phillips.
The other two games were drawn, leaving three teams locked in mid table on eight points. Hawkenbury Sunday and Cassidy's Phoenix
shared six goals. For Hawks, Ashley Bell scored twice, Russ Anderson
the third. Phoenix marksmen were Vincente Terenti, Matt ferris and
Josh Ennis.
Green Lane and Langton Green drew one each. James Knight scored for the Lane, Pete Fairhurst for the Green.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Gardener's Arms |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
23 |
7 |
16 |
16 |
| 2 |
Pembury Sunday |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
20 |
4 |
16 |
13 |
| 3 |
Paddock Wood |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
16 |
17 |
-1 |
12 |
| 4 |
Cassidy's Phoenix |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
12 |
2 |
8 |
| 5 |
Hawkenbury Sunday |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
15 |
17 |
-2 |
8 |
| 6 |
Green Lane |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
15 |
-5 |
8 |
| 7 |
Langton Green |
7 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
22 |
19 |
3 |
5 |
| 8 |
Brenchley |
7 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
31 |
-18 |
4 |
| 9 |
SE Spitfires |
5 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
20 |
-11 |
1 |
Division Three
It's going to be quite a season in Division Three if things continue as they are! Leaders Tonbridge Invicta fell 2-1 at home to Green Street Blues,
who move up to third with two games in hand and just two points behind.
Rob Runciman scored for Invicta, but the damage was done by an own goal
conceded to the Blues to which Ash Birchruffell added the decisive
strike.
Crowborough Town returned to winning ways with a 6-2 win at Goldsmith's against bottom club Speldhurst Rangers.
Whilst Crowborough's player injury problem persisted Speldhurst had
problems of their own with a shortage of players. The home team eased
their problems with two new signings, whilst the visitors player
difficulty led them to start this game with just ten men on the pitch.
They were however up to full strength fairly soon after the start.
On a beautiful morning, perfect for Sunday football, the game was as
good as the weather. (Website comment : This is Crowborough weather we
are talking about! Cannot last!) Indeed, referee Mark Miller cannot have
had an easier, more friendly game, to handle for a long time. From the
kick-off Town pressed hard, but they found their opponents defending
stoutly until after fifteen minutes Jordan Vinall at last found the net.
With the new signings, Ashley Burrows and Stuart Lawson, fitting in
nicely Crowborough began to play some attractive football and it wasn't
long before Vinall grabbed his second. The home team continued to press
forward and with fifteen minutes of the half left this proved their
undoing when Speldhurst broke away to make the score closer at 2 -
1. Normally goalie, but playing outfield due to injury, Ollie Crees
found the back of the net. This appeared to shake Town out of their
complacency and more excellent approach work involving most of the team
saw the ball reach Leon Fisher and from 30 yards he beat the Ranger's
keeper to restore the two goal advantage
Half Time : CROWBOROUGH TOWN 3 - 1 SPELDHURST RANGERS
A well taken corner early into the second half saw central defender
Steve Palmer score his third of the season, all from set pieces and all
with his head. Now, with four substitutes on the 'bench', the
Crowborough manager began to ring the changes and bring on fresh legs.
This was a luxury denied Speldhurst, with just their bare eleven, but
they refused to make it easy for the home side and it was another
twenty-five minutes before Jordan Vinall could complete his hat-trick
and make it 5 - 1. Rangers still refused to lie-down and just accept
defeat and it needed a brilliant save from Crowborough keeper Ryan Hunt
to stop them adding to their score. Not to be denied, the visitors did
eventually break away again to score their second (Barney Mellors
getting in a good header) only to see Town retaliate from the re-start
when Leon Fisher grabbed his second with just seconds of the ninety
minutes to spare.
Meanwhile, the other Crowborough based outfit of Bricklayer's Arms kept up the pressure with a resounding 5-1 win at Paddock Wood Reserves. Having
lost the previous week a win was essential to stay in the frame.
Thirteen minutes in, Craig Bishop opened the scoring for the Bricks.
With Bricks having a few more opportunities in front of goal it still
wasn't until the 31st minute when a high cross from Dan Lawrence was
headed in by Harry Sansbury. Just a minute after the re-start Bricks
regained possession with Ollie Hyland playing a through ball, which took
a deflection of a defender before finding Sansbury for his second .
That made it 3-0 at half time.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Tommy Mulcahy finished in the top
corner from just inside the box to put Bricks four up. Eight minutes
later Paddock Wood pulled one back through Phil Abbott. Bricks
continued to dominate and Danny Lawrence found the net four minutes from
time, finally converting after hitting the post and the crossbar
earlier in the game.
At the bottom end, Rusthall Club Athletic seem to have turned the corner, picking up their second win in as many weeks. This latest success came at Ticehurst Village Club
by the narrow margin of 2-1. Both Rusthall goals came from Adam
Saunders, the Ticehurst goal was also scored by the visitors as it was
recorded as an own goal.
No games in Division Three next Sunday as attention turns to the Junior Cup.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Tonbridge Invicta |
8 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
25 |
13 |
12 |
15 |
| 2 |
Crowborough Town |
8 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
28 |
18 |
10 |
15 |
| 3 |
Green St Blues |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
| 4 |
Bricklayers Arms |
6 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
19 |
12 |
7 |
12 |
| 5 |
Paddock Wood Reserves |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
18 |
-5 |
10 |
| 6 |
St John's Yard |
8 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
19 |
29 |
-10 |
10 |
| 7 |
Rusthall Club Athletic |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
13 |
3 |
7 |
| 8 |
Ticehurst Village |
8 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
25 |
-12 |
7 |
| 9 |
Speldhurst Rangers |
6 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
11 |
27 |
-16 |
1 |
Division Four
The match between TW Ridgewaye and AFC Six in One
at Skinner's was abandoned after a spectator was taken seriously ill at
the side of the pitch. Without going into too
much detail, there was a ONE HOUR wait for the necessary ambulance,
during which time a member of the visiting side gave prolonged,
invaluable and very welcome first aid assistance. The game could not
continue. It has been announced by the Management Committee that the
score at the time of the abandonment will stand. That was ten-nil to AFC
Six in One. For the record, their scorers were Ryan Smith (4), Ben
Boodle (3), Ross Billyard, Dave Cherry and Aaron Jepson while Mark
Welsby kept the clean sheet.
First met second at Goldsmiths, but it was a 'no-contest' as TW Foresters Reserves ran out 5-0 winners against hosts FC Hayward.
Familiar names on the scoresheet were Dean Squires (2), Mark Inglis,
Tom Galvin plus Jon Sebbar. Brad Collins kept the clean sheet, his and
their third in a row. Collins has only recently signed for Foresters and has yet to concede a goal.
Insulators Reserves are level on points in third place but have played more games than their rivals. They overcame Hadlow United
5-2 at the Memorial Ground having gone behind early to a very well
taken goal from United's Jimmy Smith. The home side bounced back quickly
and two goals each from Reece Beecroft and Ben Johnson and one from
Lewis Disbury saw a half time score of 5-1. In the second half Hadlow
fought back, but were only able to reduce the deficit by a single goal,
again scored by Smith.
Tonbridge Casuals have drawn more League games than anyone else across all four Divisions. Their latest came at Tonbridge United, where the outcome was a 1-1 draw. Benie Dadzie scored for United, Hayden Jarvis for Casuals.
Finally, Goudhurst United Reserves, no doubt as depleted as the first XI, crashed to a mighty 16-0 defeat at FC Grinstead.
Grinstead's Harvey James has somehow managed to be credited with both a
hat-trick and a clean sheet in goal. The other scorers were Mike Parr,
also a hat-trick, two each from Mick Neatherway, Joe Moulding, Callum
Gardner, Rhys Whymark and one from Charly Harris. There was also an own
goal.
| Pos |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
TW Foresters Reserves |
8 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
42 |
14 |
28 |
21 |
| 2 |
FC Hayward |
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
26 |
11 |
15 |
18 |
| 3 |
Insulators Reserves |
9 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
28 |
18 |
10 |
18 |
| 4 |
AFC Six in One |
9 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
49 |
27 |
22 |
17 |
| 5 |
FC Grinstead |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
38 |
17 |
21 |
11 |
| 6 |
TW Youth (Ridgewaye) |
8 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
15 |
42 |
-27 |
9 |
| 7 |
Tonbridge Origin Reserves |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
18 |
23 |
-5 |
6 |
| 8 |
Tonbridge Casuals |
7 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
22 |
-12 |
5 |
| 9 |
Hadlow United |
7 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
24 |
-11 |
4 |
| 10 |
Tonbridge United |
7 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
10 |
25 |
-15 |
4 |
| 11 |
Goudhurst Utd Reserves |
7 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
10 |
36 |
-26 |
1 |
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