Author: KYL ADMIN

Margate FC and Herne Bay High are delighted to invite players to our first trial for The Gate’s Boys Academy on Thursday 21st February 2019 from 10am to 12pm at Hartsdown Park. 

If you’re looking at your post-16 education options, why not come down and find out more?

The academy is unique in that it offers footballers the chance to train and play full-time without making any compromise on their academic ambitions.

Players have a wide selection of A levels and BTEC qualifications to choose from with 42 different courses on offer for Academy players, which surpasses the offer from many other local Sixth Forms. 

Alongside this, the squad of players will compete at the highest level outside of the professional game in compete in the National League U19 Alliance League.

Any player interested should register for the trial via footballacademy@hernebayhigh.org

Full applications can be made now via www.kentchoices.com. Our online application window opens from 22nd November 2018 – 1st February 2019.

Click here for further information. You can also call 07395 791761 or email footballacademy@hernebayhigh.org.

Dover Athletic Football Club in partnership with The Abbey School 6th Form.

GET REWARDED

–  Fifty per cent of our Sixth Form gained university places in 2010

–  Highest number of top grade GCSE’s with 36% of students achieving GCSE grades A*-B

–  Vast choice of academic and vocational studies appealing to a wider range of student skills and abilities.

BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY

–  Extra curricular activities including sports clubs, music, performing arts, computer clubs and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.

–  Extensive visits and journeys programme within the UK, Europe and America

–  Community Sports Centre for student and community use open 7am to 10pm.

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS LINKS

–  ‘Football Academy’ status in partnership with Dover A.F.C raising standards of football coaching in the medium and long term.

–  Industry Standard restaurant open 2 days per week, overseen by highly qualified chefs supporting students through their BTEC.

–  Four business incubator units used by local businesses supporting the GCSE and A level lum with their expertise.

WHAT NEXT

–  On site Connexions Kent & Medway careers advisors

–  Aim Higher programme to help young people get into higher education

–  High quality care and guidance provision.

–  6th Form College offering . ……  in conjunction with….

Football Academy trials

Wednesday 20 February 10.30am

• The Football Academy represents Dover Athletic FC in the National Youth league, the highest league outside professional status.
• Coaching from UEFA ‘A’ licensed coaches
• Train everyday
• Academy players study a range of courses alongside their football commitments
• Excellent progression routes
• Wide range of A Level, BTEC or International Bacclaureate courses
• Opportunity to take additional Coaching and Fitness Instructor courses
• Study 3 A levels/ BTEC’s or GCSE subjects depending on your GCSE results
• Excellent academic results
• Travel grants available to all students living outside Faversham.

If you are interested in attending the trials please email:

msandmann@abbeyschoolfaversham.co.uk or call the school on 01795 532633 

Adrian Swan

Phoenix Sports Youth 2 v 3 VCD Athletic Youth

1-0 Debenham(28), 2-0 Holland (35), 2-1 Akram (51), 2-2 Akram (72)

2-3 Baldwin (86).

Despite the recent wet weather the pitch was in excellent condition for this local derby between Phoenix Sports and VCD Athletic.

This game was the proverbial game of two halves with the home side leading 2-0 at half time but three second half goals from their near neighbours saw them take the points and the local bragging rights.

With the slick condition of the playing surface both sides resorted to taking pot shots from distance and both keepers had to be alert to this danger.

On four minutes the hosts went close to opening the scoring when Frankie Holland squared the ball across to the edge of the box where Jake Thornton’s fierce drive had visiting keeper Harrison Carnell-Davis diving full length to his left as the shot flashed narrowly wide.

Minutes later VCD’s Liam Spellward hit a long range effort over before shortly afterwards his 25 yard free kick hit the Phoenix defensive wall and nearly wrong footed Phoenix keeper Harry Hepworth who had moved right but quickly adjusted his feet and saved well diving low to his left.

On 19 minutes Phoenix’s Holland tried a long range shot that Carnell-Davis held moving to his right before another long range free kick for the visitors from Spellward forced Hepworth into a save catching the ball high to his right.

Phoenix then made the breakthrough on 28 minutes when Holland’s low free kick from wide right was turned home by Ryan Debenham low to the left of Carnell-Davis.

Phoenix then made it two on 35 minutes when a long ball forward from Thornton eluded Alfie Scully and fell to Holland who raced through on goal and slotted home low to the left of Carnell-Davis.

The visitors almost hit back immediately as Stacey Petrou made space well on the edge of the box but his low shot was saved by Hepworth diving to his right.

Minutes later Phoenix went close to increasing their lead when a long ball forward from Jimmy Grant released Holland in on goal but this time his rising drive was saved by Carnell-Davis diving high to his right and pushing the ball out to safety.

On the stroke of half time VCD had a half chance when James Ashley’s right wing cross was well brought down by Petrou on the edge of the box but his shot on the turn flew just wide of the target. 

The visitors then reduced the arrears early in the second half with a rather scrappy goal when Ashley’s left wing corner was missed by Hepworth as the ball flew to the far post where it was knocked back into the crowded box where Jeshurvn Akram forced the ball home from close range.

VCD were then unlucky not to draw level on 55 minutes when Petrou’s 25 yard free kick flew over the Phoenix defensive wall beating a stretching Hepworth high to his right but clipped the bar before flying over.

Suddenly it was all VCD as they searched for an equaliser and they went close to scoring again when the skilful Ross Craig’s through ball found Petrou’s run into the box but his low drive was well saved by the finger tips of Hepworth diving to his left for a corner.

Petrou then forced Hepworth into another save when his back header from Ashley’s free kick saw him stretching high above his head to catch the ball. Harrison Baldwin then tested Hepworth with a long range shot that the home keeper held moving to his left before he made an even better save high to his right to palm over Craig’s powerful long range dipping shot.

However from the resulting corner again taken by Ashley from the left, the visitors drew level when the ball flew over to the far post where it was nodded back into the crowded box where again Akram was first to react to force the loose ball home from close range.

VCD having drawn level had their tails up and went in search of a winner but were unlucky to hit the bar again when almost straight from the re-start they won the ball back which was quickly played up to Baldwin on the edge of the box. He took a touch and then hit a rasping drive that beat a diving Hepworth high to his right but rattled the woodwork before flying out to safety.

Phoenix then had their first shot on target in the second half when Grant hit a long range shot that Carnell-Davis held moving to his left. Into the final minutes of the game both sides had chances to take the points.

On 81 minutes the lively Petrou made space well before hitting a 30 yard shot that Hepworth held moving to his left. The home sides Holland then tested Carnell-Davis with a long range effort that the VCD keeper pushed away diving to his left.  VCD then went closing to taking the lead when another fine pass from Craig put Petrou in on goal but Hepworth was quickly off his line to make a good close range block.

VCD’s holding midfielder Thomas Cecil then forced Hepworth into another save when he dived to his right to parry his shot from the edge of the box.

However VCD’s pressure finally told on 86 minutes when another deft pass from Craig put Joe Carey away down the left and he pulled the ball back across goal where Baldwin slotted home from close range.

The last chance of the game fell to VCD’s Petrou when he had another low shot saved by the busy Hepworth.

Adrian Swan

Kent FA Youth 4 v 0 Jersey FA Youth

1-0 Kingsford (50) (pen)), 2-0 Ishola (70), 3-0 Kingsford (88), 4-0 Isola (89).

Kent maintained their perfect start in this year’s South East Counties ‘under 18’ Youth Championship with an excellent win against previously unbeaten visitors Jersey to put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the knock out round of the competition.

Despite the recent wet weather the 3g pitch at Sevenoaks Town was in fine condition and played well throughout.

The first half was a tight cagey affair with not much to choose between the teams but a few tweaks from the Kent management at half time meant that Kent dominated the second half for long periods and ran out worthy winners.

It was the visitors who had the first shot on target on 4 minutes when Thomas Harris fired in a 30 yard shot that Kent keeper Ben Folkard took comfortably. Minutes later Kent’s Freddie Entwistle tried his luck from a similar distance but his shot whistled over the bar.

Kent might have taken the lead on 14 minutes when another fierce drive from Entwistle deflected off a Jersey defender into the path of Ryan Kingsford who with only Jersey keeper Josh Jehan to beat dragged his shot wide of the target.

After this the game settled down to a bit of a midfield stalemate. Jersey then had a couple of chances on the half hour mark when firstly Sol Solomon curled a 25 yard free kick over the home defensive wall that Folkard moving to his right was able to claim before Harris made a strong forward run at the heart of the Kent defence evading a couple of tackles before hitting a low shot that flew narrowly wide of the target.

Just before half time Kent also had a couple of chances from left wing corners taken by Jacob Gilbert, the first of which was pulled back to the edge of the box where Harrison Pont volleyed wide and the second sent deep to the far post where a stretching George Porter could only turn the ball over.

Kent started the second half brightly and were awarded a penalty on 49 minutes when Pont’s run into the box was halted when he was up-ended by James Sunley.

Kingsford took the spot kick firing home low to the right of Jehan, who dived the correct way but was beaten by the power of the shot.

The hosts almost made it two shortly afterwards when Gilbert’s free kick from wide right found Pont rising highest in the box but his towering header was held by Jehan high above his head.

Another  fine Gilbert delivery from a right wing corner then picked out Cameron Williams whose header flew straight at Jehan.

Just after the hour mark the Jersey defence were giving their first indication of the searing pace of debutant Hamid Ishola when he raced through onto Pont’s lofted pass over the visitors back line, easily outpacing the covering central defenders, as he made his way into the box and although his low shot beat the advancing Jehan to his left it ran just the wrong side of the post.

Minutes later Entwistle’s pass found Ishola down the left and he again engaged the after burners as raced away from the covering defenders into the box but this time Jehan was quickly off his line and managed to make a good close range block for a corner.

Jersey’s Solomon then made space well on the edge of the box before drilling a low shot narrowly wide before Kent got their second on 70 minutes with a fine solo goal from Ishola. Picking the ball up on the half way line he pushed it beyond his marker and raced through on goal, leaving several desperate Jersey defenders in his wake, before calmly slotting home low to the right of the advancing Jehan.

It was now all Kent as they pushed their dispirited visitors back. Entwistle’s left wing cross found Kingsford in the box but his header flew over before Kingsford tried his luck with a curling free kick from wide left of the area that Jehan saved moving to his right.

The icing was then put on the cake for Kent as they scored twice in the dying minutes.

On 88 minutes Scott Jarvis’s free kick from the half way line found Kingsford in the box and rising highest he scored with a trade mark centre forwards header guiding the ball back across goal and home low to the left of Jehan.

Then a minute later it was four as Beau Landau’s through ball put Ishola  in on goal and although Jehan managed to block his initial shot on the edge of his area, the ball spun up and Ishola off balance then showed great skill and awareness to hook the bouncing ball over the stranded keeper into the net.

Adrian Swan

Holmesdale Youth 2 v 3 Metrogas Youth

1-0 Lewer-Smith (5), 2-0 Stevens-King (53), 2-1 Williams (74),

2-2 Williams (86), 2-3 Hamouchene (87).

This match was really a tale of the goalkeepers.

In the case of the visitors Metrogas, their keeper Pedro de Silva had a superb game making numerous saves to keep his side in the game whilst the home side Holmesdale, were lacking  a keeper and utilised two of their outfield players during the match.

The first of which was totally competent but his replacement was not so and was culpable in all three of the visitors goals.

Holmesdale started the game with their Captain and midfield maestro, Omar Belazregue donning the gloves and he was largely untroubled during the first half as the home side dominated proceedings.

They took the lead after only 5 minutes when William Keene’s through ball found the speedy Nathan Lewer-Smith who raced through on goal before calmly slotting home low to the right of the exposed de Silva.

Minutes later the same combination almost created a second goal when Keene’s left wing cross found Lewer-Smith at the far post but his hooked shot on the turn flew narrowly over.

On 11 minutes another fine crossfield pass from Keene released Lewer-Smith down the right and he cut into the box before having his close range shot blocked by de Silva diving low at his right hand post for a corner.

Shortly afterwards Holmesdale missed a glorious chance to make it two when a lofted pass from Reece Stevens-King over the Metrogas back line put Lewer-Smith in on goal but with only de Silva to beat he fired wide of the target.

It was then the turn of the lively Keene to go close when he made space well on the edge of the box before hitting a low shot that de Silva blocked to his right with his legs for a corner.

Keene then tested de Silva again minutes later with a rising shot that the Metrogas custodian saved high to his right for another corner.

Keene’s pass then put George Squires-Clark in on goal but de Silva made yet another good save this time low to his right to deny the Holmesdale player.

Keene was then put through on goal himself by a Squires-Clark pass but also shot wide when well placed. This profligacy in front of goal from Holmesdale was to come back and haunt them later in the game when the visitors took full advantage of the few chances they created.

However on 19 minutes it looked as if the hosts would finally get their second when Sulaiman Bangura’s close range shot was blocked by de Silva with the rebound falling to Lewer-Smith who swept the loose ball goalwards beating the visiting keeper to his right only for Donovan Gabriel to clear it off the line to safety.

Lewer-Smith then got through on goal minutes later but again de Silva made another good close range block to thwart the Holmesdale striker.

Holmesdale then decided to make some substitutions to give everyone a game but the changes seemed to upset their rhythm.

For the visitors their chances in the first half came from long range shots from Amin Hamouchene and Jay Reed both of which were comfortably saved by Belazregue.

The final chance of the half on 43 minutes fell to the home side when Ryan Brown’s pass sent Lewer-Smith away down the left and he raced through before cutting back into the box and hitting a fierce drive that de Silva saved superbly diving high to his left palming the ball onto the bar and over.

Holmesdale continued on the offensive in the second half and doubled their lead on 53 minutes when Keene’s left wing cross fell to Stevens-King at the far post and he tucked the ball home low to the left of de Silva.

At this stage the home side were comfortably in control of the game but then came the turning point.

Again to give everyone a game Belazregue swapped goal keeping duties with one of his colleagues and from then things unfortunately went wrong for Holmesdale albeit not immediately.

On 61 minutes Belazregue’s deft pass put Squires-Clark in on goal but de Silva produced another good save low to his right to turn the ball out for a corner.

However on 67 minutes it should have been three when Keene got through on goal only for his close range shot to be blocked by de Silva but the rebound fell kindly for Kane Black who with an open goal at his mercy fired over.

More substitutions were made by both sides but suddenly it was the visitors who took control of the game.

On 73 minutes Khalifa Dieng hit a swerving 25 yard shot that the stand-in home keeper missed high to his left but fortunately for him it crashed against the angle of post and bar before flying out to safety.

Clearly the Metrogas players noticed his nervousness and adopted an almost shoot on sight policy.

Hamouchene drilled in a low shot that the Holmesdale keeper unorthodoxly kicked away to safety before they scored on 74 minutes.

Hamouchene’s free kick from wide right to the far post was headed back across for Finley Williams to tuck home from close range.

Metrogas kept pounding the home goal but the hosts stood firm until the 86 minute when a long ball forward from Ken Kerr was headed on by Reed for Williams to again score from close range.

However worse was to follow for Holmesdale a minute later when there was pinball in the home box before the loose ball finally fell to Hamouchene who drilled in a low shot that the stand-in keeper dived over as it flew into the bottom corner of the net.

The crest fallen keeper was immediately replaced by Belazregue and despite Holmesdale pumping several balls into the visitors box they stood firm to record their first victory of the season.                

Adrian Swan

On a bright sunny if chilly day at Corinthian FC, Kent won their opening game in the South East Counties ‘under 18’ Youth Championship against a battling London side.

Kent dominated the match for long periods and might have won by a far greater margin if it hadn’t been for some profligate finishing and good goal keeping from London keeper Tommy Kemp.

Kent playing down the slope in the first half had their first chance on 8 minutes when Jake Sunborg’s in-swinging corner from the right found the head of Baily Sinnock in the crowded area but his downward header  was cleared away off the line by a London defender guarding their right hand post.

A minute later another Sunborg right wing corner flew through to the far post where Cameron Williams rising highest nodded narrowly wide.

A good interchange on 12 minutes from Scott Jarvis and George Robinson saw Jarvis’s through ball put Robinson in on goal on the right side of the area but his low shot flew wide across the face of goal.

Minutes later another incisive pass from Jarvis inside the full back found the run to the bye line of Robinson whose cross flew through the box to the far post where Sunborg laid the ball back to Ryan Kingsford who in turn found Beau Landau who fired over when well placed.

Another chance went begging for the home side on 20 minutes when Freddie Entwistle’s ball over the London back line was seized upon by the speedy Robinson who then raced into the box but in trying to chip the advancing Tommy Kemp, he sent his effort over the bar.

Just before the half hour mark Landau’s free kick from wide right found the run of Robinson to the near post but his header flew just wide of the target.

Kent finally made the breakthrough on 36 minutes when again good work by Jarvis and Robinson down the right saw Jarvis play the ball up to Robinson who initially turned to his right deceiving two London defenders before playing a delightful back heel flick onto the run of Jarvis who ran through on goal before neatly chipping the ball over the advancing Tommy Kemp into the net.

Just before half time it was nearly two when good passing and movement from Kingsford and Robinson saw the latter find Landau whose fierce drive on the turn was well saved by Tommy Kemp high to his left for a corner. This was taken again by Sunborg and found the run of George Porter to the near post but his powerful header was kept out by a combination of Tommy Kemp and a defender low at their left hand post.

London kicking down the slope in the second half had their first shot on target on 46 minutes when Omar Belazregue hit a long range shot straight at Kent keeper Wayne Everest.

On 52 minutes Kent’s Harrison Pont tried a 35 yard shot that flew just over before London might have equalised on 59 minutes when Belazregue’s pass found the lively Nathan Gale who in turn found the run down the left of Tafari Jallim.

He powered into the box but with only Everest to beat he sent his shot into the side netting when well placed. This miss proved doubly costly as Kent scored their second just minutes later when Jacob Gilbert’s cross field pass found the run into the box on the left side of the area of Craig Appleby and he scored with a tidy lob over the London keeper into the net.

London tried to hit back immediately with Gale having a shot on the turn held by Everest moving to his left.

It was then the turn of Kent to go close to increasing their lead when Kingsford’s through ball put Entwistle in on goal on the left side of the area but his rising shot was well pushed over by Tommy Kemp diving high to his left. London then had a good spell of pressure going close to scoring on a number of occasions.

Reuben Matheson’s right wing cross found Belazregue in the box but his powerful low shot on the turn was well saved by Everest down at his left hand post.

Then Matheson’s pass found Jallim racing in on the right edge of the box but his rasping drive from an acute angle flashed wide before Gale’s through ball found Lekan Orimousi, who had only just come on and with his first touch fired a shot just wide.

On 73 minutes Orimousi took a 25 yard free kick that Everest saved well diving low to his right.

However having survived this spell of pressure Kent then managed the remainder of the game well with a series of substitutions taking the sting out of the London attack.

Indeed the last chance of the game on 89 minutes fell to the home side when Gilbert’s free kick from wide right to the near post was met by a stooping header from Robinson that brought out a good diving save from Tommy Kemp low at his left hand post.                    

Adrian Swan

This was a tightly contested match in the first round of the Kent Youth League Invitational President’s Cup which saw the visitors VCD Athletic prevail by a single goal against hosts Cray Valley on a misty night at Badgers Sports Club.

Both sides worked hard throughout to create openings but for the most part both defences reigned supreme.

VCD ‘s Thomas Cecil had the first real chance of the game on 14 minutes when spotting home keeper Tommy Kemp off his line, he tried an audacious shot from all of 40 yards that had the Cray custodian back pedalling towards his line as the ball drifted narrowly wide of the target.

Cray had a chance themselves on 19 minutes when a Lewis Cotter free kick from wide left of the area was cleared out to the edge of the box where Ethan Okechukwu’s shot on the turn flashed just wide of the goal.

The first meaningful save of the evening came on 28 minutes when Cray’s Bruno Ribeiro hit a dipping shot from wide left of the box that forced VCD keeper Harrison Carnell-Davis into a good diving save low at his right hand post. On 38 minutes VCD’s Harrison Baldwin tested Tommy Kemp with a shot on the turn that he held comfortably before minutes later Stacey Petrou’s long range effort was more challenging for him, bouncing just in front of him forcing him to parry the ball away before pouncing on the loose ball. The home side started the second half brightly and had two early chances to take the lead.

Oladipo Ogunmeakan did well to win the ball in midfield and then quickly play the ball up to Okechukwu who raced through on goal but with only Carnell-Davis to beat he sent his shot skimming over the bar.

Minutes later Eddie Nwafor’s pass put Okechukwu through on goal again and this time he tried a low shot but it flew narrowly wide across the face of goal.

These missed opportunities were to come back to haunt the home side as on 54 minutes the visitors scored what was to prove to be the winning goal when a Dominic Vincent-Edwards right wing cross found Cecil on the edge of the box and he took a touch before calmly slotting home low to the right of the diving Tommy Kemp.

On the hour mark it was nearly two for the visitors when their dead ball specialist Liam Spellward curled a 25 yard free kick over the home defensive wall and beat a diving Tommy Kemp high to his right but the ball smashed against the bar before rebounding off to safety.

The home side then had a good spell of possession but could not make any in-roads against the visitors defence in which centre half Umar Adeyoola was immense. Into the final minutes of the game the hosts went close to taking the game into extra time when Samuel Blunden’s right wing corner was met by a close range downward header from Mineh Orogun that forced Carnel-Davis into a low save to his left parrying the ball away to safety.

Then into stoppage time a breakaway from the visitors saw Cecil put Joe Carey through on goal but he dragged his shot wide when well placed before Cecil tried along range shot that flew just over.

With six minutes of stoppage time played the home side’s last chance of the game saw Morgan Clarke try a speculative long range shot that Carnell-Davis saved high above his head.  

The Kent Youth League is proud to join the Kent FA, Premier League and The Football Association to once again take part in the Stonewall Charity campaign running from 17^th November until 2^nd December.

The campaign’s purpose is to amplify the conversation around making football inclusive for everyone; whether you are a fan, player, manager, coach or referee.

Please see below ways you can you get involved:

• Most colourful football session: Take a picture of your rainbow sessions and get it on social media remembering to tag @KentFA  and #RainbowLaces.
• Most colourful football match day: Challenge your clubs to can get as many rainbows shown during one of the 3 activation weekends (17^th/18^th November, 24^th/25^th November or 1^st/2^nd December).
• Pledge your support: Get your staff, coaches, managers, players and parents/spectators signing the ‘Let’s make sport everyone’s game’ pledge which can be found in the attached documents.
• Educate everyone: See below link to Stonewall’s Rainbow laces tool kit which is a brilliant resource you can share with officials, club & league staff, players and parents/spectators to educate on LGBT issues and how to make your club more inclusive:

https://www.stonewall.org.uk/resources/rainbow-laces-sports-tool-kit

Resources available to you:

• Opportunity to have your badge ‘rainbowed’ for social media purposes via the twibbon using this link (please only do this once the campaign has started on 17^th November):
• You can request an activation pack from The FA by emailing charlotte.richardson@kentyouthleague.co.uk for you to use and share to help with amplifying support for activities.
• Click here for access to more digital resources to download.

Adrian Swan

This was an excellent victory for Glebe against K Sports in the second round of the KitToFit Challenge Cup and although the final result looked comfortable for the home side they were pushed hard throughout by their opponents.

After an even start it was the home side that took the lead on six minutes through a stunning strike from midfielder Zak Emmings, who picking the ball up on the wide left some 30 yards from goal, he cut inside and then unleashed a powerful dipping shot that flew over the outstretched arm of the back pedalling K Sports keeper Nicky Tolhurst into the net.

K Sports tried to hit back immediately with midfielder Charlie Roberts firing in a low drive that flew straight at Glebe keeper Ted McDonald before minutes later Roberts hit a long range free kick that McDonald gathered moving to his left.

A neat pass from Emmings then put Jack Porter in on goal but Tolhurst was quickly off his line to make a good block on the edge of his area.

A mistake in the home box then nearly gifted the visitors an equaliser when an attempted clearance was deflected straight to Jack Ward some 25 yards from goal. He controlled the ball well on his chest before hitting a first time volley that flew narrowly wide of the target. Glebe almost increased their lead on 19 minutes when Oscar Powell did well to win the ball on the edge of the visitors box and run through on goal, but spotting Tolhurst advancing off his line, he tried to chip on the on-rushing keeper but had insufficient height on his shot and Tolhurst was able to make a catch.

After this early excitement the game settled down into a bit of a midfield stalemate.

It was not until the 33rd minutes when there was another real chance of note and that was when K Sports’ Ward hit a swerving shot from wide left of the area that McDonald held moving to his left.

The visitors then pulled level on 39 minutes when Morgan Tasker turned well on the edge of the box and drilled home a low shot that beat McDonald to his left with the ball entering the net off the post.

K Sports then took the lead early in the second half when a Jake Bates corner from the right found the head of Sonny Cook rising highest in the box and although his powerful header beat McDonald high to his left, it rattled the bar sending the ball flying out to where Alex Selntigia was able to tap home from close range.

Glebe then went close to equalising on 56 minutes when McDonald’s long goal kick was headed into the path of Porter who raced through on goal but he hit his low shot too close to Tolhurst who was able to make a close range save.

However minutes later the hosts were level when Powell’s teasing cross from the right was bravely headed home at the far post from close range by a diving Jonas Whitmore low to the right of Tolhurst.

Just after the hour mark Glebe went ahead when Emmings played a free kick onto the run of Porter on the left side of the box and he took a touch before hitting a deft shot from an acute angle that flew across the face of goal, beating Tolhust to his left as the ball found the bottom far corner of the net.

Glebe’s Emmings then scored another spectacular goal as he picked the ball just outside the area and then drifted passed two defenders before calmly slotting the ball home low to the left of Tolhurst.

On 69 minutes the visitors went close to pulling a goal back when Bates whipped in a dipping free kick from wide left of the area that McDonald bravely diving forward managed to parry in the crowded box but the loose ball fell to Sam Newland whose hooked volley flew narrowly over the bar.

Glebe then promptly made it five on 72 minutes when Whitmore’s fierce free kick was parried by Tolhurst into the path of Porter who slotted home from close range.

Minutes later it was nearly six when Whitmore’s right wing cross was turned goalwards by Nathan Agyapong but Tolhurst managed to block his effort with his legs before the ball was cleared to safety.

Emmings then went close to completing his hat trick when he spotted Tolhurst off his line and tried an audacious shot from a 40 yard free kick that saw the ball sail narrowly wide as Tolhurst scrambled back to his goal.

The visitors then went close to reducing the arrears in the final minutes of the game. Selntigia had a low shot flash narrowly wide across the face of goal before on 86 minutes a Roberts free kick from wide left found Cook whose powerful header was well saved by McDonald diving high to his right, turning the ball over for a corner.

It was then the turn of Glebe’s Porter to go close to completing his hat trick when he had two chances late on in the game.

On 90 minutes he got onto the end of Whitmore’s right wing cross to hit a fierce volley that Tolhurst did well to save diving to his left before deep in stoppage time he did well to win the ball in midfield and then race through on goal but his rasping drive was well saved by Tolhurst diving high to his right for a corner.                          

First Round Draw

Dorking U18 v West Wickham Junior – 19:45 – 22/11/2018     

Three Bridges  v Whyteleafe FC – 19:45 – 30/11/2018   

Chatham Town Youth  v Sittingbourne – 19:45 –  27/11/2018                 

Faversham Town FC v K Sports Colts – 19:45 – 21/11/2018     

Margate FC  v Dover Athletic FC – 19:45 – 02/11/2018                     

Sittingbourne Youth FC  v Bromley – 19:45 – 6/11/2018                   

Cray Valley (PM)  v VCD Athletic FC – 19:45 – 15/11/2018     

Second Round Draw

Glebe U18 V Dorking U18  or West Wickham Juniors U18                                

Three Bridges U18 or Whyteleafe U18  v Cray Wanderers                     

Ramsgate FC U18  v Sittingbourne Red       SITTINGBOURNE WITHDREW – RAMSGATE BYE         

Chatham Town Youth U18 or Sittingbourne U16 v Faversham Town U18 or K Sports Colts U18      

Folkestone  v Margate FC U16 or Dover Athletic FC U18                                  

K Sports Youth v Hollands & Blair – 22/11/2018                    

Sittingbourne Youth U18 or Bromley U18 v Cray Valley (PM) U18 or VCD Athletic FC U18 

Margate FC U18 v Ramsgate FC U16

Adrian Swan

West Wickham eventually ran out comfortable winners against visitors Thamesmead Town on a wet and windy day at their Corkscrew Hill ground.

Despite rain falling almost continuously throughout the game, the pitch played very well and an exciting match of attractive football ensued which was well officiated by Referee Paul Agboola.

West Wickham playing down the slope and with the wind at their backs had the first chance of the game on 2 minutes when Ben Mortimer hit a long range shot just wide.

The visitors then took the lead on 6 minutes with their first attack when

Lewis Armstrong raced away down the right before whipping over a low cross that was flicked on by Jerrell Watkins into the path of Ryan Solan who slotted home low to the right of home keeper Louis Youles.

Minutes later it was nearly two when Ben Fridd’s free kick from wide right found the run to the near post of Axel Ahouzan whose glancing header deflected off a defender for a corner.

On 10 minutes West Wickham’s Charlie Smyth played a clever lofted pass onto the run of Tyler Dobson into the box. He showed good control to bring the ball down with his first touch and then with his second send the ball fly low to the left of Mead keeper Jordan Ireson but narrowly wide of the target. Mortimer then tried his luck with another long range shot that flew straight at Ireson.

Mead’s Jack Kelly then had a shot on the turn flash wide before the hosts drew level on 19 minutes through a spectacular goal from Smyth. Picking the ball up on the left edge of the Mead box he hit a rasping drive that flew like an arrow high to the right of the diving Ireson into the top corner of the net.

West Wickham then had a series of corners that the visitors managed to defend until the 25th minutes when Mortimer’s inswinging corner from the left was headed home from close range by Oliver Denham low to the left of Ireson.

Shortly afterwards with the rain having stopped briefly and the sun shining brightly, West Wickham scored their third with another spectacular goal from Smyth.

Receiving the ball just over the half way line he raced forward and then, perhaps spotting Ireson slightly off his line and with the sun in his eyes, he hit a dipping 35 yard shot that flew over the outstretched arm of the back pedalling Mead keeper into the net.

The visitors then reduced the arrears almost immediately scoring just after the half hour mark when Armstrong’s excellent defence splitting pass found the run into the box of the speedy Solan, who outpaced his marker as he raced into the box before neatly tucking the ball home under Youles from close range.

A minute later though West Wickham restored their two goal cushion when another excellent pass from Smyth put Dobson in on goal and he again showed good control before smashing the ball home high to the left of Ireson.

It was nearly five on 35 minutes when Robert Hinkley’s deep cross from wide right found the run of Mortimer to the far post who stretching could only divert the ball into the side netting. The last chance of the first half saw Dobson’s shot on the turn fly just wide.

After the all action first half the second took time to get going as the rain came back with a vengeance.

Unfortunately the first thing to note was on 55 minutes when Mead’s Luke Bollington stretching to make a tackle appeared to twist his knee requiring lengthy treatment.

After a 5 minute delay he had to be carried off the field on a stretcher with an ambulance arriving subsequently to treat him.

Back to the match it was the visitors who then had a good spell with Ahouzan’s through ball on 65 minutes putting Watkins in on goal but Youles, spotting the danger, was quickly off his line to make a good close range block on the edge of his area.

On a day for spectacular goals it was the Mead who got the next one on 71 minutes when Cole Gordon’s fierce 35 yard shot beat Youles high to his right to put the visitors right back into the game.

However any thoughts of a comeback were firmly squashed in the 78th minute when the hosts made it five when Smyth’s free kick was turned home by Mortimer high to the left of Ireson.

Into the final minutes of the game West Wickham scored twice more to put the icing on the cake.

On 87 minutes a neat passing move involving Smyth, Denham and Jonathan Kwakwa saw the latter set up Freddie Yeats to score from close range and then a minute later another deft pass from the impressive Smyth put Mortimer in on goal and he showed good composure to beat two defenders before firing home low to the left of Ireson.

Adrian Swan

Maidstone United Under 16’s continued their impressive start to the season with their fourth consecutive win defeating hosts Holmesdale 6-1 in the second round of the League Cup.

After an even start to the match it was the home side who had the first chances of the game.

On eight minutes Suhuyini Osman’s through ball had put Dennis Osei in on goal but his fierce shot was well saved by Stones keeper Liam Northwood for a corner.

From this taken by Lucas Torre the ball was cleared out to the edge of the area where Bethel Gboda struck a low effort narrowly wide. The visitors then started to get their passing game going and went close to taking the lead on 16 minutes when the lively Danny Partis made space well on the edge of the box before hitting a low shot that was well saved by Holmesdale keeper Jake Hennis.

Minutes later Hennis made an even better save to thwart Partis, after he had been slipped through on goal by a deft pass from Joshua Strouts, when he dived low to his right to turn the ball out for a corner. From this taken by Strouts the ball fell to Alfie Eyles whose shot on the turn flew just over.

On 22 minutes a great run by Sam Green almost gave Holmesdale the lead when he made a powerful mazy run at the heart of the Stones defence evading at least three tackles and getting through on goal but Northwood, spotting the danger, was quickly off his line to make a good close range block diving low to his left.

A minute later Holmesdale’s Osei hit a long range effort narrowly over before the hosts took the lead on 29 minutes from the penalty spot after Osman having got through on goal was upended by Ike Orji.

Osman took the spot kick himself and was fortunate to score as he scuffed his effort and although Northwood dived the right way low to his left he allowed the ball to bobble over him into the net.

Incidentally this was the first goal the Stones had conceded this season. However the lead did not last long as almost straight from the re-start Charlie Meade’s excellent low cross from the right flashed across the face of goal to the far post where it was tucked home by Bashri Ryan high to the left of Hennis.

Worse was to follow for the home side seconds later as from the kick off the ball was lost to Jack Palmby whose astute through ball put Partis in on goal and he made no mistake firing home low to the left of Hennis.

It was nearly three for the visitors on 39 minutes when Joe Abraham made a good run down the left before whipping over a low cross that Partis fired over.

In added on time at the end of the first half Holmesdale went close to drawing level when Osei made a strong forward run into the box, leaving Orji in his wake, but with only Northwood to beat his low shot flew  just wide of the target.

Early in the second half the speedy Abraham made another good run down the left before sending over a low cross that Meade fired into the side netting. Another good pass from Palmby then sent Abraham free down the left and he raced in on goal but his low shot was saved by Hennis diving to his right for a corner.

However Hennis was powerless to prevent the Stones going further ahead on 51 minutes when Scott Sanders hit a stunning shot from all of 35 yards that flashed home high to the right of the home keeper.

On 53 minutes the Referee Roger Wells, who officiated the match well, played a fine advantage allowing Ryan to continue his run through on goal after he had been fouled but Ryan’s shot flew narrowly wide of the target.

The Referee then booked the offender before restarting play. A minute later another slide-rule pass from Palmby put Partis in on goal but his low shot flew wide of the target. Partis then went even closer on 56 minutes when another fine Palmby pass put him in on goal but this time although his shot beat Hennis to his left the ball hit the post and bounced out to safety.

On 72 minutes Partis did get his second from the penalty spot after he had been brought down in the box by Mason Rutherford, converting the spot kick low to the left of Hennis who dived right.

Minutes later Strouts found the run into the box of Meade whose close range shot was blocked by Hennis.

Holmesdale’s George Olayanji then had a close range effort blocked by Northwood before the visitors added two further goals in the final minutes.

On 76 minutes Palmby’s pass put Meade through on goal but as he tried to dribble around Hennis he was fouled resulting in the award of another spot kick.

This was again taken by Partis, who slotted home low to the left of Hennis as the home keeper dived right, to complete his hat trick.

A minute later it was six as another Palmby through ball found the run of Meade who fired home high to the left of the exposed Hennis.

The Kent Youth League is delighted to announce it will be joining the Kent FA, The Premier League and The Football Association to once again take part in the Stonewall Charity campaign Rainbow Laces.

Taking place Mid-November to early December, the League is inviting Kent Youth League sides to join us by donning their Rainbow Laces to amplify the conversation around making football inclusive for everyone; whether you are a fan, player, manager, coach or referee. 

Any Kent Youth Leagues wishing to take place should register an interest by emailing charlotte.richardson@kentyouthleague.co.uk with the following information.

Club contact name:

• Club name:
• Number of laces required:
• Fixture laces will be worn for:
• Age group:

Clubs are requested to submit their interest by Friday Thursday 18^th October. We apologise for the short turnaround time but this is the deadline requested by The FA.

By Adrian Swan

By Adrian Swan

By Adrian Swann

Thousands of young footballers across Kent kick-started their seasons playing in the Kent Youth League on Sunday afternoon.

To mark the occasion, the county’s leading youth league teamed up with sponsors Stagecoach South East to gift each of the 199 League teams with a free Nike football.

Stagecoach South East is part of the Stagecoach Group and is one of the main bus operators in Kent.

They operate local bus services across the county and their services play an important role in helping people in rural and urban areas access work, education, health, shopping and leisure.

Thanks to Stagecoach’s generous support, each League team received their football ahead of the 2018/19 campaign. Including Margate FC and Folkestone Invicta Under 14s who came together before their game at Hartsdown Park.

Kent Youth League Chief Executive, Ken Brooke expressed both his delight and gratitude to Stagecoach.

“I am delighted to confirm an initial one-year sponsorship deal with Stagecoach for season 2018-19. Stagecoach have kindly agreed to purchase a Nike match ball for each team in the League which is a great idea to support all clubs and teams across the County.”

“Stagecoach are celebrating 25 years as a business in the county and I would like to thank Matthew and his excellent marketing team for making this possible. It is fantastic recognition for the League.”