Under 18Under 18's stalemate with AFA
Friday, 29 February 2008.
Kent County FA, Under 18’s entertained AFA in a must win game to ease the pressure of having to win their final two games against Surrey.
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be Kent’s night despite having one goal disallowed and the game produced very few chances.
The key moment of the game surrounded a disputed goal that wasn’t given after eleven minutes when a bizarre deflection from one of the AFA defenders took the ball back towards the AFA goal with the visiting keeper appearing to take the ball over the line. First reaction was that the assistant referee had waved for a goal, but on consultation with the referee, a free kick was given for a push on the goalkeeper.
The game struggled to find a real pattern, however, on 33 minutes Ben Brown brought an excellent double save from the AFA Keeper to stop Kent from taking the lead and on 44 Minutes, just before half time, Sam Callander just missed with a cross shot.
AFA created their best chance on the 44 Minute, when a shot fired near post and just missed, rather than going across the goalkeeper.
At half time manager Ian Docker made a substitution with Adam Oxberry replacing, Olly Funnell of Tonbridge off and the formation changed to include three Ebbsfleet players in attack and Kent playing a 4-3-3 formation.
On 63 Minutes Ian Brooke replaced Chris Kinnear and on 75 Minutes Harry Collins replaced Sam Callander as Kent strived for the all important goal.
Defensively the AFA were struggling to break Kent down, but Kent were also finding it difficult to create chances to test the AFA Goalkeeper.
In the 89 minute, Kent Captain Ashley Ulph took the free kick and was unlucky to see the ball just go over the cross bar.
Despite then throwing everything at it to get the winner Kent couldn’t break down the AFA defence and in the end the visitors would have been pleased with a point.
The result means that Kent have to beat Surrey at Leatherhead on Sunday and in the return game one week later to qualify for the final of the competition.
Kent County FA Squad: Luke Stonebridge, Charlie Akerman, Sam Kettle, Ben Brown, Thomas Parkinson, Ashley Ulph, Colin Richmond, Chris Kinnear, Sam Callander, Nick Nowotny, Olly Funnell, Jack Collins, Deren Ibrahim, Harry Collins, Ian Brooke, Adam Oxberry