Kent U16 Finish Season With Victory Over AFA

Amateur FA 1 - 2 Kent FA

Kent FA U16 representative side concluded their season with a 2-1 victory at Colney Heath against the AFA.

With a chance to still claim the Title if Sussex slip up in their remaining matches, it was important for Kent to finish their campaign strongly and claim the three points.

The Kent squad included Charlie Edmundson for the first time this season following Injury whilst Adam Jones returned having missed out with Injury against London in the last match but Bobby Dunn missed out having had stitches put in a nasty cut suffered the day before the game. Kent Manager’s Ian Varley & Lee Suter demanded a fast start from their side and that’s exactly what they got as within the first five minutes the AFA had to defend well from dangerous crosses played in by Gerald Sithole & Perri Iandolo. The early pressure paid off in the 9^th minute with the opening goal, George Nikaj picking the ball up just inside the AFA half and played a delightful through ball to Gerald Sithole who beat the onrushing keeper to slot the ball into the bottom corner. Perri Iandolo then flashed a free kick inches wide as Kent looked to double their lead in a dominant opening 15 minutes. The hosts gradually got a foothold in the game and created two half decent chances but neither caused any real concern for Kyle McLeish in the Kent goal. With time ticking down towards the Interval Kent struck a second goal, Kayden Turner playing in George Nikaj who finished well for his third goal in two games for his County to send his team into the interval with a 2-0 lead.

It was the AFA who had the first chance of the second half but the chance went narrowly wide of substitute keeper Liam Northwood’s post. Kent came close to getting a third goal as Kayden Turner fired wide from the edge of the box. Adam Jones was excelling in a midfield role and substitute Charlie Edmundson almost made an immediate impact as he was denied twice in the space of 30 seconds by the Home keeper with Kent seeking to put the game to bed. Harry Sargent then headed inches wide form a Kayden Turner free kick and almost immediately the AFA reduced the deficit when the ball was forced home after a goalmouth scramble to set up a frantic last quarter of the match. With just under twenty minutes remaining Kayden Turner was again denied, this time by the post as his rasping free kick rattled the upright and this was then followed by Perri Iandolo whose cross sailed over the keeper but landed on the roof of the net. AFA pushed forward in search of the equaliser which left gaps in their defence but Kent failed to capitalise on this, however the Kent defence was solid which enabled them to manage the remainder of the game and secure the victory which confirms a minimum of second place finish in the table.

After the match, delighted Management duo Ian Varley & Lee Suter said ‘We're really pleased and proud of the boys today, to win 4 out of 5 matches is a great achievement and hopefully it’s enough to win us the League. Also really pleased that the boys have stuck together, to play a short number of matches over a long period of time is tough and to get 12 points out of 15 is a credit to them. A very positive and bright start to the game and they had to dig deep in the second half but they stuck together and we’re looking forward to taking them forward to the U18 side next season’.

Kent FA: Kyle McLeish (K Sports FC), Sid Gurung (Dover Athletic FC), Patrick Jackson (Bromley FC), Adam Jones (K Sports FC), Harry Sargent (Dartford FC), Malik Adekunle (Kent Football United FC), Robbie Roberts (K Sports FC), Kayden Turner © (Bromley FC), George Nikaj (Dover Athletic FC), Perri Iandolo (Maidstone United FC), Gerald Sithole (Kennington FC), Billy Edwards (Dartford FC), Dan Watson (Dartford FC), Caleb Edorh (Tunbridge Wells FC), Charlie Edmundson (Dartford FC), Liam Northwood (Maidstone United FC).