Youth Cup vs Guernsey

Report: Kent FA 1 Essex FA 4

Kent bow out of FA County Youth Cup.

Our U18 Representative side bowed out of the FA County Youth Cup following a 4-1 defeat at the hands of their Essex counterparts.

Kent travelled to Aveley for the second time in four days on Sunday 8 December, having recorded a 3-0 success on the previous Wednesday night with the U16 side. Sadly, the U18s didn’t have the same success.

On a very wet and windy afternoon, things got off to worst possible start for Kent as they fell behind in just the second minute; a free kick from Jess Norey was headed home via the underside of the bar by James Hegerty. Essex were very much on the front foot and the dangerous Rashaad Ogun was denied twice as the hosts came close to doubling their lead. Kent slowly got a foothold in the game and Hamid Ishola, Harvey Brown and Lois Dos Santos began linking up well as an attacking threat, and it was Ishola who came agonisingly close to levelling the match on the half-hour. He used his pace and power to break clear down the left flank but his shot went across goal and inches past the far post. The half ended with Essex going close again, but it was just a one-goal lead they took into the interval.

Essex started the second half the same as the first, with an early chance, but Liam Northwood made a great save in the Kent goal to keep his side in the tie. This proved even more crucial as on 57 minutes, as Kent drew level with an outstanding goal. Lois Dos Santos was trapped by the corner flag but a brilliant piece of skill saw him twist clear and curl and wonderful strike that found the back of the net via the inside of the far post. Frustratingly for Kent, they let the lead slip almost immediately as Teejay Chiorora converted a low cross to put his side back in front. Kent were still very much in the tie and Hamid Ishola continued to be a handful for the Essex defenders and he shot narrowly wide from close range when well placed after good work from Lois Dos Santos.

Kent then thought they’d equalised only to see Essex 'keeper Jack Owen pull off an outstanding save to deny Cameron Williams, as he clawed away his header from the top corner. With Kent pushing forward in search of the equaliser they were vulnerable to the counter-attack and this proved so when, on 84 minutes, Essex sealed the tie with a third goal; substitute Obi Molefi converting from a Teejay Chiorora pass. Essex put the gloss on their performance in injury time with a fourth goal courtesy of Chiorora, who grabbed his second of the match.

Kent FA Squad: Liam Northwood (Maidstone United FC), Connor Cheek (K Sports FC), Luke Exall (Corinthian FC), Jacob Gilbert (Maidstone United FC), Cameron Williams (c) (Maidstone United FC), Jamie Watson (Bromley FC), Callum Rollings (Maidstone United FC), Harrison Pont (Hollands & Blair FC), Hamid Ishola (VCD Athletic FC), Lois Dos Santos (Chatham Town FC), Harvey Brown (Chatham Town FC), Perri Iandolo (Maidstone United FC), Malik Adekunle (Bromley FC), George Nikaj (Dover Athletic FC), Adam Jones (K Sports FC), Roman Hall (Holmesdale FC).

The representative football action comes thick and fast, as this week our ladies team host Sussex on Wednesday night (11 December).

Then our U18 team is back in action as they host Sussex on Sunday (15 December).

Both matches are at Chatham Town. Wednesday’s kick off is 8.00pm and Sunday is 3.00pm.

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