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Kennington 4 Crowborough Athletic 2

Kennington 4 Crowborough Athletic 2

Simon Jasinski14 Oct 2019 - 11:09
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https://www.kenningtonfc.co.uk

Kennington march on in the FA Vase after a memorable 4-2 victory against SCEFL Premier Division side, Crowborough Athletic on Sunday.

Ton were backed by the majority of a season-best attendance of 277 who witnessed Dan Scorer's Vase debutants move into the second round of the competition, led by a man-of-the-match performance from Tom Scorer.

The attacking midfielder was on top form in firing two goals in the space of three first half minutes to put Ton in a commanding position early on - the first a super left footed effort from distance, before powerfully heading home from Rob Greenfield's excellent delivery from the left.

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Crowborough could have grounds to rue what might have been, after Jason Barton twice hit the cross-bar with headers from set-plays, while their line-up was depleted in unfortunate circumstance before, with one of their players travelling to Ashford in Middlesex by mistake, and unable to make kick-off.

Kieran Scantlebury pulled one back just after the half-hour which changed the complexion of the tie going into the break, however Ton re-gained their two goal cushion when Craig Calvert's in-swinging corner was headed on at the near post by George Latham, evading all to nestle inside the far corner, beyond 'keeper Billy Johnson.

Johnson was in action soon after when Scorer was bearing down for his hat-trick, but was equal to the task; while Rob Greenfield also had a great opportunity to put the tie beyond the visitors from the penalty spot, only to see his effort crash back off the crossbar - created after Harry Stow was upended inside the box.

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Scorer also hit the post as the Crows struggled to deal with another marauding run down the left channel. However it was Crowborough who struck next and made for a grand-stand finish, with Tom Boddy looping the ball over 'keeper Tom Barnes with five minutes remaining.

Crowborough were forced to finish the game with ten in suffering an injury after using their allocated three substitutions, with Ton exploiting gaps as the visitors pushed up - Gary Clarke tapping home to seal the tie in injury time, after good work from substitute Charlie Owen, and to the delight of the home crowd.

After the victory, boss Dan Scorer, said: "It’s just nice for the players’ to get the reward for all their hard work and also for myself and my management team and the backroom and the chairman and people like that, that have worked hard to get us to this point so I’m really made up.”

“Two years’ ago we were playing in the Kent County League so this tops of the rise of Kennington in my time and hopefully it’s a good indication of where we’re going.

“It means a lot for me, for the club, for the players and as I’ve said to the players’ there’s no expectation on this competition. We’re not expecting to get to a certain round.

“It’s just about the players’ enjoying themselves and with the pressures of the league this year because we are expected to go up this year and we fully hope too. It’s quite a nice distraction and I’m just glad they’ve all enjoyed themselves today.

“I said to the boys before the game, Wembley is a long way away but any lad who doesn’t think about it is daft. I think it’s going to be in the back of everyone’s head.

"If you’re not thinking about it, you’re in the wrong dressing room for me, but we’ll see how further this journey takes us but I’m glad they’re enjoying themselves today and we’ve got another opportunity to go again.”

READ | DAN SCORER REACTION WITH KENTISHFOOTBALL.CO.UK

TON: Barnes, Stow, Greenfield, Phillips, Sedenu, Penfold, Clarke, Calvert, Scorer, Latham, Conlon. Subs: Hughes, Owen (for Calvert 70'), Tomsett, Brown (for Latham 57'), Fisher (for Scorer 75), Philpott, Goddard.

Goals: Scorer (17, 20), Latham (50), Clarke (90+2)

Cautions: Greenfield, Penfold (both 87 mins)

Att: 277

Main article photo: Tommy Penfold surges forward in Sunday's FA Vase first round tie against Crowborough Athletic at Homelands.

*Ton are in cup action once again on Saturday (Oct 19), this time in the Kent Senior Trophy against a side they know well in SCEFL Division One rivals, Rochester United (3pm k.o).

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