Gravesend League: Culverstone see off Aces in thriller

5:12pm Monday 23rd November 2009

By Bill Baldwin

CULVERSTONE defeated Premier Division outfit NK Aces on penalties to progress through to the third round of the Mallinson Hospital Cup after the two sides shared eight goals.

Wil Hampshire volley’s volley gave Culverstone a narrow half-time advantage but the goals rained in after the break as the match finished 3-3 after 90 minutes.

Baldeep Thind, Andrea Neechi-Shiri and Dean McPherson all found the target for Aces, while Ryan Usher’s brace forced extra-time.

There was more goal action in the extended period, as Culverstone’s James Simmons scored for Culverstone and Jamie Reynolds for Aces ensured the final outcome of normal play was 4-4.

However, the match required a result on the day and it was Culverstone who held their nerve in a 5-5 penalty shootout.

James Moody was the lone goal scorer for last year’s runners-up Woodlands Athletic as they were crushed 7-1 at Earl Grey.

Nathan Harpum grabbed a treble, Charlie Woollcott a brace, while Aaron Whyman and Garry Aldous completed the goal spree with singles apiece.

Goals either side of the interval by Matt Wanless and Craig Deamer earned Bean a 2-0 success at Fleetdown United B.

An own goal, plus strikes from Lee Martin and Dave Goodwin, secured Viewpoint’s place in the next round with a 3-1 win over Kent County side Greenways Reserves at the AEI ground.

Viewpoint’s second string saved a gallant second half comeback at home to Premier Division side Craggs Farm.

The visitors held a 3-0 lead at the interval through Rob Ingram (2) and Jason Loft.

But Viewpoint Reserves raised their game and scored four goals, Karl Hotchkiss getting a fine hat-trick and Sean Harris weighing in with a solo.

It wasn’t enough, however, as Craggs Farm scored three of their own with Ingram completing his hat-trick, Loft getting his second and Tony Love on target for a 6-4 triumph.

The junior of the Hospital Cups, the Dampier Palmer Cup, was at the quarter-final stage, where Joydens Wood struck three second half goals without reply from Tony Allibande, Scott Bowden and James Long in a 3-0 win at Kent Celts.

Fleetway Printers and Oakfield had to go to extra-time after it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

David Dell put Fleetway in front but Ashley Ling equalised in the second period before former Fleetway player Gary Lashman scored the winner for Oakfield in extra-time.

Another game taken to extra-time was at Horton Kirby, where they entertained Ash Green.

Paul Bradbury put Ash Green in front but it was Horton Kirby who led 2-1 at the midway point thanks to Peter Bourne and Lee Mills.

Bradbury completed his hat-trick to put Ash Green 3-2 to the good, but Kirby never gave up the battle and Tom Dunmall set-up extra-time by making it 3-3.

However, Bradbury was in fine form and completed a memorable individual display by adding his fourth to seal a 4-3 Ash Green win.

The bottom two teams in Division Two, Meopham Reserves and YMCA Dartford (Sat) were both looking for a place in the semi-finals at Thong Lane.

YMCA were in bullish form after last week’s win and led 1-0 at the break courtesy of Reece Dix.

However, Meopham powered forward to score five times in the second period through Ricky Gundry (2), Joe Hammond, Andy Oakey and a brave diving header between two defenders by Mark Frost for a 5-1 win.

In the Premier Division, Stone C & I made the most of home advantage to climb up one place in the table with a comfortable 4-0 triumph against Meopham.

The winning side’s goals came from Andy Suat, Lee Gardner, Billy Kingwell and Perrie Lidgett.

A Will Mullarkey hat-trick and solo from James Luchford could not prevent a 6-4 Division Two defeat for Real Man of Kent at leaders AZ 82.

Ryan Green (3), Billy French (2) and George Gale did the damage for the victors.