Middlesex Under 16s 2 - 3 Kent Under 16s

By Ken Brooke. Monday, 1 December 2008

Gayle nets late winner for Kent

A terrific performance from the Under 16’s Squad saw Kent beat Middlesex 3-2 on Sunday at a very wet, but playable, Staines Town F.C. Having rained relentlessly from the moment we left Dartford on the coach, many of us thought that there would be a problem when we arrived at Staines. However, the pitch was in brilliant condition and a huge thanks from everybody at Kent to the Ground Staff at Staines for getting the game on. On such a glorious pitch to play on we played some excellent football early on and with 7 new players in the squad, those that came in and started the game had clearly listened to instructions and were not going to give the ball up very easily. We like to play a passing game and with the midfield 3 of Jay Hedges, James Garry and Scott Heard bossing it early on we began creating lots of chances. With Jack Funnell clearly having the better of the left back we were getting into dangerous positions and creating lots of chances, which, but for the cross bar and the Middlesex keeper, we would have scored early goals.

 

We did score when a neat flick from the outstanding Eddie Sharman, set up Funnell who slid the ball passed the Middlesex Goalkeeper. It was no more than we had deserved and we should have added to that lead. George O’Neil was very unlucky when his shot from 20 yards just dipped over the crossbar and we looked like we would go on and score more goals. However, a defensive mistake meant that the ball dropped to the Middlesex centre forward who smashed it passed Luke Prentice from near enough 25 years into the top corner of the net. A fantastic finish from what was Middlesex’s only chance in the first half.

 

We knew the second half would be a fight and in fairness to Middlesex they began to dominate play as perhaps one or two of our lads tired. Again another mistake by giving the ball away led to Middlesex taking a deserved 2-1 lead in the second half and we all felt that we were going to struggle then to perhaps come back and get a point. However, good use of our excellent subs on the bench turned it around for us as we replaced some of the players who were tiring with fresh legs and got our rewards on the 73rd minute when a cross from Alex King was turned into his own goal by the Middlesex left back, and 2 minutes later a superb delivery from Andy Reece from a corner was met by Ian Gayle and Louis Rankin, but Ian got the final touch to secure a 3-2 win. On our first half performance alone it was a deserved 3 points, but in fairness to Middlesex and to both sides it was a really good game of football and one of the best that I have been involved in since I have been coaching at Representative level. Congratulations to the squad and bearing in mind this was only our second competitive game we can now go to Sussex in a fortnight’s time full of confidence and at the moment sitting top of the league with 4 points from 2 games. Well done to Luke Prentice for pulling off a fantastic save in the second half that kept us in the game, to the new boys who started the game, George Benner, George O’Neil, Scott Heard and Jay Hedges for their excellent performance, for our subs that came off the bench and did what they were asked to do and very good performances from the rest of the players who played the 80 minutes. Congratulations to all, thanks to parents for their support and of course to Committee Members and to Middlesex who looked after us superbly both on and off the field.

 

Ken

 

Under 16 Squad

 

Luke Prentice (Canterbury City)

Louis Rankin (Crockenhill)

Dan Gunner (VCD)

Ian Gayle (Crockenhill)

George Benner (Sevenoaks Town)

Jack Funnell (Tonbridge Angels)

Eddie Sharman (Tonbridge Angels)

George O’Neil (Long Lane)

Scott Heard (Canterbury City)

Jay Hedges (Long Lane)

James Garry (VCD)

 

Subs:

 

Jack Moore (Welling United)

Andrew Reece (Welling United)

Alex King (Orpington)

Dan Keyte (Canterbury City)

Charlie Slocombe (Tonbridge Angels)