Season 2004-5 Reports

Under 15

Club Awards

Players’ Player: LUKE WATKINS
This award goes to a player whose overall contribution to the side is immense. He is a very popular player whose commitment and attitude towards the team and his teammates is of the highest caliber. In matches he is a great box-to-box player that never stops running and tackling. Strong in the air and on the floor, an outstanding player in his own right and a fine captain.

Managers Player: JACK OVENDEN
This was a difficult choice to make because the contribution of every member in the squad this season has been exceptional. All teams need playmakers that can open up defenses from midfield, or intelligently find space up front. This player excels in both areas, he has a good first touch, can use both feet and is a deadly finisher. A very stylish and talented footballer.

Most Improved Player: MATT LIGHTFOOT
As players get older it is often difficult to decide who has improved the most over a season. However, this year one player has stood out. He has approached games with a determined and more mature attitude. He has added aggression to his game, does not shy out of tackles and is more willing to chase lost causes. He has also become stronger and quicker. All these attributes have made him into a much improved and more complete player.

Clubman: RYAN SMITH
This lad is Kennington through and through. He’s strong, a good passer, very aggressive in the tackle and breaks up play well. He hardly ever misses training and is willing to do his best wherever he is asked to play, including goalkeeper. He is of great value to the squad on and off the field. Off the field lets me know if there are any problems that I need to know about, and on the field he has the ‘heart of a lion’.

A Summary of the Season 2004/2005
When Nigel Barlow resigned as team manager and left the club early in the season it was a strong test of the team’s character. Everyone pulled together and put in some outstanding performances. I received a number of compliments from other managers regarding the excellent pass and move football the boys played, which was a great credit to them. This attacking football took us to the top of the Kent League early on, but as the season progressed we suffered a disappointing drop in form, eventually recovering to finish fourth. The highlight of the season was our last League game away against a very strong Folkestone Invicta side. Due to injuries we only traveled with eleven players, by the end we only had nine, but we held out for a very hard fought victory. This type of display should stand us in good stead for next season. Well done to the whole squad.

Match Reports

M.U.S.H League
Folkestone Invicta 0 v Kennington 1

Kennington U15 finished the season with a superb, hard fought win against potential champions Folkestone Invicta. Folkestone started nervously and it was Kennington who played the better passing football, creating a series of good shooting opportunities from just outside the box. The 4-5-1 formation was causing problems for the Folkestone defence with the tireless Matt Lightfoot in the lone strikers role, who was prepared to chase anything. He was supported by strong, aggressive midfield running from Luke Watkins, Jack Ovenden, and Ryan Strand. Metin Zurel and Ryan Smith played excellent midfield holding roles, effectively breaking up a series of Folkestone attacks. As the game progressed the crowd became restless and Folkestone resorted to putting the ball forward early, but Kenningtons centrebacks, Matt Morris and Luke brown were dominant on the ground and in the air. The strong defensive line up was completed by Ollie Lewis and Frankie Comparetto who both had very good games refusing to allow Invicta any room to get in down the flanks. Folkestone's best effort on goal in the first half, was from 25 yards forcing a fine save from Aiden Barlow, who performed well between the sticks.

Although the opening period ended goalless, Kennington ware unlucky not to go in three up. In the second half Folkestone began to push forward in search of the vital win that would have sent them to the top of the MUSH League, with a game in hand of their nearest rivals. It was Kennington however, that were still creating the best chances. Matt Lightfoot was again denied when he was put through 'one on one' with the Folkestone keeper. With 15 minutes to go Kennington got the breakthrough they deserved, when Ovenden's angled shot was parried by the keeper and Lightfoot slid in, under pressure, to score.

Folkestone then mounted wave after wave of attacks on the Kennington goal. The situation was not helped when Kennington were reduced to ten men after Luke Brown was forced to go off with suspected Knee ligament damage. Five minutes later Lightfoot was involved in a strong 50-50 challenge which resulted in him being taken to hospital with a cut eye and broken nose. For the final ten minutes the nine men of Kennington fought a desperate rear guard action to protect their lead. Folkestone came close to levelling the score on a number of occasions, their best chance forcing a point blank save from Barlow. Despite the late pressure Kennington held on for a well deserved win.

An excellent performance by every player on the field. This win just shows what we are capable of when we put our minds to it. If we can put this type of performance together more consistently throughout next year, there is no doubt we will be challenging for honours at the end of next season.

Well done.

Squad: Barlow, Lewis, Morris, Brown, Comparetto, Strand, Zurel, Ovenden, Watkins, Smith, Lightfoot.

24 April 2005

M.U.S.H League
Kennington 2 v Ramsgate 1

Kennington U15 maintained there winning run with a good win against Ramsgate. A much improved Ramsgate side fought for every ball in a high tempo match that Kennington just shaded. The first half finished all square with few chances for either side, Matt Morris and Frank Thompson defending superbly. The only real scoring opportunity fell to Matt Lightfoot when he took on and beat two defenders before shooting narrowly wide.

Five minutes into the second half Kennington took a deserved lead after a good run into the box by Tom Avis, who saw his shot on the turn beat the Ramsgate keeper at his near post. Ramsgate then put the Kennington goal under of pressure, forcing an excellent save from Ben Houston. The sustained pressure eventually paid off when Ramsgate forced an equalising goal. Kennington then showed good character to thwart a series of attacks. As the game progressed Kennington began to get the upper hand and were unlucky not to take the lead, carving out some good chances. The pick of the chances was a Matt Lightfoot volley from outside the penalty area which hit the post and bar before coming back out. The game was sewn up six minutes from time, when Luke Watkins' shot was parried by the keeper into the path of Jack Ovenden who hammered the ball home.

Another good performance by the whole team, everyone battled well and worked hard for each other. Special mention for Captain Luke Watkins who led by example, winning everything in the air and on the floor.

Squad: Houston, Thompson, Morris, Brown, Avis, Comparetto, Smith, Griffin, Watkins, Zurel, Lewis, Ovenden, Lightfoot, Strand.

17 April 2005

M.U.S.H League
Kennington 3 v Chatham Town 0

Kennington U15 returned to winning ways in their Kent League tie with Chatham Town. A fine team performance proved too much for the visitors as Kennington completed the treble over a strong Chatham side.

Skipper Luke Watkins opened the scoring after 12 minutes when he powered home a pinpoint cross from Tom Avis. Chatham had chances to level including a strong penalty appeal, but good keeping from Ben Houston and fine defensive work from Matt Morris, Frankie Comperetto and the excellent Luke Brown kept the scores level. Kennington doubled their lead 5 minutes before half time when Ryan Smith created problems for the Chatham defenders at the near post allowing Ryan Strands corner to go in off the keeper. Chatham pushed forward and tried to reduce the deficit but despite their possession, could not break down the Kennington defence.

The match was put beyond doubt 15 minutes from time, when Matt Lightfoot reacted first to a loose ball in the box and placed it past the advancing keeper into an empty net.

Well done to the whole side for the way that they went about this game and also the way that they applied themselves to both systems that were used.

Squad: Houston, Comparetto, Morris, Brown, Avis, Smith, Watkins, Zurel, Lewis, Ovenden, Lightfoot, Strand.

6 February

M.U.S.H League
Chatham Town 1 v Kennington 4

Kennington travelled to North Kent to face a difficult match against Chatham Town. Chatham started the better of the two sides, missing some good opportunities. As the game progressed Kennington struggled to cope with the Chatham pressure with only strikers Matt Lightfoot and Ryan Strand able to hold their own. It was the hard working Lightfoot who enabled Kennington to open the scoring, when he pressurised the Chatham defence into a mistake and calmly touched the ball home. Five minutes after half time Lightfoot was on hand again when he latched onto a Luke Watkins through ball after some good build up play. Confidence began to drain from the Home side and the game was put beyond them when Lightfoot completed a deserved hat-trick when he outpaced the Chatham defence after Ryan Smith had put him in. Lightfoot then turned provider for Matt Morris who crashed in a header at the far post from a corner. Chatham scored a deserved consolation goal late on but the match had already been decided.

During large periods of this game we fell short of the high standards that we have set ourselves. We need to improve on this display to maintain a sustained challenge at the top of the Kent League. Saying that, it is an encouraging sign that we can record such a good scoreline against a side like Chatham. Well done to the whole side. Man of the match Matt Lightfoot.

30 January 2005

M.U.S.H League
Kennington 3 v Canterbury City 1

Kennington regained 3rd place in the Kent League after they beat Canterbury City at ball lane, in a very hard fought match. Kennington started strongly and settled well, into the new system they were asked to play. Dominant midfield play by Metin Zurel, Luke Watkins, Ryan Smith and Frankie Comparetto dictated play allowing Tom Avis and Olly Lewis to get forward causing problems for the visitors defence. The deadlock was broken after 10 minutes when Matt Morris fired home from outside the box. The pressure was kept up on the Canterbury goal and The home side could have added to their lead before half time.

After the break Canterbury upped their game but excellent defending by centre backs Matt Morris and Frank Thompson and good keeping by Ben Houston kept Kennington in front. With 15 minutes left the ball fell to A Canterbury midfielder 25 yards out, who rifled in a shot for a deserved equaliser. Kennington pushed forward and broke the offside trap when Ryan Strand was put through and out paced the Canterbury Defenders to beat the Keeper at the near post. The game was made safe five minutes from time when the ball was squared to Matt Lightfoot on the edge of the box, who then drilled it into the bottom corner.

A great effort and a superb performance by the whole team, who kept their discipline well under intimidating circumstances. Special mention goes to Skipper Luke Watkins who had an outstanding match against his old side.

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