Under 9 Colts

Season 2005-06 Reports

Kennington Colts v Curzon Rangers
26th November 2005
East Kent Youth League Division 3 (under 9)

Kennington and Curzon both decided to observe a minutes silence in memory of the late George Best. This game was a thoroughly exciting game of football with both teams having a few chances and some excellent football being played. Before the half time break Curzon Rangers managed to play an excellent piece of passing football and managed to score. After the half Kennington played to a very good standard, but just could not find the goal they easily deserved. The rain and biting wind was having an effect on Kennington- it made them play better, but disappointingly they could not find an equaliser in the game. Kennington Colts are still to win a home game this season.

Final score: Kennington Colts 0 – 1 Curzon Rangers
Most Improved: Jack Young
Player of the Match: Oliver Fleet

Sat 19th November
Betteshanger Colts v Kennington Colts

Kennington started this game extremely well, with some very fluent and instinctive passing. This was rewarded with a goal inside of two minutes from Michael Breen, scoring his first goal of the season. After the goal, Kennington kept Betteshanger under constant pressure, and were unlucky not to have scored a dozen more before half time. Betteshanger broke once or twice in the first half, but all attacks were dealt with the minimum of fuss and resulted in no real pressure on the Kennington goal. In the second half Kennington were determined to add to their tally but each time Kennington broke forward they were stopped with some ever more physical challenges from Betteshanger players, which were deemed ‘fair’ by the referee. At the other end, Kennington were also dealing with a lot of pressure and Betteshanger had a few narrow misses and hit the post before getting an equaliser. In the last minute of the game Kennington were given a corner and as the ball was kicked their keeper appeared to push one of our players over, and was injured from his landing. However the ref did not see this and the game ended as the ball was cleared. I must a well done to all the parents for their support at this game: it was not easy when it was obvious the ref was being slightly generous to one team over the other. All the parents did not allow their feelings to spread into a slanging match with the other team; they just got on with it. Kennington with feel very aggrieved at having not won the game, but on reflection only scored the once, which is never enough to win at this level. Kennington had ample opportunities to win the game outright, but on the day failed to put away their chances.

Player of the match: Parham Mirshamsi
Most improved Player: Michael Breen

5th November 2005
Kennington Colt’s v Ashford Borough

Games between these two local rivals will always be close, and this game was no exception. With Kennington winning the first kick off, expectations were high. Expectations which rapidly deflated as a mix-up between the Kennington players and some quick thinking from Ashford Borough allowed them to easily pass all Kennington players and score with the first shot of the game, just 10 seconds into the game. Kennington had another kick off to restart the game and enjoyed a majority of the possession, and most of this was in Ashford boroughs’ half. Despite being the more dominant team, Kennington repeatedly failed to equalise before half time.

The second half continued much in the same way as the first half, with Kennington being extremely dominant without produced the goal they easily deserved. Late into the game Jamie Mant changed things, and managed to steer his shot past the Ashford Borough keeper. With not much time remaining, the game was becoming rather frantic, as both teams were not happy to just settle for a single point, nor were they happy to allow their fiercest rivals any bragging rights of victory. This made for some excellent football, and Kennington came closest to being the victors with a shot that hit the post. A majority of Ashford Boroughs attacks were broken down by the excellent efforts of the 2 defenders, David Marsh and Parham Mirshamsi. On the odd occasion they managed to get past those two, the goalkeeper produced his finest ever performance for Kennington to stop Ashford Borough from scoring.

At full time neither team had broken the deadlock, so both teams went away ruing all the missed chances. However I am sure Kennington will feel that this was a game they should have won.

Player of the match: Brayden Smith (Goalkeeper)
Most Improved Player: Sean Fordyce (Midfield)

East Kent Youth League Division 3
29th October 2005
Thanet Colts Colts v Kennington Colts

Kennington travelled to Thanet on a dry but miserable day. Thanet started as the better team and soon scored. This seemed to have a good effect on Kennington as for the remainder of the half they enjoyed a lot of possession and many shots which were narrowly wide or saved superbly well by the Thanet goalkeeper. In the Second half a mistake by the Thanet goalkeeper was cruelly punished by Jamie Mant, who had no trouble slotting home in an empty net. With just a couple of minutes to go Kennington won a free kick, which was taken by Jamie Mant. The shot was goal-bound and was helped in by the goalkeeper. The emphasis was now just to protect the lead for less then 90 seconds, but a long kick from the keeper bounced over Oliver Fleet, the last defender, and straight into the path of a Thanet striker who had no trouble putting the ball past the goalkeeper.

Final Score: Thanet Colts Colts 2 – Kennington Colts 2
Player of the match: Jamie Mant
Most Improved: Samuel Barkaway

Special Mention: Brayden Smith- the goalkeeper who is so often unsung performed extremely throughout the whole season so far

Steve Ginger Memorial Cup, Round 1
Canterbury Eagles v Kennington Colts

Kennington travelled to Canterbury on 15th October to play their first ever cup game. The first few minutes Kennington were put under a bit of pressure which they dealt with easily. Oliver Fleet picked the ball up on the halfway line and dribbled the ball with ease past several eagles’ players and scored a brilliant goal. Minutes later Oliver had doubled his tally. With a few minutes to go before half time Eagles managed to breech our defences and pull a goal back. With the score at half time 2-1, manager Wayne Scorah informed the players that the game was not over and to secure victory they would have to score again to be sure. Kennington started the second half stronger then ever and Oliver Fleet completed his hat-trick. Eagles then broke free for only the second time in the game to pull another goal back. With the last 10 minutes of the game the score was delicately poised 3-2 in Kennington’s favour, but a moment of madness would result in penalties instead of celebrations. With 2 minutes to go Oliver Fleet played a superbly weighted through ball to Jamie Mant, who then coolly slotted home his 7th goal of the season to finish the game off. Kennington now travel to Park Farm Rangers for round 2 of the cup on 3rd December

Player of the Match: Parham Mirshamsi (Defence)
Final Score Canterbury Eagles 2 – 4 Kennington Colts

8th October 2005
Kennington Colts v Hugin Vikings

Kennington started this game well, but some pressure from Hugin Vikings resulted in a goal for the away team. Minutes later while Kennington were trying to regroup, Hugin scored two more goals. It would require a big effort now from Kennington to regain their composure before half time, a feat achieved as they went in at half time with two goals from Jamie Mant to score his 5th and 6th goals of the season. In the second half Kennington started strong again, but conceded another silly goal to make the score 4-2 to Hugin Vikings. With 15 minutes to go, Kennington started putting Hugin Vikings under an immense amount of pressure and a clumsy tackle on the edge gave Oliver Fleet the chance to double his seasons’ tally of goals to 2 with a superb free kick in to the top corner. Despite a lot of pressure Kennington failed to find the net again in this match resulting in their first loss of the season.

Player of the match: Oliver Fleet
Final Score: Kennington Colts 3 – 4 Hugin Vikings (Jamie Mant 2, Oliver Fleet)

1st October 2005
Herne Bay Harrier’s Colts v Kennington Colts

After last seasons disappointing season, Kennington have amassed almost half as many points from their first two games then they gained all last season. Kennington started very strong in this game and scored the first goal of the game after less then three minutes. Kennington enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half and this was reflected in the 5-0 score line at half time with goals coming from Jamie Mant (3), Jack Young and Sean Fordyce. Both teams came out strong in the second half, but Kennington were still the stronger team. Just 2 goals were scored in the second half with Jack Young enjoying a lot of possession and his second goal of the game as well as David Marsh stealing in for his first ever Kennington Goal. A very good defensive display from Kennington, preventing Herne Bay from having any shots on target in the whole game. After this result Kennington reside in second place in Divison 3

24th September 2005
Kennington Colts v Faversham Strike Force

Kennington’s first home game of the season, and yet another close encounter. An average display in the first half resulted in a 1-0 deficit at half time. Kennington came out with a lot of belief and spirit in the second half and Oliver Fleet soon equalised. Kennington appeared to have scored another goal, but it had not crossed the line in the eyes of the referee, although 8 sets of parents felt sure they had seen the winning goal.

Player of the Match- Jack Young (Defence / Midfield)
Final score: Kennington Colts 1 – Faversham Strike Force 1 (Oliver Fleet)

17th September 2005
Deal Town Rangers v Kennington Colts

Kennington’s first game was a very close game from start to finish. Both teams had ample opportunities to score, and if it were not for exceptional defending from both teams this game could easily finished 10 all! With 2 minutes to go Deal Town broke free and had a 4v1 in their favour as they attacked the goal. Some terrific defending and goalkeeping prevented them scoring. With the resulting clearance Jamie Mant coolly slotted away the only goal of the game for Kennington.

Player of the Match- Brayden Smith (Goalkeeper)
Final score: Deal Town 0 – Kennington Colts 1 (Jamie Mant)

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