Kent 1 Essex 2 – ESFA Nat Cup

Ramsgate Football Club tonight had the distinction of being selected as hosts for a Kent Schools’ ESFA National Cup quarter-final tie and with a respectable crowd and entertaining contest the decision to hold the match at the Ryman League venue was validated. With both Kent and Essex having scored three goals apiece in both their previous rounds goals were always on the cards and so it was as the visitors ran out 2-1 victors in a closely fought encounter.

The match started at a lively pace with both teams sharing the possession but neither finding the final ball to create a telling chance on goal. As things began to settle it was Essex who started to push on with Robbie Norris and match winner Albert Levett looking an impressive partnership in midfield. Despite early signs of ascendancy, as well as the best chance of the match so far falling to Essex – when Daniel Jones was foiled by the quick reactions of Kent ‘keeper Callum Hampson – it was their hosts who took the lead in the 26^th minute. As a high free kick entered the box Lloyd Harrington rose above both defence and goalkeeper to nod the ball home and open the scoring. Whilst Essex continued with force it was Kent who finished the half strongest including Macauley Murray’s long range effort which came close before David Miller hit the crossbar for the visitors.

With Kent leading at the interval it didn’t take Essex long to get back on track as Daniel Jones weak shot appeared to take a deflection and bobble past Hampson to level the scores at one a piece. With the match square again it continued to flow from end to end with both sides having chances to take bragging rights North or South of the Thames Estuary. With each team making second half substitutions the respective fresh legs contributed to the tempo being admirably maintained throughout the match. With just ten minutes left to play it was hardworking Kent striker Matt Cammish who had possibly the best chance to finalise things when he first controlled a cross from the left and then hit it wide of the post with the net appearing open to him. Four minutes later Essex made a strong appeal for a penalty for handball but it fell on deaf ears. George Stannard, who plays his club football for Ramsgate, entered the fray in the dying minutes but it was Essex who had the last hoorah when Levett ran into the box and his low shot found the net, and victory, after Jones’ initial attempt could only be pushed away by ‘keeper Hampson. Kent immediately thrust forward from the restart and whilst Cammish’s long range effort was acrobatically tipped over by Tim Pittman it was to prove the last decisive action of the match and the Essex Schools’ team will progress to the semi-finals of the competition.

Kent  :  Callum Hampson, Tom Axford, Matt Cammish (George Stannard 88), Johann Caney-Bryan, Ryan Flack (Steadman Callender 64), Lloyd Harrington, Joe Head, Billy
Luetchford, Macauley Murray, Ben Williamson (Callum Hopkins 64), Owain Boughtwood

Essex  :  Tim Pitman, Jack Shepherd, Richard Hall, Nathan Bertram-Cooper, Tom Vickers, Tom Richardson (Jamal Allen 79), Robbie Norris, Albert Levett, Daniel Walsh (Callum
Ibe 71), Daniel Jones, David Miller

Goals  :  Harrington 15 (Kent), Jones 47 (Essex), Levett 90+1 (Essex)