Croucher puts Kings Hill ahead, but New Romney rally to win 3–1
New Romney 3 v 1 Kings Hill
Kings Hill men’s first team conceded three late goals to slip to their third consecutive defeat whilst hosts New Romney made it five wins on the bounce with their late goal flurry. Kings Hill were buoyed by the return of James Cheeseman and Cam Croucher to the starting eleven as well as a full debut for Jason Permberton-Mola and started brightly, moving the ball well. The home side also played some neat football and posed a threat in attack. Unfortunately skipper Ollie Aston was forced off early in the match due to injury but the best chance of the half still fell to Kings Hill’s Croucher after Mackenzie Gardiner found him in space on the left and his effort was well saved by the New Romney goalkeeper.
Kings Hill played with the wind behind them in the second half but the match continued very evenly and had all the makings of a draw until the 75th minute when after good work from substitute Will Seage, George Sibley whipped in a pinpoint cross for wing back Croucher to volley home from close range at the far post. The visitors didn’t hold onto their lead for long and, shortly afterwards, a speculative ball into the box was fumbled and Eroms Amros handled on the line in the resultant scramble. New Romney converted the penalty leaving Kings Hill back to level and down to ten men. Kings Hill reshuffled to cope with the shortfall but soon afterwards, the visitors gave away possession allowing Romney to break and a low cross unfortunately ricocheted off George Hawkins into his own net. Kings Hill strived to create an opening for an equaliser but it was the hosts who got the killer third goal late on after a misjudged defensive header allowed them to break again and work the ball to their wide left to rifle home. Scant reward for Kings Hills efforts but time for the lads to regroup and look forward to next Saturday’s game versus Canterbury City.
“That result was hard one to swallow really! We were comfortable and fine, showing some really good moments and positions within our shape, whilst also creating chances and I feel we created enough in the first half to come into the second half with confidence!
With how the game was going I feel we deserved to take the lead really, and didn’t feel uncomfortable at any point until the red card and that unfortunately just changed the game, we reflected straight away but we can’t keep making these individual mistakes, the boys end up letting themselves down as they worked so hard and then some bits of ill discipline whilst being down to 10 men, next thing its 3-1 & no one has really taken control of the situation.
These league isn’t forgiving and the boys are learning some harsh lessons this year, as am I also, its not an easy division by any means necessary and its important that we put our wrongs right, re-assess and go again.”Patrick Lee
