Wade Scores on Debut as Kings Hill Beat Canterbury City
Kings Hill 4 v 2 Canterbury City
Kings Hill’s men’s first team got back to winning ways, coming from 2-0 down to claim a 4-2 victory. With the crowd swelled by many ground hoppers on Kent County League Day, after a perfectly observed minute’s silence for Remembrance Day, prompted by the energy of James Cheesman and Keiron Kennerley as well as tidy link play from Cameron Croucher, Kings Hill started brightly playing neat, controlled football and getting behind the visitors’ defence regularly.
Defenders Ryan Young, Max Sutton and Joe Lawrence all had close efforts in the Canterbury box and Mackenzie Gardiner forced a point blank save from the visiting goalkeeper. Youngster Will Seage led the line well with strength and pace, creating problems for City’s defence and could easily have been amongst the goals, hitting both the bar and post as well as seeing a header drift wide.
However, the visitors looked lively in attack and after 20 minutes a loose pass in the Kings Hill defence allowed the City centre forward to nick the ball and slot home. The home side continued to press but Canterbury doubled their lead on the half hour mark after a high ball into the box caused a collision between Kings Hill defenders and goalkeeper Harvey Mills, leaving the visitors to head into an empty net and giving the hosts with a mountain to climb.
It was important for Kings Hill to hit back before the break and they were able to do so when Gardiner saw his effort well saved but the rebound fell to Seage who rifled home to narrow the deficit. Canterbury had a penalty claim turned down and a free kick well saved before the break but the teams went in at 2-1 to the visitors.
Kings Hill started the second half with renewed energy and took the game to City, themselves having a big penalty appeal turned down in the early stages. They continued to be a threat with Gardiner going close on two occasions before he got onto the end of a ball into the box from George Sibley and slotted home, levelling matters.
Kings Hill were rampant at this stage and took the lead around the hour mark after a low Sibley free kick was turned home by Gardiner to give the home team the lead. Kings Hill then introduced experienced new signing Vinny Wade who didn’t take long to make his mark, getting onto the end of a through ball to lob the away goalkeeper and see the ball roll into the net, giving the Spitfires a commanding lead.
Kings Hill rarely looked threatened in the closing stages which were notable for welcome returns from injury for Morgan Williamson and Richard Davies. Keaton Courtman nearly extended the lead with a header that drew a fine save from the City goalkeeper in the latter stages of the game but the scoreline remained 4-2 giving the hosts a valuable 3 points.
