ST. George's

Double joy for Saints

Eynsford 1-2 St. George’s (Wrotham)

Report courtesy of Derek Hodge

St. George’s (Wrotham) lifted the Sevenoaks Charity (Senior) Cup for the first time in the club’s history at Potters Mede, Borough Green, on Bank Holiday Monday. In doing so the Mid Kent side completed the double having clinched the Nuclear Electric Kent County League Third Division championship last week.

On a sunny morning in front of an estimated crowd of 300, both teams contributed to an exciting final, the outcome of which hung in the balance until referee Mr D.Priestly’s final whistle.

Saints supporters, starved of success for far too long, were in jubilant mood as skipper Stuart Kitt received the magnificent silver trophy, reputed to be worth more than the FA Cup, from Mr Roger Leavens, president of Wilderpark Football Club.

However for several Saints players it was just like old times with Roy Bedford, Dean Woodward, Darren Fisher and Andy Bennett having all savoured the final scene before, notably in the Centenary Final at Raleys Field when they played for neighbouring Platt Utd. Now as key members of St. George’s, they were to play influential roles against a battling Eynsford outfit.

In contrast Eynsford were well served by centre-back Peter Menditta while up front the slight figure of Craig Brown was a constant threat to the Saints defence. For Eynsford’s Nick Bainbridge the final was a bitter sweet affair as he conceded a needless penalty from which the Saints went ahead but later atoned for his mistake by scoring after an uncharacteristic error by Stuart Kitt.

During the first-half both defences were on top with play concentrated between the two 18 yard lines. The opening exchanges were frantic as both sides endeavoured to stamp their authority on the game.

Eynsford created a half chance when David Kelly, in a deep position, got on the end of a 30-yard free-kick, but his angled shot went over the crossbar. Saints countered with a neat three-man move down the left but the attack fizzled out.

Saints skipper Kitt took the eye from early on, organising his rearguard well and at the same time creating space to deliver some accurate passes. He was well supported just in front of the back four by Woodward who was particularly commanding in the air, if somewhat slow in movement.

The crowd’s appetite for a goal was whetted in the 20th minute when a move between Bennett and Fisher ended with a ball to Chris Smith who shot over from the six-yard area. Almost immediately a quick break by Eynsford and good movement saw Kelly strike the ball straight at keeper Gary McCoy.

St. George’s were awarded a free-kick on the right for a hand ball and from the resultant free-kick Woodward’s cross was met by the unmarked Steve Davis who headed into the midriff of keeper Peter Murnane.

Eynsford’s Simon Copley watched a speculative shot go high over the crossbar and soon afterwards Murnane was again in action athletically pushing a shot over the crossbar. Davis had ghosted in on the blind side of his marker to get on the end of a diagional cross from Fisher, but the keeper was equal to a well struck shot from 20-yards.

Eynsford had a good opportunity to take the lead five minutes before half-time but having worked his way through the heart of the Saints defence, Copley stumbled just inside the area and the ball was cleared to safety. Then Brown turned his marker to the left of the 18-yard area and struck a low dangerous cross towards McCoy, but the ball deflected for a corner.

It was Eynsford’s first corner of the game and as Woodward cleared the ball the referee’s whistle signalled half-time.

The second-half started in the same fashion as the first with play going from end to end and Chris Smith just failed to get on the end of a free-kick. Bennett and Davis interchanged down the left with speed and accuracy before the ball was knocked back to the former on the edge of the 18-yard area where he was dispossessed unfairly as he thought, but play continued.

The ball broke to Brown who sprung the offside trap but keeper McCoy was quickly off his line to deflect the ball for a corner.

As the half progressed the game became more open with Woodward constantly prompting his forwards. With Murnane off his line Smith almost chipped the keeper but his shot went wide of the target.

On the hour the deadlock was finally broken when the two number eights, Wrotham’s Micky Slade and Eynsford’s N.Bainbridge chased the ball to the bye-line. An untimely and needless tackle brought Slade down and from the resultant spot kick Bennett struck a fierce low shot to the keeper’s left. Murnane got his hand to the ball but there was too much power for him to make more than a token effort to save the penalty.

Minutes later Neil O’Sheen was brought down by Kelly on the edge of the area and for this the Eynsford player was shown the yellow card. Smith received a lecture for diving inside the area and then Brown got through on the left, only to see his well struck shot saved by the keeper.

Nick O’Farrell then held his head in despair as his error inside the area presented Fisher with the easiest of chances which he accepted. Saints, who were appearing in their first Sevenoaks Charity (Senior) Cup final, were 2-0 up and on their way to victory. However, their joy was tempered immediately as N.Bainbridge atoned for his earlier mistake by capitalising on an error by Kitt to score and bring his side back into the game.

The final 15 minutes saw Eynsford push hard for the equaliser, although Saints always threatened on the break, as gaps appeared in their opponent’s defence.

Colin Symons was booked for an infringement on the edge of the box and Brown curled a free-kick round the wall, but McCoy made an excellent diving save.

Saints brought on Richard Holder for Smith as O’Sheen forced the Eynsford keeper to save a shot at the second attempt.

At the other end Saints continued to soak up the pressure and knocked long balls deep into open spaces, in order to get some relief.


St. George’s: G.McCoy, N.O’Sheen, R.Bedford, S.Kitt, C.Symons, D.Woodward, D.Fisher, M.Slade, A.Bennett, C.Smith, S.Davis, R.Holder, G.Kitt, P.Cunningham.

Eynsford: P.Murnane, S.Sheaf, N.O’Farrell, P.Menditta, R.Graham, C.Brown, A.Vincent, N.Bainbridge, D.Kelly, K.Bainbridge, S.Copley, W.Syers, R.Wise, N.Maw.