Playing for the first time since before Christmas, Pembury’s run in the Kent Junior Cup came to a disappointing end on Saturday against a side we were more than capable of beating.
We started the game well and generally had the better of the first half possession and chances, restricting Putlands to the odd counter attack. Mark Wyles hit the under-side of the cross bar with a header, only to see the ball bounce out and into the arms of their grateful keeper. We were then awarded an indirect free kick inside the six yard box which Garry Knight drove on target, only to see it glance the shoulder of one of the defenders and fly over. We continued to try to play our usual passing game on a very bumpy pitch, however it really showed that we had only played once in twelve weeks, as we invariably rushed the final ball. One fine move towards the end of the half presented Mark with a good chance to open the scoring, however with the pitch not helping he put his shot wide of the advancing keeper.
The second half began in much the same fashion as the first with Pembury in the ascendancy. Eventually a good interchange down our right resulted in the ball being crossed to Ross Taylor on our left. His shot was then brilliantly headed over the bemused keeper by Mark to put us one up. However rather than act as the catalyst to put away a side who must have been low on confidence, this was as good as it got for Pembury. From the re-start Putlands went very close. Within a minute though they were level when the otherwise excellent Lee Thompson dropped an easy catch, which their substitute controlled and rolled into the empty net from an acute angel. Ben Brooker then missed a one on one with their keeper, before two quick goals from the home side left Pembury facing a similar comeback to the one against Woodchurch in the last round. However any thoughts of a comeback were blown away when Rob Cornish petulantly kicked out at an opponent and deservedly received a red card. A fourth goal was scored by the now dominant home side, before a Ross Taylor free kick hit the post.
All in all a disappointing end to our Kent Cup run, although one lesson may have been learnt in that maybe we shouldn’t always try to play passing football when the pitch clearly doesn’t allow it. A more direct approach although alien to us, may have yielded a better return.
Team:
L.Thompson
L.Drury
S.Waterman
G.Knight
R.Cornish
M.Rice-Tucker
K.Waterman
I.Crouch
R.Taylor
B.Brooker
M.Wyles
Subs:
T.Gent (for K.Waterman)
J.Austin (for M.Rice-Tucker)