FLEET BOW OUT OF THE KENT SENIOR CUP DESPITE MATTHEW JUDGE’S GOAL…



WHITSTABLE TOWN 2-1 EBBSFLEET UNITED

Kent Senior Cup holders Ebbsfleet United surrendered their title at Ryman League South Whitstable Town as a retaken penalty proved decisive – or at least the rebound from it.

Fielding a weakened side, the Fleet line-up unsurprisingly contained nobody from the previous evening’s encounter against Wrexham, although Sam Mott, Dean Pooley and Matthew Judge – substitutes for the Trophy game – started tonight. Others who featured included Paul McCarthy making his first appearance since a run-out in a friendly against Dagenham earlier this year and a number of PASE players – Steven Springett, Myron Turbine, Tom Parkinson, Sam Callender and Michael West.

The Fleet fell behind in the opening quarter but bounced back shortly before half-time when Judge converted the equaliser with a fine strike. Kezie Ibe had a chance to put the Fleet ahead with an open goal but it was the Oystermen instead who nosed in front with 20 minutes left on the clock when they were awarded a penalty. Mott saved the first effort but the referee ordered a retake – Mott saved again but couldn’t reach the rebound as it was bundled home.

The home side held on in a poor second half to take their place in the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals with a chance for a piece of silverware they have never won.

TEAM: Mott, Springett, McCarthy, Pooley, Turbine, Parkinson, Callander, Slatter, West, Judge, Ibe.