In Saturday’s last silverware showdown – for the Kent Reliance Kent Junior Cup A – it was Burgess Hodgson who took the trophy home as the side from Canterbury ran out victorious with a 2-1 win over Riverside from Medway after a highly entertaining game really well officiated by referee Kirsty Doyle and her officiating team.
Two goals ahead at half time through Man of the Match Mike Kelly and Dean Orris, Burgess were in the end comfortable winners as Riverside, despite pulling one back through Caleb Luckhurst, the Medway side couldn’t get back on level terms and left team boss John Hatchett scratching his head as to what went wrong.
When he spoke to KSN after the presentation of the Cup, he was still scratching his head.
“It was really disappointing but I think the worst thing for me was the fact that we didn’t turn up in the first half – we were shocking and it killed us!”
“We didn’t play our normal game at all and played into their hands really. The pitch may have got to us as we tried to play too much football!”
“Fair play though to the players as after we had a good chat about things at half time we came out with high spirits and we gave it a good go. We had more of the play as they sat a bit deep, but we didn’t create too much, but had a couple of little niggles that effected our flow a little bit.”
“If we could have kept it the way it was when we got back into it, maybe it could have finished different. But it’s a Cup Final and it’s a sickener that we couldn’t press on, but they’re a good side and on the day deserved to win it!”
For Burgess Hodgson’s player manager Matt Lightfoot, the day was a great one for his club:
“This has capped a great season for us. We’ve already won the Canterbury Charity Cup and hopefully next week we can wrap up the League – today was really the cherry on the cake!”
“When we set out at the start of the season, this was the Cup that we really wanted and that’s what we’ve done. We’re all self-run and very fortunate that our firm Burgess Hodgson accountants sponsor us fully and they leave us to run the football side of things – ten of us work for the firm in Canterbury and it’s worked very well for us.”
“We told the guys that we still had to win the Trophy at half time despite being two in front, but when they pulled their goal back, I think we probably made it more difficult for ourselves than we should have done, but overall I think we just about edged it.”
After a cagey opening half hour when both sides threatened, but didn’t create anything of note, it was Burgess that took the lead in the 30th minute – full back Chris Rigden sprinted clear down the right and his driven centre was met by a sliding Mike Kelly who arrived late from midfield to steer the ball home.
The lead was doubled five minutes from half time when Dion Orris’ free kick wide out on the right wing deceived Riverside keeper Sean Holbrook and flew into the net.
They had a glorious chance to make it three on the stroke of half time when following the move of the half, Rigden arriving late skied his shot into the car park! Rigden though immediately saw the “funny side” of things by signalling an imaginary “six” had been scored!!!
Riverside got a foothold back in the game nine minutes after the break when Will Tutty did brilliantly down the right beating three players before rolling the ball back for Caleb Luckhurst who lashed the ball into the roof of the Burgess net.
Burgess keeper Ben Houston then pulled off a stunning full length save to deny Carl Morson as the Medway side stepped up their search for the equaliser.
But sadly it didn’t come, and the Trophy headed for Canterbury.
BURGESS HODGSON – Ben Houston, Chris Rigden, Alex Baker, Alistair Mannings, Ryan Cochrane, Mike Kelly, Luke Phillips, Adam Horne, Matt Lightfoot, Dion Orris, Tim Jordan
Subs – Steve Reeves, Jon Turley, Dominic Wood, Kevin Fielding
RIVERSIDE – Sean Holbrook, Mark Bennett, Neil Holmes, Nick Edwards, Sam Ayles, Dan Lee, Chris Marco, Carl Mason, Caleb Luckhurst, Tim Baloglin, Will Tutty
Subs – Lee Malone, Dave Coyle, Shane Wells, Will Johnston, Jordan Lee
REFEREE – Kirsty Doyle
ASSISTANTS – Kenan Doggan, Andrew Hyde, Paul Smith
Pictures supplied by PSP Images.