Two goals in the last six minutes deservedly gave Darren Phillips’ under 16s side a draw against a lively AFA side who clearly drew on the fact that their side was drawn from just three sides as opposed to the 11 that made up the Kent side.
Behind to two quality strikes from Ollie Fortune of Bishops Stortford – a name to remember if this performance is anything to go by – Ramsgate’s Jack Paxman (the real inspiration behind the Kent side) and then a flying Kane Kupperblatt from Herne Bay in stoppage time meant that a very even game finished as a deserved draw.
AFA had the better of the early exchanges as Fortune first set up Emanual Osilaju who was brilliantly denied by Charlie Plummer, before Ewan Rockell sent a dipping half volley inches past the right post of Charlie Penfold with the keeper motionless. The visitors deservedly took the lead on 28 minutes, and it was Fortune who took full advantage of a stunning strike as he raced clear onto Joshua Jewson’s through ball before drilling beyond Penfold into the corner.
Despite the struggles going forward which wasn’t helped by a freak injury to striker George Della Valle who had to leave the field after a problem with a teeth brace, only the width of a cross bar stopped Paxman from equalising in spectacular fashion from 35 yards – the full back’s vicious drive beat AFA keeper Oscar Pulpito all ends before smashing off of the bar and behind for a goal kick.
That said Kent were indebted to the same cross bar four minutes into the second period as Fortune was denied as an angled drive clipped the bar with Penfold well beaten. It only delayed the inevitable though as the home side slipped further behind 15 minutes into the second half. Again it was that man Fortune this time capitalising on a great run by Abdup Shariff to drill the ball home from 10 yards.
The visitors well worthy of their lead were now happy to sit back and soak up the pressure that the Kent boys could generate and try as they might, they failed to trouble Pulpito despite
several crosses whistling across the face of goal. Things though began to get really interesting with just six minutes left. Corinthian full back James McCormack hit a sizzling cross field ball which Paxman took into his stride whilst outpacing the defence before coolly rounding the keeper to score, although for a split second it seemed that the ball might not have enough pace on it to cross the line.
The goal rejuvenated the whole Kent side and in stoppage time they grabbed a deserved if at time seemingly unlikely equaliser. “Of course the goal was straight off of the training ground! To be fair Kane did score from a goal like that when we drew with Southend but it was a great header” joked coach Phillips afterwards with a huge grin on his face. And of course he might be right as the perfectly flighted kick from Mitchell Liang was met by the diving Kupperblatt and the defenders header flew into the net as time elapsed.
Overall it was a satisfied coach who said after the game, “Its the third game that we’ve played and I thought we did all right today. But it wasn’t until we went 0-1, 0-2 that we showed the desire that we were looking for to get towards the penalty area. That said I thought the boys kept their composure very well to be fair and did well to get our reward out of the game.”
I was delighted for Jack to score a goal like that especially as we lost his brother Alfie (who was going to be the captain) before the season started to a broken leg in a school match!
We’ve got a lot of plusses to take out of today against some strong opposition – the boys are always looking to do the right thing which is getting them recognised for their clubs. Definitely positives to take out of today and going forward”
KENT – Charlie Penfold (VCD Athletic), Jack Paxman (Ramsgate), James McCormack (Corinthian), Harry Needham (Bromley), Kane Kupperblatt (Herne Bay), Charlie Plummer (Hollands & Blair), James Sutherland (Thamesmead Town), Bobby Watkins (Maidstone United), George Della Valle (Thamesmead Town), Josh Dalsan (Welling United), Keith Mupfururirwa (VCD Athletic)
Subs – Casey Johnson (Ebbsfleet United), Max Taylor (Ebbsfleet United), Jake Treagus (Tonbridge Angels), Mitchell Liang (Ramsgate)
AMATEUR FA – Oscar Pulpito, Joshua Jewson, Jamie Newdy Harris, Dean Taylor, Harry Kruger, Ewan Rockall, Abdup Shariff, Matthew Ibrahim, Emanuel Osilaju, Oliver Fortune, Dominic Contino
Subs – Dylan Reams, Billy Price, Sinnkaye Christie, Arun Melville
Referee – Mr E Hollobone
Assistants – Mr G Bourne & Mr T Chivilo