On an afternoon when a blustery wind made playing football difficult for both sides, especially the goalkeepers, Kent FA’s Under-18’s progressed through a tricky tie against Huntingdonshire with a composed performance, fully merited by the 3-0 scoreline.

Dartford’s Justin Owogu, with a brace either side of Maidstone’s Joshua Dalsan’s goal less than 60 seconds after his introduction, was the focal point of a strong Kent side, along with Whitstable duo Aaron James and Rene Armstrong.

Kent manager, Ken Brooke, was quick to praise the trio, saying “I always try to build a good spine to the team and we’ve done that this year. We’ve only conceded once competitively in three games, and that was in extra-time (in the previous round in Jersey). We are a hard side to break down, and we know that we will get chances.”

“We were disappointed to come in nil-nil at half time. We felt our first half display deserved at least one goal, so we asked for a bit more composure and hopefully the goals would come. We got one nice and early in the second half which settled us down, and after that it was fairly comfortable.”

Although Owogu hit a double, Brooke did light-heartedly state about the chances he could have taken, adding “in the nicest way, we keep on at Justin that we can’t keep making him eight chances to score two. But, he’s a great kid with a fantastic attitude, and I’m hoping that as we go further in this competition, he will be our match-winner.”

Huntingdonshire were rocked by an early injury to midfielder Mitchell Taylor, and playing slightly into the wind, struggled to test 16-year old Tyler McCarthy in the Kent goal. Kent, settling into the game after the first quarter of an hour, played some intricate football around the box, and were able to utilise the pace of wingers Simba Nyaruwu and Eli Graham in behind the visiting fullbacks.

Graham had the first clear chance on 19, holding off Ben Hickling, only to see his shot well saved by Dan Huff, in the Huntingdon goal. From the resulting corner, Aaron James was left unmarked at the back post, but could only head over.

Dan Hobbs fired a shot for the visitors over, having been shepherded across the face of the box by the Kent back line, but it was Huff who was the busier of the keepers. The Huntingdon number one was out quickly to the feet of Justin Owogu when the forward powered his way into the area from a tight angle on 28, beating two defenders on his way. Then, Owogu had two chances in a minute; first curling a shot across goal, then turning smartly after good work from Nyaruwu, only to have his shot blocked by a sprawling defender.

After Huntingdonshire had been forced into their second change of the first half – left back Dan Mattin having been terrorised by Nyaruwu – Owogu curled a freekick round the visitor’s red wall. The shot took an awkward bounce in front of Huff; the keeper having dived early, only to put up a strong hand to deflect the ball wide.

So level at the interval, Kent turned round and made an immediate breakthrough. Aaron James directed Nyaruwu’s left wing corner towards goal, where Owogu deflected the effort past the diving Huff.

The Dartford forward was now running riot against the two Huntingdonshire centre-backs, giving them a torrid time with his pace, and Owogu could have doubled the lead on 54, clipping a shot over the bar on the wind. From a poor clearance, the ball was played back into the visitor’s area, where Stefan Kempton found himself unmarked in the 6-yard box, but could only direct a header against the right hand post with the goal at his mercy.

Substitute Joshua Dalsan made an impact of his own within 60 seconds of his introduction (for Nyaruwu). Nick Kelliher broke up a Huntingdon attack inside their own half and fed Rene Armstrong in the middle of the park. Armstrong measured a pass through the defence, allowing Dalsan to run through and coolly slot his shot to the left of Huff on 62.

Dalsan should have made it three two minutes later, running in behind the back four, but like Owogu before him, could only clip his effort over the bar.

With the visitors looking to force a way back into the game, Kent found they were able to counter attack at pace, and Kelliher released Owogu in, outpacing Nathan George, but Huff was out quickly to block at the forward’s feet. Within 45 seconds, Owogu repeated his sprint against the two centrebacks, but this time delayed his shot long enough for George to get back to deflect his shot wide.

Kent scored a third, as Connor Dobson broke through the left side of the thin red line that by now was Huntingdon’s defence. Dobson’s shot from the left side of the area was parried away by Huff, but only to Dalsan on the right edge of the area. Dalson rolled the back back into Owogu, who had time to take a touch before firing home off a combination of Huff and Hickling.

Dover’s Jack Paxman thought he’d added a fourth in stoppage time only to be denied by the assistant’s flag. The fullback advanced through the Huntingdon half, playing a one-two with Dalsan (who had strayed to early), and tucked his shot inside the left hand post; only seeing the flag as he wheeled away in celebration.

Hobbs had a late chance to find a consolation for Huntingdon, with virtually the last kick of the game, but was unable to force McCarthy into his first save of the afternoon; curling his freekick over the bar.

The Kent boys can now look forward to a trip to last season’s Youth Cup winners, Lancashire, either on 22nd November or 6th December, and Brooke admitted “I cannot wait. I think it will be a fantastic test for us, maybe a backs to the wall effort, but I feel we’ve got enough quality in the squad to go up there with a view to winning the game.”

“We had a couple of lads that were due to play today, Jack Mahon and Reece Powell, but they were both wanted for the first team at Greenwich Borough and we always agree to let the players go, even though we don’t have to. It does give someone else a chance though, and the boys who have come in today (Joshua Dalsan and Connor Dobson) have done their job.”

“I started this group in the under-16’s three years ago, and some of the boys – the Thompson twins (Dan and Nick), Rene (Armstrong) and one or two others – have been with me all along. They’ve bought into what we do and we’ve now got a nice mix of first and second years at this level. Josh (Dalson), Jack Paxman and Tyler McCarthy are all first years, so there is a good mix, but you need your experienced players as you go through this competition; they’ve just got more about them.”

 

KENT: Tyler McCarthy (Maidstone United), Jack Paxman (Dover Athletic), Nick Kelliher (Bromley), Dan Thompson (Bromley), Nick Thompson (Bromley), Aaron James (Whitstable Town) (Adam Ranson (Maidstone United) 80), Simba Nyaruwu (Hythe Town) (Joshua Dalsan (Maidstone United) 61), Stefan Kempton (Greenwich Borough) (Connor Dobson (Cray Valley) 64), Justin Nwogu (Dartford), Rene Armstrong (c Whitstable Town), Eli Graham (Dartford).

Subs not used: Alfie Paxman (Dover Athletic), Sam Reed (Bearsted).

Goals: Justin Nwogu 47 & 80, Joshua Dalsan 62.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE: Dan Huff (St Neots Town), Ben Hickling (Eynesbury Rovers), Dan Mattin (St Neots Town) (Blake Rivers (St Neots Town) 37), Conor Inskip (Eynesbury Rovers) (Ben Lockley (Eynesbury Rovers) 76), Ryan Wood (Eynesbury Rovers), Nathan George (Eynesbury Rovers), Ebey Marango (St Neots Town), Mitchell Taylor (St Neots Town) (Liam Bohonis (Sawtry) 4), Liam Littlefair (Yaxley), Dan Hobbs (St Neots Town), Chris Smith (Eynesbury Rovers).

Subs not used: Lloyd Schwier (St Neots Town), Aaron Lee (Yaxley).

Bookings: Conor Inskip 72, Liam Littlefair 85.

Referee: Mr Garry Maskell
Assistants: Mr Elad Amir and Mr Paul Greenfield