The second of Sunday’s triple header of County Finals at the Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone continued with Lullingstone winning the Kent Sunday Cup with victory over Tonbridge Six in One.

Two goals in the first half, the first from Perry Gulliford and a second crucially on the stroke of half time from Sam Breeze put Lullingstone in front, before Tom Lau netted what proved to be the killer third on the hour.

Despite their best efforts, Six-in-One just couldn’t get back on terms, but they did boast the goal of the game when Andrew Grundy gloriously volleyed home Ryan Smith’s magnificent diagonal ball into the box.

But by then the damage had been well and truly done, and although Tonbridge Six-in-One did their best to stage the grandstand finish, it wasn’t to be and their cause wasn’t helped by the late sending off of Jordan Crush for a second yellow card.

Nathan James’ goal deep into stoppage time either added the cherry on top of the victory or just added insult to injury dependant on your respective point of view.

Lullingstone started the brighter and early on Tom Lau’s header was brilliantly cleared off of the goal line.

The resulting corner caused chaos in the box as the Six-in-One defence struggled to come to terms with their opponents fast start. Yet the more they huffed and puffed, the more frustrated they got and Six-in-One got into the game, until that is what proved to be a decisive ten minute spell before half time when Lullingstone scored twice.

They took the lead on 34 minutes when a corner wasn’t cleared properly – the unfortunate Jordan Crush could only head the ball straight into the ground – and Perry Gulliford was on hand to slam the ball home.

The lead was doubled just three minutes from the break as Sam Breeze who was instrumental in most of the good things Lullingstone did converting a right wing centre to sweep the ball into the net past a bemused Ryan Fisher.

Six-in-One came out chasing the game and Crush almost made amends for his earlier mistake when he looped a header seemingly over keeper Dan Carpanini, but somehow the keeper just stretched enough to turn the ball over the bar.

In their next attack Lullingstone took full advantage of the save and effectively sealed the game as Tom Lau topped a great run by firing home from 12 yards.

Six-in-One did briefly give themselves some hope when Andrew Grundy controlled Ryan Smith’s magnificent angled ball into the box to gloriously volley the ball home for the goal of the game, but any hope of a comeback soon evaporated as Crush was shown a second yellow seven minutes from time for a clumsy tackle.

Lullingstone duly wrapped the scoring up in stoppage time when Nathan James got on the end of Breeze’s left wing run and centre to walk the ball into the net, all of which left boss Jon Wenham a very happy man when he spoke to KSN after the game…

“Very happy, very happy indeed” he said, “The boys have done very well this year – they’ve given us everything this year, especially in the Kent Cup.”

“Really, really pleased for them. The second goal was crucial to us on the stroke of half time – it put them on the back foot and gave us a cushion. And then to the third one was great for us so soon after half time.”

“But for the 15 minutes after they scored, we were on the back foot, but that said, I thought we were composed, it did take us a while to get going, but when we did, it was a great all round performance.”

Six-in-One secretary and assistant manager Andy Jepson was full of praise for the victors when he spoke to KSN after the game…

“They were a good side and we never got it back after they had a good first half. We had a better second half but couldn’t get it back.”

“They were good in the air and were always going to be good at set pieces and we just didn’t come to terms with it.”

“I thought 4-1 flattered them a little bit though it has to be said, but that’s football at the end of the day. But they were better than us on the day, but 4-1 I think overdoes it, but there you go…”

 

LULLINGSTONE – Dan Carpanini, Harry Brockman, Sam Ward Corderoy, Jake Green, Sam Rhodes, Sam Breeze, Jack Sparrow, Luke Williams, Tom Lau, Sam Smedley, Perry Gulliford

Subs – Taylor Mott, Nathan James, Harry Mace, Billy Martins, Anthony Russo

TONBRIDGE SIX-IN-ONE – Ryan Fisher, Lee Hollands, Scott Barrow (Ryan Smith 65), Jordan Crush, Daniel Jones, Jack Moss, James Humphrey, John Sinclair, Lee Cooper, Carl Cornell, Daniel Powell

Subs – Jon Loveday, Stuart Crush, Ryan Smith, Aaron Butterworth, Andrew Grundy

Referee – Ben Bowles

Assistants – Joe Dann-Pye & Steve Todd

Fourth official – Tim Amans

Pictures supplied by Julian Hart Photography.