City made it through to the next round of the Kent Senior Trophy with this away victory at Lydd Town.

A docile and subdued first half saw City go into the break with a goal advantage, but the second half, which was far more lively and frantic and played in much more of a cup tie feel, eventually saw City score two more without reply.

City started the brighter and after a nice touch by Rob Lawrence in the box, Jordan Casey saw his flicked effort go over the home bar and then moments later he also saw a shot blocked. City then took the lead when on twelve minutes, Sam Lawford opened the scoring. Breaking down the right with plenty of speed and in a determined run, he shrugged off a challenge and then cut inside and with the keeper retreating he lashed the ball past him from a tightening angle for 1-0.

City were then forced into an early change when Casey limped off to be replaced by Dave Pilcher and for a good twenty minutes or so, the game stagnated. There was plenty of energy on show from both sides, but in truth, nothing was being created and neither keeper was really forced into making a save. Lawrence got himself into two or three excellent positions but failed to be found, an overhit free-kick and a glancing shot that deflected of a defender and fell nicely for Joe Munden in the Lydd goal was as good as it got for either side and there was little else to report.

On thirty-one minutes, Cory Walters-Wright saw his snap volley go over for City, but after that, finally, Lydd started to respond and began to get into the game. Gary Lockyer was gifted the ball from City and seeking to catch everyone napping, he tried his luck from halfway only to drag his lofted effort wide. He followed that up with a volley that went well over from distance and then he saw his low free-kick flash right across the City goal – just evading a teammate charging in at the far post.

A disappointing first half ended soon after but, importantly, City were a goal ahead at the break.

The home side had finished the first half with a bit of zip and they started the second in much the same fashion. City seemed becalmed with Lydd battling to get back into the tie. So much so, that the hosts were starting to get on top and around the fifty-five minute mark, City had two wake-up calls. Firstly, they were fortunate to see a goal conceded indirectly from a corner chalked off for a contested offside decision before City keeper Shannon Harris was forced into his first save of the match as a rapid break down the left ended with a shot across the keeper being pushed to temporary safety before Lydd regained the ball and sent in another effort that needed Laurence Harvey to clear in haste right in front of goal.

The City faithful were urging their team to a better effort and finally, as the pace of the game picked up, a proper cup-tie broke out! City suddenly moved up a gear and a shot took a slight deflection but enough to have Munden worriedly scurrying across his goal as the ball flew just past the angle and City’s next attack saw Munden go down well to cut out a dangerous low cross. Darren Marsden then brilliantly battled his way through from halfway before setting up Pilcher who frustratingly struck the ball wide.

On sixty-two minutes, City doubled their lead when Lawford bagged his second. A left-sided attack from Pat Nzuzi dragged his side forward again and he sent in a bouncing ball that Munden should have dealt with, but he charged out of goal and instead of hacking the ball clear it spun off the side of his boot and ran loose behind him. Completely stranded, he could only watch in dismay as Lawford reacted the quickest and chased the ball down before ramming it home past a back-tracking
defender for 2-0.

Now City were really roused from their slumber and they poured forward looking for a third. Joe Kennett flashed a fierce shot just over the bar, Nzuzi cut inside before firing wide of the far post angle, while Pilcher went too high with his thirty-yard effort and Marsden broke and set up Lawrence only to see his shot charged down with a superb block.

To Lydd’s credit, they continued to try to get back in the game but the effort they were putting in didn’t equate to chances with just George Mabb firing over when everyone stopped because they thought the ball had gone out and Matt Kirby shooting wide from distance. City then made a change with sixteen year old Ryan Aldritt coming on for his debut and the youngster was straight into the game showing plenty of confidence with a couple of touches making space in the box only to see a shot charged down.

On eighty minutes, City finally ended the home resistance when Pilcher harried a dawdling defender into an error and robbed him of the ball before then beating Munden in another challenge then rounding the keeper and slotting home from the angle into an empty net for 3-0.

In the time that remained Lydd saw a shot deflected wide off their own player, while Lockyer screwed another effort badly wide from a promising position. For City, Aldritt rolled a first time shot just wide from the edge of the box while a vicious ball whipped in by Pilcher was only helped on past the woodwork by Munden’s outstretched fingertips.

A much better second-half saw City deservedly prevail and march on into the next round.

Final score: City 3 Lydd Town 0.

City; Shannon Harris, Michael Turner, Pat Nzuzi (Ryan Aldritt), Cory Walters-Wright, Laurence Harvey, Josh McCallum, Darren Marsden (Ollie Mentessi), Joe Kennett, Jordan Casey (Dave Pilcher), Sam Lawford, Rob Lawrence.
Unused subs; Sam Conlon, Jack Delo