An entertaining and occasionally feisty match ended with Sporting Club Thamesmead defeating FC Elmstead in the DFDS Kent Senior Trophy.

Both teams had deflected efforts in the early exchanges, Jack White’s for the hosts was saved comfortably on the bounce and Stacey Petrou’s at the other end went over. Phil Headley then tried his luck from forty yards but it went harmlessly wide.

Daniel Carpinini then made a stunning reaction save to deny Petrou after he met Luca Katchburian’s diagonal cross with a fierce volley from twelve yards out.

Petrou hit a first time shot wide before the Acre went close when Cameron MacMillan’s glancing header flew just beyond the far post from Ryan Penton’s free kick. Petrou again tried his luck with an overhead effort that went well wide.

Excellent Thamesmead passing football created an opening for Aaron Walker but he was hacked down on the edge of the area. Although no yellow card was shown, the hosts exacted punishment of their own. Luke Alliband hit a low free kick that was well saved by Stan Hill as far as Steve Karkari and he fired home.

MacMillan’s low cross found its way through to Raphael President whose first time effort flew over then another sweeping Acre move ended with Walker being thwarted by a brilliant Cameron Croucher block.

Within twenty seconds of the start of the second period, the Cocks came desperately close to levelling when Petrou’s first time effort from Katchburian’s cross came back out off the bar.

However, they only had to wait another couple of minutes before the same combination brought them level. Katchburian’s low cross got through to Petrou and he finished from close range.

Five minutes later, the Acre went back ahead when Alliband’s free kick was headed home firmly by Karkari.

After a bout of pushing and shoving threatened to get out of hand, Bachi Bari found President whose sweet strike was well held by Hill.

Fifteen minutes remained when Thamesmead scored the crucial third. President’s pace sent him half the length of the pitch down the left hand side and as Hill came out, he fired powerfully home.

President might have made it four when he rounded Hill but he was forced too wide and his tight angled shot went across the goal and beyond the far post. Charlie Dale was denied by a great save by Hill however it was not costly for the hosts who saw out time with no further alarms.

Their reward for progressing to the first round will be a trip to Snodland Town.

Sporting Club Thamesmead: Carpinini, Alliband, Mason Simms, White, Clark, Bari, Walker (Dale 86), Penton (Dwyer 66), Karkari, MacMillan (Main 71), President.

Subs not used: Dale, Dobson, Fitton.

Goalscorers: Karkari (34), (53), President (75)

Yellow cards: White, Penton, Alliband

FC Elmstead: Hill, Hjelm, C. Croucher (Grant 84), R. Croucher (Cowap 85), Wall, Faithorn, Katchburian, Goodayle (Chidley 73), Petrou (Shrimpton 76), Headley, Higgins.

Sub not used: Kommu.

Goalscorers: Petrou (48)

Yellow card: Wall, Higgins, Chidley

Referee: Ayden Gillespie

Assistant Referees: Mark Jenkins and Michael Dye

Attendance: 55