Byron Walker’s hat-trick warmed up the Sevenoaks Town supporters against a resilient Lordswood on a bitterly cold night at the Bourne Stadium.
Had the game been due to be played on grass it is highly unlikely that it would have gone ahead as the surrounding fields in Greatness Park were rock hard. The fact that there was no problem with it going ahead on Sevenoaks’ 3G pitch was a massive advert for that style of playing surface.
Hosts Sevenoaks came into the game with a 100% home league record although they hadn’t played at their own stadium since 28th October.
They started strongly and Ryan Chandler made a great save when Walker headed Tom Youngs’ cross goal-wards. Then Billy Bennett’s header crashed off the bar from Harrison Canegie’s centre.
Having weathered the storm Lordswood came more into the game and Jordan Wells let fly from twenty five yards with an effort that required a diving save by Ben Bridle-Card.
Chris Edwards blasted well over then Walker fired wide from long distance before another Edwards shot skimmed the top netting.
Frankie Sawyer burst clear down the right wing but as he shot, the out-rushing Chandler caught him earning the Lordswood custodian a yellow card.
Walker had a shot blocked out by Chandler then Bennett was sent clear by Brett Ince but his first time effort went wide as Sevenoaks looked to build on their lead immediately before the break.
After the interval, Lordswood came out in determined mood and came close when Bridle-Card saved Wells’ header from George Blake’s free kick.
Bridle-Card then made a stunning save from Bradley Webb who got on the end of Carl Harrold’s low cross. It came out to Liam Newton who drove it back in, striking Webb, and flying onto the crossbar.
On the hour mark, Walker was deemed to have been pushed over by Blake and a penalty was awarded. After a delay of nearly three full minutes which included the booking of Jason Hollick, Bennett stepped up but Chandler read it correctly and dived to make a fine save.
Any hopes that Lordswood might have had of making the hosts pay were ended when Walker burst through and hit an unstoppable shot on the half volley from the edge of the area.
Five minutes later he made it three when playing a 1-2 with Bennett before applying an excellent finish.
Youngs had a couple of attempts to increase the lead late on, first snatching at a shot that went wide, then stabbing an effort from close range that Chandler turned around the post.
Victory sent Sevenoaks five points clear while Lordswood have now lost two in a row and will be looking to rebound quickly.
Sevenoaks Town: Bridle-Card, Edwards, Benbow, Ince, Ripley, Holder, Carnegie, Bennett, Sawyer (Jones 53), Walker (Burden 79), Youngs.
Unused substitutes: Miles, Thompson, Camacho.
Lordswood: Chandler, Harrold, Laker, Blake (Coppins 77), Huggens, Hollick, Newton (Griffin 69), Huggins, Plummer, Wells, Webb (Carter 86).
Unused substitutes: Cooke, Montgomery.
Sevenoaks Town:
Goalscorers: Walker (35), (71) and (76)
Yellow cards: Burden
Red cards: None
Lordswood:
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Chandler, Hollick, Harrold.
Red cards: None
Referee: Jack Owen
Assistants: Harry Wager and Harry Graham
Attendance: 52
Man of the match: Byron Walker