Snodland Town fought long and hard to progress in the SCEFL Challenge Cup but eventually got the better of First Division Canterbury City with a goal in each half. 

Aidan Clark gave the home side the lead against the run of play just before the break after City had had some glorious chances to take the advantage. The visitor’s first half was summed up perfectly in stoppage time when they missed a penalty after Snodland keeper Shaun Wicks had brought down Jamie Obianigwe. 

After the break, the move of the game gave Stanley Oldfield the chance to double the home side’s advantage which he took gleefully to give Canterbury a mountain that they never looked like climbing. 

Only Canterbury will know how they were behind at the break, such was their dominance. Luka Radojevic sent a free header over from a corner; Rob Lawrence’s free-kick just needed a touch from anyone to go in and Connor Coyne’s diving header didn’t miss by very much at all. 

Then totally against the run of play, the game turned on its head. Clarke tried to thread the ball through for Oldfield, but the ball ricocheted straight back to the Snodland man who coolly clipped the ball past the advancing Dan Smith in the City goal. 

Stung City went straight back down the slope at the GI Landscapes Stadium and forced a spot kick, but it was surrounded by controversy as Assistant Wade had flagged for an offence which referee Amber waved away. There were protests from the home side when Wicks brought the Canterbury man down but the decision was given, but the spot kick was so poor and easily saved by Wicks. 

It was almost as though the events of the end of the first half had knocked the stuffing out of City as they didn’t really threaten the home defence as they had done so in the first half. 

Perhaps a sign of things to come came minutes after the break when Coyne did well to find Harry Sikirwayi on the edge of the box but the shot sailed into the trees behind the goal. 

Soon Snodland had doubled their fortunate lead with a terrific goal. Tristan Lock was played in down the left and his superb centre was met on the run by Oldfield who magnificently stroked the ball past Smith and gave the home side an advantage that they never really looked like losing. 

It could have been worse for the visitors still – the clumsiest of challenges by Sikirwayi on Bailee Cain saw the official point to the spot but the Snodland spot kick was just as poor and Canterbury’s and Smith made a comfortable save. 

Snodland progress into Round Three, whilst Canterbury are left to chase their dream of promotion to the SCEFL Premier. 

SNODLAND TOWN – Wicks, Cormack, Jackson-Hunt, Turner-Bernard (Cain), Lock, Clark, Paling (Coltress), Parle, Oldfield, Thompson (Kasai), Hatton 

Subs – Massood, Phillips 

CANTERBURY CITY – Smith, Radojevic, McCarthy, Kabamba (Maher), Illsey (Brisley), Lawrence (Cragg), Obianigwe, Sikirwayi, Coyne (Cham), Murray (Jobe) 

REFEREE – Mr. Amber