Aldington Sports Football Club

SPIRIT HAVING FLOWN
Goals in the first and last minute gave Kennington a deserved double over a totally lacklustre Aldington side at Sandyacres.
This was a depressing day as we seemed to lack desire and spirit in dealing with a young side clearly more up for this contest than us.
Maybe the fact that we had already achieved our place in the Premier League for next season led to this attitude which I noticed in the warm up but I specifically said before the game that this game was an important one for us but it turned out to be impotent instead.
The first goal was caused by our complete inability to defend a free kick which saw the ball ricochet kindly to Dawes in the 6 yard box and he made no mistake.
We were struggling with Kennington’s ability to move the ball quickly and were mostly chasing shadows.However we did carve out a few chances with Strand firing high and wide on 2 occasions and Williams hitting the post with a header when it seemed easier to score.Danny Rose was having some joy on the right getting himself into some good areas but final delivery was not always adequate.
At half time I urged us to show more commitment and desire but it seemed one of those days when I could not motivate some players and the second half brought little or no improvement until a change in formation made us look a little more dangerous with Kevin Ruane coming on up front and a reversion to 3 at the back.
Chances were becoming a little more frequent and Ruane,Strand and Ryan Norman all went close but Kennington’s keeper McLoud seemed to have magnets in his gloves.While pressing Kennington caught us and Dawes scored his second from just inside the box to settle matters.
Has to go down as probably our most disappointing performance of the season and thankfully games like this have been few but I cannot accept passionless performances like this one.Man of the match was awarded to Danny Rose but I thought Ryan Petto was our best player.The referee Stuart Wilmer was outstanding.
TEAM;
CRUST;CRYER,MCCOMBE(RUANE 60),WANSTALL,PETTO
ROSE,WILLIAMS,MILES,NORMAN
LINKINS(BEASLEY 85),STRAND
SUBS;INSHAW
MOTM;ROSE
REF;S.WILMER(100)
TEAM RATING;2

SEASON’S FINALE ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT
Once again Bromley Green’s strength in depth proved vital as they dominated the second half after a keenly contested close first half saw honours even.
With a bare 11 to start with,we gave a spirited performance especially in the first 45 minutes which saw bizarre penalties awarded to both sides.
Without five regulars we started with a 4-4-2 formation with Grant Moffat making a welcome return and Matt Beasley getting a first start.Mannering in the Green goal made a smart stop from Ryan Petto’s effort and Steve Crust was equally impressive turning Thomas’ fierce drive over the bar.We then had a goal disallowed when Andy McCombe powered home a great header from Chris Linkins’ corner but referee Pepper spotted a push somewhere.
The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty awarded but surely not seen by referee Pepper.Lockyer’s shot through a crowd of players was alleged to have struck Petto on the arm, the referee seemed totally unsighted but amazingly after much hesitation gave the penalty which Lockyer converted.
Mysteriously we were to benefit from a second debatable penalty when Kevin Ruane tumbled under an innocuous challenge but at least this time the ref had a good view of the incident and pointed to the spot.Ruane drove home unerringly for a deserved equaliser.
Half time then with the scores level,which was a true reflection of events.The back four of Moffat,McCombe,Wanstall and Petto had performed well and behind them Crust was at his best.Lee Miles and Chris Cryer were matching the Green pairing of Mackett and Holmes in the middle of the park and Ruane and Linkins were impressive in their trusty partnership up front.
However with no fit substitutes we were to tire understandably in the second half and began to be stretched by the visitors.Luckily for us stalwart stopper Crust was performing superbly well with a string of fine saves.However he could do nothing to prevent Hayles’ near post header from a corner which gave Green the lead.When Neil made it 3 with a shot which looped up off the foot of Moffat whose brave last ditch tackle almost saved the ball from going in,we looked beaten.However we rallied well with Ryan Strand now having an influence on the game and his strong run down the left saw him pull the ball back for Linkins but the shot went wide.Then Beasley sent a perfect through ball to Ruane but his shot went narrowly wide.With the benefit of fresh legs,Bromley Green finished much the stronger and scored in the very last minute although,again in controversial circumstances.In the initial attack Mackett was flagged for offside attempting to reach the ball but with the referee overruling the linesman the same player scored when the ball was played back into him.Admittedly he was not offside when he netted but was interfering with play in the first phase.I just dont think the referee had seen the initial flag.
As I have said before Green are a good enough side not to need help from officials and although they beat us fair and square today in our last 3 contests they have had some very favourable decisions that have led to goals and that’s frustrating.
Today Chris Cryer was awarded MOTM and that was a fair choice,his form having been excellent but there were terrific performances from Steve Crust,skipper Lee Miles and again,Ryan Petto who has been outstanding since his return to the side.
So our season comes to an end and it has been a tough one as expected but our aim was to maintain our Premier League status and that we have comfortably achieved.Some of our performances have been above my expectations-Market Hotel(both games) doubles over Mersham and Brewmasters,a draw at Hamstreet against all the odds and of course an epic semi final against Bromley Green which saw us 15 minutes from a cup final.However some have been disappointing-especially 2 defeats against Kennington but I have optimism that with 1 or 2 signings in the summer we can progress.My thanks go to all the players and Shane Reed.
Lack of fitness I feel has been a problem and pre season training will reflect this as I intend to start a month earlier than normal and hope everybody will be up for that!
TEAM
CRUST,MOFFAT,MCCOMBE,WANSTALL,PETTO
BEASLEY(WILLIAMS 85)MILES,CRYER,STRAND
LINKINS,RUANE
SCORER;RUANE(PEN 26)
MOTM;CRYER
REF;T.PEPPER(52)
TEAM RATING;6

ALDINGTON GRIND OUT A WIN AT MILL ROAD AS DENS PRESS SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON
An outstanding individual display from mercurial winger Ryan Norman was the highlight as we finally nailed our bogey team with a 6-3 victory but Bethersden were architects of their own downfall with a suicidal lack of discipline which led to 2 dismissals both for rash tackles on Norman.
To be honest Bethersden completely blew us away with an opening 20 minute burst which saw them take a 3-0 lead as we totally failed to get a foothold in the game.We were undone by the quick movement of the Dens forwards and struggled to keep our shape as goals from Sikora,Pemble and Dury-the third a superb volley from the edge of the box,put the hosts in a seemingly unassailable position.
The only bright spot for us was the sparkling form of Norman who caused panic every time he had the ball and was attracting some harsh treatment.Indeed, on the rare occasions he escaped these desperate challenges his crosses were driven across the face of the goal and missed first by Ryan Strand and then by Alex Williams by the narrowest of margins.Bethersden should have made it 4 when they once again breached the visitor’s defence but the chance was missed when it seemed easier to score.Williams,who enjoyed some success on the right,then came close to reducing the deficit but his excellent header was superbly tipped over.
The turning point came just before half time after yet another foul on Norman was punished by referee Wood only for the Den’s player who,already on a yellow showed too much dissent and was dismissed.This was the signal for us to push skipper Lee Miles into midfield to great effect.
With the Dens down to ten at half time we realised that a quick goal would bring us back into the game.Fortunately for us,Bethersden despite being in command continued to show an alarming level of indiscipline and gave us a lifeline which we scarcely deserved when another reckless challenge on Norman in the box gave us a penalty and them another second yellow to take them down to nine men.Ryan Strand dispatched the penalty despite the keeper getting a hand to it.
Now we just had to be patient and surely the 2 man advantage would see us home.With Norman now rampant the goals came at regular intervals.Williams made it 3-2 with a far post header from an excellent cross from Norman,Chris Linkins who finished superbly from 10 yards,equalised and we finally got our noses in front when Norman produced another great run and cross for Lee Miles to head home.
Home and dry?Well to give credit to Bethersden they dug in and came close to equalising on a couple of rare breaks through Sikora and sub Beaney.However we made the points safe when Williams got his second after Ryan Petto put in a great delivery from the left which was met at the far post with an unerring finish.Chris Linkins fashioned the sixth goal with a great run and pull back from the byline which Chris Cryer fired home from 12 yards to complete the scoring.
It has to be said that the scoreline flattered us and Bethersden would surely have seen out the game successfully with a full quota of players but they only have themselves to blame with a reckless display.
From our point of view it was a shocking first half display but we showed patience and the goals we scored were well fashioned.The performance of Norman was one of the best I’ve witnessed as Aldington manager.Considering the state of the pitch,his close control and dribbling skills were incredibly impressive.There was another good display from Ryan Petto,Alex Williams continued his goalscoring run and Chris Linkins was in decent form.Ryan Strand was adjudged MOTM but I think everyone knows it was Norman who was the outstanding performer on the day.
TEAM
CRUST,MOFFAT,MILES(MCCOMBE 87)ROSE,PETTO
WILLIAMS,HOWELLS(INSHAW 85)CRYER,NORMAN
STRAND,LINKINS
SUB;M.WANSTALL
SCORERS;STRAND(48 pen)WILLIAMS(54,75)LINKINS(62)MILES(68)
CRYER(80)
REF;C.WOOD
MOTM;R.STRAND
TEAM RATING;5