sevenoaks030905

Thursday 01st September 2005

Last gasp strike maintains Lords unbeaten start

Saturday 3rd September 2005	Kentish Observer League	Darrell Harman reports from Greatness Park
Sevenoaks Town	1	Clark 40 (pen)
Lordswood	1	Doerr 90

Lordswood continued their fine, unbeaten start to the season but only just, in a lackluster performance at Greatness Park, against a side that had nine goals knocked past them at Beckenham Town in their last league game, writes Darrell Harman.

The home side should have taken a third minute lead when unmarked Dave Forster headed well over the bar from eight yards out.

Lordswood's first chance came eleven minutes later, when good play down the right from Will Richards' saw his low cross find Lee Jones, and he laid the ball back to Ray Broad but his shot from the edge of the area was parried away by goalkeeper Craig Clark.

But the Medway side should have taken the lead after 27 minutes when Mike Cunningham played in Andy Doerr, and after he out muscled former Beckenham Town defender Martin West, the striker raced inside the area but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Sevenoaks, however, took the lead in the 38th minute when a cross into the area bounced and hit Andy Forster's hand and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Clark and the goalkeeper smashed the spot kick past his opposite number, Gavin Hopper.

The second half was basically one way traffic as Lordswood tried in vain to equalise, while the home side were happy to lob the ball forward and hope for a mistake by the Lordswood defence.

Lordswood had an excellent chance to equalise in the 73rd minute when Forster's free kick to the far post evaded everyone but Charlie Almond side footed wide from four yards.

However, a last gasp leveller maintained their unbeaten start. Hopper threw the ball out to Forster on the left and his chipped pass went to Almond who passed to Doerr and his 25-yarder took a deflection on its way into the net.

Both sides are on home turf on Tuesday night, with basement boys Erith Town travelling to Greatness Park, and Hythe Town making their way to Lordswood.

Lordswood: Hopper, Burrett, Russell, Colyer, Cunningham, Forster, Broad (Chiverton 45), Sharp, Doerr, Jones, Richards (Almond 62). Subs: Hayfield, Phillips, Hopkins