Friday 11 May 2012
Hadlow goalkeeper Charlie Wash (left) who produced his second impressive display against at Greatness Park on Tuesday night
Sevenoaks FC's seven match-winning run came to an end against Hadlow Evolution in their final haart of Kent County League Division 2 East game of the season at Greatness Park on Monday night.
The game, postponed at Hadlow College last week was switched with the home side conceding ground advantage, in order to complete the season, and including former Town defender Jonathan Lord in their side.
Hadlow went in front when referee Andy Butler penalised Stuart Clarke for handball for the second time this season.
As against Tenterden earlier in the season FC officials belived it was ball to hand, but Myles Lowden stepping up to score.
Sevenoaks had an off night in midfield, losing the ball all over the pitch, with Brad Draper, Dave Sansom, and Dave Blundell all missing from the starting line-up, forcing Joe Creasey and Benji Agana to fee off scraps in an effort to create anything uop front.
FC condeded a second when a poor air shot by Matt Crompton found it's way to Hadlow's Chris Crouch whose shot hit Clarke's leg, only for Adam Porter to somehow keep it out, but the rebound fell to Chris Stoate who finished from two yards.
Sevenoaks had a poor first half hour, specially in midfield, but full backs Gary Barnes and
Scott Willard breathing life into the side with their strong and powerful running from deep.
Benji Agana pulled one back a minute before half-time, converting Richard Bryce's cross
The second half saw Sevenoaks pin Hadlow back into their own half for long periords, but goalkeeper Wash was again outstanding after a fine perfromance against them earlier this season, producing save after save, to keep his team in front.
Sevenoaks had several appeals for penalties turned down, proving it wasn't their night.
Dave Blundell casme off the bench with 20 minutes to go, but Hadlow held on to win their final game of the season, their first since moving from the Tonbridge & District League.
Sevenoaks FC: Adam Porter, Gary Barnes, Scott Willard, Stuart Clarke, John Eastwood, Matt Crompton (Dave Blundell), John Phillips, Richard Bryce, Benji Agana, Joe Creasey, Andy Logan. Subs not used Gary Brooker, Dave Norburn
The Division 2 East title is still undecided after NK Aces home game with Swale United was abandoned after 61 minutes last week.
The matter is now in the hands of the Kent County Football Association, with Kent County League officials awaiting a decision before confirming the league places.
If Aces are declared the winners,they will be champions, finishing three points clear of long-time leaders Malgo.
Thursday 10 May 2012
PRESS RELEASE
NATIONAL LEAGUE SYSTEM STEP 5 REVIEW
At a meeting of the Football Association Leagues Committee held today at Wembley Stadium the Final Report from the Step 5/6 Review Group, containing a number of recommendations was considered.
By way of background, the Review Group was established by the Leagues Committee in 2011 to look at a possible reduction in the number of Step 5 divisions from 14 to 12 for the commencement of season 2013/2014. Following an initial meeting with all competitions in July 2011 there followed an extensive consultation period during which all Step 5/6 competitions were met on an individual basis to seek their views on this matter. The initial remit of the Group was altered to take into account the feedback from these meetings. In the early part of 2012 the Group held a series of meetings to which all Step 5 leagues, their member clubs and County Football Associations were invited to consider the suggestion for change.
As a result of these meetings the Review Group, taking into account both the feedback from the discussions and correspondence received, compiled their Final Report and the following recommendations were agreed by the Leagues Committee today.
1)The process of reducing Step 5 leagues from 14 to 12 was deemed unworkable and the initial suggestion withdrawn.
2) That, in order to continue to compete at Step 5 of the National League System, ALL clubs must meet the National Ground Grading Category F in FULL by 31 March 2013. Clubs that do not meet these requirements WILL be relegated to an appropriate Step 6 division/competition.
3) In addition all Leagues must fully comply with the Regulations for the Establishment and Operation of the National League System, Standardised Rules and National Ground Grading Document.
4) All Step 5 divisions must have a minimum of 20 clubs with a maximum of 22 clubs from the commencement of season 2013/2014.
5)The Leagues Committee would, in future, in conjunction with the appropriate leagues, manage the promotion/relegation process between Step 5 and Step 6 and that as from the end of season 2012/2013 clubs would be placed into “feeder pools” and allocated the most appropriate geographical division.
6)That, with effect from Season 2013/2014, the Premier Divisions of the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Football Leagues (Step 3) be increased to 24 clubs.
7)That, with effect from Season 2013/2014 and in order to create 14 relegation places at Step 4, the Isthmian League Division 1 North and Division 1 South (Step 4) be increased to 24 clubs with each relegating 3 clubs to Step 5, subject to any club issues arising during or after the completion of the playing season. It was noted that the Northern Premier and Southern Leagues have no desire to increase to 24 clubs for their Step 4 divisions. This will mean that a number of additional clubs will be given the opportunity to be promoted from Step 5 to Step 4 for season 2013/2014, the process is to be agreed.
8) In future seasons, to stimulate promotion, consideration would be given to clubs that finish in 1st, 2nd or 3rd positions in Step 5 competitions provided that they meet the entry criteria for Step 4. There would, however, be only one club promoted from any Step 5 competition in any season.
9)In addition, it was agreed that at the conclusion of Season 2012/2013 the clubs finishing in bottom position in each of the Step 4 divisions would be relegated. -------------------*It was further agreed that discussions should take place with all leagues to look at the possibility that, regardless of any vacancies occurring, the club finishing in the bottom positions in divisions at Steps 1 to 5 of the National League System will be relegated.
10) That there remained issues to be addressed at Step 6, not least in the Essex area, and these will be progressed in the coming months.
The Review Group wished to place on record their thanks to all those leagues, clubs, County Football Associations and others that had contributed in any way to the consultation process.
Press Release issued by the FA and reproduced from Kent League website
Wednesday 02 May 2012
Darren Anslow was a happy man on Tuesday night after watching Sevenoaks Town hold champions Herne Bay to a 1-1 draw in the final game of the season.
His mood was in sharp contrast to the weekend when he blaste the side following the 4-0 defeat at Fisher, and admitted:"The boys let me down there, but they showed character against Bay.
" We have had three good games against them this season, losing to a late goal in the league down there, beating them in the Kent Senior Trophy, and drawn against them here - that's a decent record. It ends our season on a positive note, which I am really pleased about.
"They didn't rip us apart, our shape was good, and I thought we looked a threat, and I actually enjoyed sitting there and watching a decent game of football."
Anslow had issues about Bay's opener - whether Ashley Baverstock was offside before scoring, and a loud penalty shout late on for handball.
"It might have been ball to hand -but he still handled it, and we have had them given against us this season.
"We haven't been given a lot of decisions - that's not sour grapes, it just hasn't evened itself out, but all we can take out of the game is positives."
"Simon Halsey (Bay manager) told me he was disappointed not to win because he wanted to get to 70 points, and it means we finish above Deal.
Bay are coming to us in pre-season which will be a decent game."
Halsey said: "It was a good game - Sevenoaks are neat and tidy - we were as well, but didn't work their goalkeeper enough."
Tuesday 01 May 2012
Sean Brown's goal helped Sevenoaks Town end their Kent Hurlimanns League Premier Division with a deserved 1-1 draw against champions Herne Bay at Greatness Park on Tuesday night.
It was a rare point for Town in recent meetings against Bay, and the first at home since a 0-0 draw in season 2007-8, when the two clubs met no less than five times - twice in the league, a two legged League Cup tie, and the FA Cup
Midfielder Brown got the final touch to Mark Bishop's long throw at the near post four minutes before the break to put Town level.
Ashley Baverstock had put Bay in front, beating the offside trap, before lobbing goalkeeper Matt Bailey. He fired just wide soon afterwards, and then saw another effort bounce off the top of the bar.
Matt Bailey punched clear Tom Bryant's early free-kick, and then Steve Hanson headed over from a corner.
Chris Round then did well on the left, setting-up skipper Michael Bishop, only to miskick in front of goal, and he then fired wide after good work by Gerald Akosa, making his second start for Town,
Brown then fired just wide, before Baverstock broke the deadlock, but Town were not behind for long,
Aiden Sherlock returned to the side, but he and the rest of the Town defenders were under pressure in the second half, but had one great chance to upset the Kent League's team of the season, having also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase,
Mark Bishop worked himself a great chance only to shoot straight at goalkeepeer Brad Ashmore, and then Town had loud appeals for hand ball turned down by referee Karl May.
Bay went close twice to regaining the lead,in what proved an entertaining and well contested match to bring down the curtain on another league campaign.
The result means Town finish third from bottom on goal difference from Deal Town.
Sevenoaks Town: Matt Bailey, Joe Stephenson, Jordan Clark, Aiden Sherlock, Fraser Cronin, Mark Bishop Sean Brown, Aaron Guard, Chris Round, Gerald Akoso (Tom Skelton 75 mins) Michael Bishop.
MATCH STATS: Shots on Target 2-4 Shots off Target 4-7 Hit Woodwork 0-1 Corners 7-5, Offsides 4-4 Free Kicks Conceded 12-9 Yellow Cards 1-0 Red Cards 0-0.
Kent Hurlimann League Premier Division
