Kent County League

Invitational Junior Charity Cup 2nd Round

Saturday 20th January 2024

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.31

Aylesford 2 Metrogas 1, attendance 37

45’ 1-0

57’ 1-1 (pen)

86’ 2-1

@ Aylesford Recreation Ground, 3G Pitch

Forstal Road

Aylesford

ME20 7AU

No Admission or Programme.

When my two original choices for today were postponed early, due to frozen pitches, I decided to avoid the lottery of getting a late call off on grass and opted for a 3G option instead. It’s a standard cage set up, with spectator viewing along three quarters of one side and a couple of plastic dugouts on the opposite touchline. The changing rooms/clubhouse are at the entrance end of the complex, next to the car park, whilst the cage is a good 200-250 yards away, at the far end, with a backdrop of a Waitrose distribution centre behind the far goal. Despite being 6 degrees, with the occasional sunny spell, it was bitterly cold and I was surprised how hard the grass pitches here were, that are nearer to the buildings. It was like walking on concrete.

The match was top of Division 2 Central & East versus fourth in Division 1 West. It was end to end from start to finish and could have gone either way. Metrogas came close to opening the scoring late in the first half, when they hit the post with a free kick from the edge of the D, but it was Aylesford that made the breakthrough in the dying seconds of the half, when a long clearance by their ‘keeper saw the ball clear the two centre backs before a striker finished with a looping shot over the ‘keeper from 20 yards. Metrogas levelled with a penalty twelve minutes into the second half and Aylesford had a chance to go back in front when they were awarded a penalty of their own with fifteen minutes left, but it was well saved by the ‘keeper. They grabbed the winner with four minutes left, breaking quickly down the right and when the first attempt of a cross was blocked, the rebound was hit first time left footed into the far corner.