Press Reports

By

Bill Baldwin

Gravesend Football League Press Officer
Text Box: GRAVESEND FOOTBALL LEAGUE Results for Saturday 13th September 2008 Premier Division Craggs Farm 2 v 0 AFC Welsh Tavern (Sat) Lullingstone Castle 1 v 5 Viewpoint The Old Prince of Orange 4 v 2 Swan Valley Division One Bean 1 v 1 Waterloo N.K. Aces 4 v 4 Peacock Celtic Stone C & I 3 v 2 The Rising Eagles Viewpoint Reserves 0 v 2 Meopham Woodlands Athletic 6 v 0 Craggs Farm Reserves Division Two AFC Welsh Tavern (Sat) Reserves 3 v 2 AZ 82 Culverstone United 4 v 1 Real Man of Kent Earl Grey 8 v 3 F.C. Stone Meopham 1 v 9 Ash Green ________________________________________________________ Premier Division Craggs Farm maintained their 100 per cent record in the Premier Division with a 2-0 victory against AFC Welsh Tavern (Sat) at the AEI Henley sports ground. Dmitri Blowers, who grabbed a hat-trick in last week's 3-1 win over Swan Valley, continued his goal spree by opening the scoring before the break. And James Manning added a decisive second after the interval to make it six points from six for Craggs Farm. Last season's champions Viewpoint began their defence of the title at Lullingstone Castle and kicked-off in style by taking a first half lead courtesy of a stunning 30-yard strike from Martin Brown. The Lullies were back on terms early in the second half through Ross Lovett, but Viewpoint went on to add another four goals through Aaron Brown, Karl Hotchkiss (penalty) and Dave Goodwin (2) as they eased to a 5-1 win. It was also the first game of the campaign for The Old Prince of Orange, who entertained Swan Valley at Kings Farm and they made home advantage count in a 4-2 success. The game was pretty even for the first 35 minutes but then Prince opened the scoring with a Mark Laver diving header from a free-kick. Mark Ridley doubled the advantage before the midway point, but Swan reduced the arrears early in the second half thanks to Graham Runham. Laver restored the two-goal cushion before Mark Brockwell conjured up the goal of the game with a 35-yard screamer to pull it back to 3-2. However, Swan's hopes of earning a point were dashed when Simon West popped up to make it 4-2 to the Orangemen. Division One Craig Deamer's early second half goal appeared to have earned Bean all three points against Waterloo, but John Ryder responded with an equaliser five minutes from time to ensure the game finished all-square. There was nothing to separate NK Aces in their home game with Peacock Celtic at Thong Lane as both sides shared eight goals in an entertaining draw. Tim Edwins scored all four for Peacock, while Terry Wollen (2), Paul Sandhu (penalty) and James Crouch kept NK Aces right in contention throughout. Stone Club & Institute edged a five-goal thriller in their home clash with The Rising Eagles. The visitors led through Bradley Cross at half-time and although Gary Norman equalised shortly after the restart, the Eagles quickly regained their advantage through Cross. George Karnovski drew Stone back on terms for the second time and the outcome was sealed late on when Billy Kingwell struck a dramatic winner for the hosts. Viewpoint Reserves may have scored seven times last week, but they were unable to find the target in a 2-0 home reverse against Meopham. Harry Ring opened the scoring and some fine prompting from Sonny Naylor after the break helped Ring claim a crucial second. Martin Fitzpatrick was the hat-trick hero for Woodlands Athletic in their emphatic 6-0 demolition of Craggs Farm Reserves at Swanscombe. Woodlands' other goals came from Neil Marshall, Carl Thompson and Craig Haskins. Division Two There was no shortage of goal action in Division Two. AFC Welsh Tavern (Sat) Reserves were at home to AZ 82 and held a 2-0 lead at the interval courtesy of Danny May's brace. AZ, who have put together a good side this season, soon drew level through Raj Bhachu and Jack Mathieson. But the hero for Tavern turned out to be Allan King, who grabbed their winner in a 3-2 success. Seb Jacques, Daniel Redpath, David Morris and Ed Savory shared Culverstone United's goals as they defeated Real Man of Kent 4-1, with Paul Smith hitting the visitors' sole reply. Victory keeps Culverstone second in the table behind Ash Green. Earl Grey bounced back from last week's defeat in style with an 8-3 triumph over F.C. Stone at Kings Farm. Already 4-1 to the good by the break, they ran riot in the second half with Aaron Spencer (3), Gary Aldous, Dean Gibbons (penalty), Adam Watkins, Tom Packer and Sam Jacomb all making contributions. Stone, who fielded a weakened side, scored through Kelvin Wheeler (2) and John Reffell. Michael Scates gave Joydens Wood an early advantage at Fleetway Printers and then hit the crossbar, but they found themselves trailing 2-1 at the break after Gary Snell struck twice. It was a different story after the break as the Printers ran riot, adding a further five through Darren Simms (4) and Simon Collins. Ryan Gregory (4), Paul Bradbury (2), Lee Vigurs, Mark Osborne and Rob Bradbury made sure Ash Green bettered last week's eight goals in a 9-1 away victory at Meopham Reserves, for whom Joe Page nabbed a consolation.