Division One Cup
Round 1
Cranfield United 1 Kentish Town 4
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Town visited one of the Spartan League's most northerly outposts for a Division 1 Cup First Round tie on a chilly evening and incredibly found themselves 1-0 to the good after only ten seconds of the proceedings when a Cranfield defensive error allowed Lee Scott to bear down on goal and hold off two defenders before sending an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Town then proceeded to set up camp in the home sides half of the field and Scott missed a good opportunity to increase the lead with Daniel Young also going close when hitting the crossbar with a measured drive.
Town did increase their lead on the 20 minute mark when Referee Mr Szulc gave a free kick some 25 yards from goal on the right, a well flighted kick was met by Aaron Hutchins who made no mistake with a bullet header that left the Cranfield keeper Steve Templeman statuesque.
Eight minutes later Town increased their lead further through a piece of sheer brilliance from wing man Thomas Looney who gathered the ball out on the right flank before chipping the goalkeeper in a magical movement that had even the opposition players and fans applauding, time seemed to surreally stand still for a moment as nobody could quite believe what they had just witnessed. A rampant Looney then proceeded to hit the crossbar from an acute long range angle again out on the right flank.
Cranfield were beginning to fear a cricket score when Town made it 4-0 on 35 minutes, a well worked move down the left and a superbly flighted cross from Terry O'Leary found Dave Dawson who got in bravely between two defenders to head home. To their credit the home side picked themselves up off the floor to pull a goal back just before the break when Mo Banda was allowed space to outrun the Town defence and lob keeper James Noonan from close range.
The late first half goal clearly lifted Cranfield who started the second period in very lively fashion also making an early substitution when Matt Fraser entered the fray in midfield. This appeared to be an inspired move and Cranfield almost pulled a further goal back when Banda's effort was scrambled away, indeed the home side appeared to be a totally different proposition to that of the first half particularly in the tackle.
Town's young right back Daniele Quattromini made an excellent forty yard run but his attempted cross came to nothing, Hutchins was then booked for Town following an altercation on the half way line which seemed to incense the home fans in the decent sized crowd. Cranfield were by now, and to their credit, playing as if their lives depended on it and troubled Town on a number of occasions who were thankful for their three goal cushion from the first half, the home side hit a post and Noonan was kept busy for sustained periods.
Roberto Quattromini entered the fray for Daryl Malcolm with ten minutes remaining, substitute Chris Zanre, who had also joined the action for Daniel Young, almost increased Town's lead when put nicely through however was unable to beat the home keeper in a one on one confrontation. With the clock running down Aaron Serieux also joined the action for the limping Shaka Cole.
It was somewhat of a surprise that there were no further goals in a lively second period and Town go through to the second round of the competition where they will face a difficult trip to title favourites Brimsdown Rovers.
Town Team: Noonan(c), D Quattromini, Malcolm, Kanaris, Hutchins, Young, Looney, Cole, Scott, Dawson, O'Leary
Subs: Zanre, R Quattromini, Serieux
Cranfield Team: Templeman, Nembherd, Reeves, Allison, Curtic(c), McGlue, Bonoalias, Damburi, Cattrell, Banda, Brown
Subs: Stokes, Carmelo, Fraser, Woodin, Eggerton
Referee: Mr Lindsay Szulc (Amersham)