Report

Range Rovers Under 13’s were away to local rivals Sittingbourne Lions for their last game of the Express Cabs Maidstone Boys Primary League Division One season.

The Rovers Boys were desperate for a win against the newly crowned champions and were somewhat hampered by only managing to field a team of ten players. The Island boys started as they meant to go on with stout and resolute defensive football to thwart the free scoring Lions. It took about 10 minutes for both sides to settle but it was Rovers that looked by far the most comfortable of the two sides. The full backs of Johnny Hulus and Connor O’Reilly were excellent in ushering out anything wide and the two centre backs of Harry McEntire and Charlie Feast were immense dealing with anything that was coming through the middle. However, the central four of Richard Bennett, Max Curtis, Connor Parkes and Thomas Jupe were tireless in their application to stop the Lions boys playing. The break through came when Rovers won a corner. A perfect in swinging corner from O’Reilly saw the ball come through to Bennett who brilliantly bundled the ball over the line, his first goal in a Rovers shirt. It was important that the Rovers squad got to halftime without conceding and the next 15 minutes seemed to last an hour.
Halftime: Sittingbourne Lions 0-1 Range Rovers

The second half began in the same vane with Lions on the front foot and the ten man Rovers a worthy adversary. Wave after wave of Lions pressure was seen off and with more time passing the likelihood of a break away goal was becoming a real reality. It came when Harry Bates whom, singularly, had been occupying the Lions back four had his reward. With only his second clear opportunity he broke through and headed goal bound, the shot was parried by the Lions keeper who also got Bates, but he was up like a flash and deftly slid it home to make it two. Lions were not going to take Rovers lead quietly and upped their effort again, and as the pace of the game started to tell on the visitors, Lions drew a free kick. The Subsequent free kick was blasted home and although the Rovers Keeper Danny Hook-Utting got his hands to it the power of the shot took it through. With the there spirits lifted Lions really came at Rovers and again the Island Boys stood tall. The decisive moment came late on when Lions were awarded an indirect Free Kick 30 yards out, although buried with a fabulous strike the goal was disallowed and Rovers ran out 2-1 winners.

The Rovers Management would like to state how proud they are of the Boys for finishing 4th in the top division of the Express Cabs Maidstone Boys Primary League.

Fulltime: Sittingbourne Lions 1-2 Range Rovers

Player of the Match: Joint Harry Bates and Johnny Hulus
Team: Hook-Utting, Hulus, O’Reilly, McEntire, Feast, Parkes, Curtis, Jupe, Bates and Bennett.