Kennington and Sheppey united will have to try again, following two goals in as many minutes in a close fought draw in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round at Homelands.
The home side came into this FA Cup tie following a good 2-2 draw with highly fancied SE Dons last week in their SCEFL Premier opener last Saturday thanks to a last-minute equaliser from last season’s top scorer, Ryan Philpot.
Sheppey meanwhile have made wholesale changes to the squad that flirted too close to the relegation zone in the Isthmian South-East campaign last season. With the hope that the refresh can improve their prospects for the forthcoming season.
It was the visitors who started strongly with Danny Leonard going close in the opening minute with a lob just over the bar after running through onto a long clearance.
Sheppey were creating problems for the home defence early on, especially with long diagonal balls down the left wing, and taking advantage of D‘Jean Spencer’s lightning pace.
From a corner following one of these moves, Leonard’s ball in found Harry Lawrence unmarked, but he headed over from close range. Soon after, thanks to a wayward back pass, the same players repeated the set piece again, with Lawrence again heading too high.
Kennington’s best chance in the early exchanges came when Jordan Griffin latched onto a long ball forward to find himself one on one with Harley Earle in the Ites goal, but the custodian got down quickly to block. Despite this, Sheppey were well on top up to the first hydration break.
It seemed like the break benefited the hosts the better, for at the restart of proceedings, Kennington began to take control of the game.
They were assisted by a mistake by Harlain Mbayo at the back, letting in Philpott, but he failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity.
With the hosts now growing in confidence, Philpott turned provider, with an exquisite cross-field pass to find Griffin on the left. He cut inside his defender and unleashed a shot that Earle got down well to save at his right-hand post.
Just before the break, Kennington came close again following a good run and cross from Alfee Wincott, Skipper Tom Scorer met the header, but only guided it straight into Earle’s hands.
After the break, the hosts continued from where they left off. A long punt up field from Joe Mant was flicked on by Scorer into the path of Philpott, but again he only succeeded in finding the gloves of Earle.
It was Sheppey however who took the lead on 50 minutes. A long ball into the box from Lawrence on the right missed everyone, and landed at a grateful Spencer who had the easy task of tapping into the net from close range.
Kennington’s reply was instant. Just a minute later, a free kick on the edge of the box was fired in low, Sam Brown Reacted quickest to shoot in past Earle.
The home side were now in the ascendancy, creating a handful of half chances, though without troubling Earle in the opposing goal.
As with the first half, the second period hydration break seemed to change the flow of the match again. This time Sheppey took advantage, creating several good openings in the final 20 minutes.
Most of their creativity was coming down the left flank courtesy of the livewire Spencer. Cutting inside and shooting straight at Mant, then teaming up with substitute Cameron Andrews who pinged a shot just past Mant’s left post. Finally, with another mazy run saw his cross-shot fizz just wide.
There was just enough time for Leonard and Lawrence to repeat their corner routine for a third time, with the same result, just over the bar!
Before the referee signalled the full-time whistle, which means both sides have to do it all again on Tuesday at Holm Park.
Kennington – Mant, Wincott, Griffin, Phillips, Biggleston, Brown (Dent 79), Moore, Scorer (c), Philpott, Walledge (Fisher 89), Owen (Abrahams 85)
Unused Subs – Brisley, Bhandari, Smith, Sedenu
Sheppey United – Earle, Lawrence, Wisson, Leaonard (c), Chambers (Gordon 46), Evans, Spencer, Clark (Andrews 71), Salako, Adjust-Hersey, Mbayo
Unused Subs – Kabamba, Sobhee-Turner, Cole, Hedges, Conyers