ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS BEST

With the sun shinning this opening game of the season hopefully brightened up everyone's Sunday.

The game opened with Bearsted having three early chances, but the finishing never really bothered Ben Blatchford in the Coxheath goal. The midfield battlers on both sides never gave an inch with both sides proving very strong end keen to win every ball. It was Coxheath however who took the lead on 29 minutes when new signing Sam Chapman floated over a corner which Chris Harrison nodded home for his first goal of the season. Coxheath only held the lead for 3 minutes as Bearsted stormed back to equalise on 32 minutes.

The second half started with both teams playing some very attractive football in the hot sunshine. On 43 minutes league debutant Joe Weeden found himself free on the back post following a Morgan Hellen free kick and volleyed it into the roof of the Bearsted net. This time the lead lasted just 4 minutes this time as Bearsted struck back to equalise. With 10 minutes go to following the clearance from a Coxheath corner Charlie Driver hit a shot from about 25 yards that bobbled over the stranded keeper to give Coxheath the lead for the third time. Bearsted not wanting to get beaten today and struck back on 70 minutes to score and earn a point.

It was a cracking game to open the season with both sides working hard in the blistering heat. Well done to everyone. The man of the match for Coxheath went to Rob Manser who battled hard in midfield working from the first to the last whistle. Well done Rob Ben Blatchford, Charlie Driver, Addison Merricks, Morgan Hellen, Sean Morris, Rob Manser, Lewis Hogan, Luke Bramley, Jack Flann, Chris Harrison, Sam Chapman, Joe Weeden

MISSED CHANCES COSTLY FOR COXHEATH

On a fine morning Coxheath were hopeful of coming away with three points to give them an early season boost. The first half was mostly dominated by Castle Colts and they were putting the Coxheath defence under immense pressure which resulted in Coxheath being 3-0 down by halftime.

Despite the score line and Castle Colts dominance Coxheath had a few chances which the Castle Colts ‘keeper expertly saved. In the second half Coxheath showed great determination and team spirit to try to salvage something from the game. A few tactical changes seemed to do the trick with Coxheath having more of the game. Midway through the second half Coxheath were awarded a lifeline, when Addison Merricks crossed from the left only for it to be blocked by a Castle Colts arm, and the referee gave a penalty. However they did not take their chance as the penalty taker slashed the ball wide of the post.

Coxheath didn’t let this set back take a hold of them as Lewis Hogan scored two neatly crafted goals to make it an exciting finish. Despite the pressure from Coxheath in the dying minutes Castle Colts held on for three points. Man of the Match this week was tight between goalkeeper Ben Blatchford who kept Coxheath in the game with some smart saves, Lewis Hogan who scored the two goals. The award however went to Jack Flann who used his pace down the right-wing to good effect.

Well done Jack! Ben Blatchford, Charlie Driver, Addison Merricks, Morgan Hellen, Sean Morris, Rob Manser, Lewis Hogan, Luke Bramley, Jack Flann, Chris Harrison, Sam Chapman, Joe Weeden, Luke Mann, Danny Jones