Dartford and District 1 v 1 Orpington and District

(Orpington won 3-2 on penalties after extra time)

Kent Cup 2nd Round

DARTFORD and District under-11s suffered their first competitive defeat of the season after losing 3-2 on penalties against Orpington to be dumped out of the Kent Cup, writes Brian Page.

A well-fought match between the neighbouring districts at Waller Park saw the visitors take a one goal lead into the interval, after a player tumbled in the 18-yard box and the penalty was dispatched.

Dartford, who were defensively strong throughout the match, pulled level when half-time substitute Ryan May (Hextable) was pushed over in the penalty area.

Sweyne's Sam Small stepped up and struck home to record his fifth goal of the season.

With no further scoring in normal time, or the fiercely contested extra time, the match moved onto a penalty shoot-out.

Having scored in four consecutive matches Dartford's deadball specialist Small struck first blood with Orpington matching it with their first attempt.

Tom Kitchener (Joydens Wood) kept Dartford's hopes alive with a superb save and then leading goal-scorer Luke Whitehead (Sutton-at-Hone) putting the home side in front with a strike into the top right corner.

An unfortunate miss from Dartford's last kick was punished by Orpington who found the target to secure a place in February's semi-final.

Dartford's squad: (school in brackets): Attrell(Stone); Bell (Fleetdown); Bilsland (Sutton-at-Hone); Fraser (Knockhall); Hammond(Hextable); Holder (Wilmington); Kitchener (Joydens Wood); May (Hextable); McGregor (Sweyne); Norman (Hextable); Olaofe (Horton Kirby); Page (Knockhall); Small (Sweyne); Taylor (Temple Hill); Wellham (Hextable); White (Wentworth); Whitehead (Sutton-at-Hone).

Dartford, managed by Brian Williams, travel to play Thanet and District in Kent Primary League action on December 3.