NEW ROMNEY 1

HILDENBOROUGH ATHLETIC 2

Kent County League Division 1

EVEN though New Romney were sitting in the bottom three, Hildenborough knew this would not be an easy test after their last encounter.

Borough were short on players, a few being unavailable and injured, but the squad making the long journey were still a strong side.

On one of the best surfaces they will play on all season, it should have been a perfect opportunity for Borough to get the ball down and play fast-flowing football, but the pressure New Romney were exerting on the visitors when in position made playing hard. It was clear from the start the home side had a game plan to fire the ball long to their tall striker, but all in all, this tactic was dealt with well by Stratford and Davies.

The few times Borough played the football of which they are capable, they created some good chances.

However, with Dean Spenceley and Karl Smith each going close, but not hitting the target, half-time looked like being a stalemate.

With 10 minutes remaining, Borough had to make an early substitution, Joe Adams coming off with an injury and Steve Ashmore replacing him.

Two minutes from the break, Smith hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box and the keeper couldn't hold the effort and only beat the ball out.

Always thinking, Lee Cooper followed it in and tapped it home to make it 1-0 to the away side.

The second half was going the same way as the first until, 12 minutes from time, a long ball was put into the box and a flicked-on header went over Hildenborough keeper Redfern in goal to make it 1-1.

Borough knew they needed to dig deep and keep going, and their efforts paid off when the ball was played out wide to Yeung, who mis-hit a cross, but it found Davies on the edge of the box and he fired a half-volley into the bottom corner to give Borough the three points.

New Romney can take a lot of credit from their hardworking performance and by the way they played they should move up in the table in no time.

Squad: Paul Redfern, Adam Davies, Joe Adams (Steve Ashmore), Scott Lock, Stuart Crush, Luke Stratford, Darren Yeung, Dean Spenceley (Mike Cramp), Lee Cooper, Karl Smith, Luke Piscina. Sub unused: Andrew Mckechnie.

On Saturday, Hildenborough are at home in the quarter-final of the Bill Manklow Inter Regional Cup against APM Contrast, from the Premier Division, kick-off 2.15pm.