Shepherd Neame Performance of the Month, October 2024

Our congratulations for some superb performances- and with thanks to Shepherd Neame go to the following clubs:

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

Bedford Town were the hosts for Hendon in the FA Trophy on October 5th. Town were sat in second place in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, having had a fine start to the campaign after promotion last season, and were looking for a fourth successive win- a sixth game unbeaten, but the Greens had other ideas. They made a breakthrough just after the quarter hour mark, Kai Omoko Brosnan the scorer. Three minutes before half time it was two-nil, Brosnan once more finding the net, and the Greens number eleven had a hat trick before half time. Within a minute of the second half commencing it was four-nil, Billie Busari getting in on the act, but the hosts then got one back, twenty four minutes left to complete an unlikely comeback. It became even more unlikely when Niko Muir got a fifth, and that was that, a fine win for the visitors- and now a shiny trophy to remember it by. 

Pitching In Isthmian North

Pitching In Isthmian North promotion chasers Felixstowe and Walton United have been magnificent at home this season, but they’ve had to work much harder away- and we thought that a trip to Bishop’s Stortford, these days in Pitching In Southern Premier Central, would be a rather tough test. It turned out that we were wrong, indeed, we couldn’t have been more mistaken.

The Seasiders went ahead after ten minutes, Cameron Forde-Brown making the Blues blue- a a red card then made them bluer still. It was two-nil just before half time, an own goal giving the Seasiders more delight, and there was still time for Josh Mayhew to add a third before the half came to an end. Mayhew soon made it four-nil- and although the hosts got a goal back on the hour, the visitors then got a fifth, Charlie Warren with that one. On sixty nine minutes Warren got another, to make it six-one, and finally United showed their higher ranked opponents some mercy, job done. Congratulations to the Seasiders on picking up our Performance of the Month prize.

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

Third place Kingstonian travelled to take on Ashford Town filled with confidence. The K’s previous three matches in all competitions had seen them score seventeen goals, and it seemed like their confidence was justified as they had three more before the break, Eddie Simon the main architect of that lead- his thirteenth and fourteenth of the season coming after the Tangerines Basim Mirtahmasebi had equalised Alex Kelly’s sixth minute opener.

The hosts narrowed the deficit just before the hour, Conor Cullen brining it back to two-three, and suddenly they turned the match on its head, scoring two more within three minutes to go four-three up, Sam Humphreys and Cullen once more leaving the K’s fans watching on wondering just what had happened. They’d have been even more bemused when Cullen got his hat trick to make it five-three on sixty eight minutes- the fourth Tangerines goal in only nine minutes! Still the hosts- and Cullen- weren’t finished, and on seventy seven minutes the Ashford number ten made it six-three with his fourth of the night. Bradley Wilson brought it back to six-four with eleven minutes to go, but the Tangerines scoffed at any chance of a K’s comeback, Scott Day adding a seventh eight minutes from time. 

Many congratulations to the Tangerines on a fine performance- and now they have a trophy to remember it by. 

Pitching In Isthmian South East Division

Dover Athletic and Sittingbourne had already met twice this season, and our Premier leaders were looking for a little revenge having been knocked out of the FA Cup by the South East promotion chasers back in September. Athletic had won their previous four and looked consistently impressive, but they made their lives difficult, going down to ten men on the quarter hour, Roman Charles-Cook sent off, and the Brickies took advantage, Mitchell May putting them ahead with his seventeenth goal of the season seven minutes before half time. Twelve minutes from time Codey Cosgrave made sure that lightning struck for the second time this season, making it two-nil, and the Brickies magnificent campaign continued with another victory. Athletic must be delighted they won’t have to play the Brickies again this season- and the Brickies will undoubtedly be delighted with our Performance of the Month trophy. 

Many thanks to our sponsors, Shepherd Neame, the oldest brewers in Britain. With pubs and hotels across the country, Shepherd Neame should be your first choice for accommodation after a long away trip, or just for a refreshing drink or a nice meal before or after the game. You can find out more about what they have to offer by heading to their website- here.