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City win through (March 01, 2008) Otford 0 Canterbury City 2
City’s ambition to have some silverware on the table at the end of their first season was boosted by a hard-won Kent County Cup quarter-final against an Otford team they had twice beaten in the league, but on both occasions had not had an easy ride. This was a continuation of those earlier games, except that City managed to score twice whereas both previous meetings had ended 1-0.
Wayne Fittall and Royston Gough had got the goals in the league encounters. Here they provided City with ones that took the club to their first cup semi-final. Otford were again well organised, quick and attacked on a broad front. Neither team relished the conditions, with a strong wind making the ball sometimes seem more like a gas-filled balloon. And even on the ground it was difficult to control.
Manager Dave Fairclough was pleased to see the early return to the side of Rob Gutsell, whose injury suffered last month was at first diagnosed as a fractured shoulder. Further examinations had shown only severe ligament strains. Gutsell came back in to play ahead of the back four in which James Brooke took a central role, alongside Justin Hodge, with Dan Woodward taking up the left back position. Right back Sam Baker was again outstanding going forward and equally good defensively.
There was some concern for City early on when Fittall took a heavy blow to the hip and was obviously in some pain. He played on, which was crucial to the outcome. Gough and Fittall were provided with plenty of possession by Calum McGeehan and Ashley Tuite, while Otford had difficulty in getting their strikers into potential scoring situations.
After 26 minutes Gough broke away down the right side. From his centre Fittall headed close over the bar. A minute later ever ambitious Dan Bonneywell bent a shot only a shade over. Many other City attempts explored the surrounding countryside.
 It was half-an-hour before Otford offered their first shot fairly close to the target, but their work-rate was impressive and they counter-attacked well through midfield without making much impact further on, apart from one effort that hit the post. Just as the referee was thinking about closing up the first half, the Otford ‘keeper had to block the ball on the goal-line. It came back out and Fittall moved in. Although seemingly up against a wall of defenders he managed to drive in City’s first. The 57th minute brought City’s second and the one that gave them confidence to display the attractive, flowing football that separated the sides. Bonneywell’s low cross was touched in by Gough. Although there were moments after that when City became a bit too elaborate for their own safety, they played out the game with an eye on the future.
Fittall was replaced by Jamie Maxted, an exciting player from the Under-18 side, and Adam Woollcott, similarly youthful, took Gough’s place. Adam Solly came on, which was important from the viewpoint of the squad. His recent disappointment at not being an automatic choice has been clear but he is a valuable member of the group and, hopefully, will strive to keep proving the point.
Fairclough said: “It was good to be able to bring in a couple of the young players. We had a practice game against a Whitstable Xl in the week and some of the youngsters impressed me so much that I really wanted to show them that they could break into the First team. Otford are a good side and to beat them three times is another feather in our cap”.
City: Black; Baker, Hodge, Brooke, Woodward, Gutsell, Tuite, McGeehan, Gough (A. Woollcott), Fittall (Maxted), Bonneywell (Solly). Click here to return to the News page
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