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City in cup final (April 05, 2008) FC Quayside 1 City 2
 City reached their first cup final since the club was reformed when a goal in added time by Royston Gough took them through a difficult and nailbiting Kent (Junior) Cup semi-final replay against Rochester and District League side Quayside, who were a shade unlucky not to force extra-time but magnanimous in defeat. City also inched closer to becoming British Energy Kent County League Division II champions as a result of APM Mears being beaten 2-0 by Otford who could still finish on the same number of points as City but currently have an inferior goal difference. In other words, City require one more point to be sure of the championship.
After the game at Rochester, City manager Dave Fairclough had to admit: “They gave us plenty to worry about in both games and for a time today we thought they were coming back at us very strongly. But it’s great for everyone connected with the club to reach a final in our first season”.
Over the last stages of the season there has been little doubt that City have faded a bit and sometimes looked leg weary. The absence of suspended top scorer Wayne Fittall has proved a considerable loss. However, Gough is now challenging him to become leading marksman and it was encouraging for club spirit to see Wayne so enthusiastically celebrating Gough’s goals and City’s success from the touchline.
This was a day when City occasionally lapsed defensively, sometimes lacked penetration in attack and were not ever completely comfortable in midfield. Against that, their determination to win and to play considered football even in the fire of cup football was finally rewarded. In addition, this game proved that the two youngest players in the squad, Calum McGeehan and Jamie Maxted, have truly come of age.
If Gough won the game with his finishing, Maxted provided the platform for victory. His second half performance, when Quayside were dangerously close to taking a grip on the game, was crucial. He dominated the left side of the pitch, taking on Quayside with pace and excellent ball control. More than that, he provided any number of good centres that on another day might have led to a lot more goals.
Fairclough had chosen much the same team as he had for the first game against Quayside, except that Scott Lawford was absent and Tom O’Brian came in at left back, allowing Rob Gutsell to resume his natural midfield role. Quayside were again quick on the break and well organised by central defender Neil Holmes. They looked dangerous from the start but found themselves a goal down after only eight minutes.
 Sam Baker managed to beat two players who had closed in on him as he took possession on the halfway line. He moved quickly down the right edge before sending over a long cross that Gough drove in. For the next fifteen minutes there was the feeling that City badly needed to add to the score, or better still create a three goal buffer, if they were to be really confident of winning. Quayside were not prepared to see that happen.
Although considerably more spirited than in the first game at Bridge, City were still lacking the flare and accuracy that had marked so much of their play earlier in the season. Poor defending, in which Quayside players were allowed to move into dangerous situations unmarked, brought about an equaliser. Their top scorer, Richard Nash, cannot have had fewer easier strikes than when left alone to crack in a gifted goal. Admittedly, Justin Hodge, in particular, took that as a personal insult. He went on to organise the defence far more effectively over the rest of the game and Tom O'Brian settled into the left back role with impressive assurance.
Baker continued to press forward and his free-kick was pushed away by the Quayside ‘keeper. But City were getting increasingly frustrated by decisions that seemed difficult to understand. McGeehan being brought
 down in the penalty area without an intervention was not the first, nor would it be the last. Having been playing up a slope and against the wind in the first half, it was expected that City would have some advantages in the second. As it happened, Quayside began it still looking the more positive side. Frustration with the referee began to eat away at City’s confidence, especially after it seemed that McGeehan, with a fine long shot just wide and a perfectly weighted long ball to Gough whose header was tipped away by the ‘keeper, suggested that this might not be their day. But then Maxted began to have a really influential part to play. It began when he, too, was brought down in the penalty area but was ignored, Perhaps that was what inspired him to spend the last half an hour setting up the best of City’s moves. His deep centre for Gough was headed only inches over the top and he kept on working the line, while Ashley Tuite and Rob Gutsell looked ever more influential as the game moved into the final minutes. Even so, extra-time was threatening.
Maxted again showed that he has an old head on young shoulders when he calmly played a superb cross to Gough who hit in the goal that created a little piece of history for the new City.
City: Black: Baker, O’Brian,Lockhart, Hodge, Gutsell, McGeehan, Tuite (King), Bonneywell (Brooke), Gough, Maxted. Click here to return to the News page
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