Canterbury travelled to East Grinstead Sports Club at Saints Hill for this Mercian League game.  Always a big rival of the home side, in the last two years the wins have been one a piece. 

However, yesterday told a different story.  With a squad of 14, the home side looked very focussed from the start, passing the ball around cleanly on a water-based pitch that certainly didn’t need watering!  Ten minutes into the first half, with EG penetrating the Canterbury half and causing some fine saves by the Canterbury keeper, the first goal was scored by Mike Shelton, at 17yrs old, a regular in EG’s 2^nd X1, and a fine centre forward. 

Canterbury then came back to pressure EG, but with constant reassurance of their capabilities by coach Darren Cheeseman (EG 1^st X1) the side stood firm with their lead at half-time.  In the second half the visitors again put great pressure on the EG defence, but with some great defending Grinstead turned this around into some fine attacking play.

With 15 minutes to go another attack by the EG side resulted in a great goal from the edge of the D into the top right corner by Alex Watson – the keeper never stood a chance.  In the final minutes of the game, Canterbury put everything into winning the game, but EG kept their concentration well until the final whistle.

This now puts the side at the top of the Mercian league (South East).  They play Maidstone next after Christmas.

Squad: Seb Martin(Capt) Hamish Forbes, Nick Barker, Dan Masters (V.Capt), Chris Barker, Josh Cather, Alex Watson, Mark Potton (GK), Rob Willson, John Parker, Mike Shelton.  Subs: Karl Bass, Jordan Torrilla, Matt Needle

Scorers: A Watson, M Shelton

Coach: D Cheesman