gore court 7 - 1 HSBC

The 4's reversed last weeks defeat in fine style with a convincing win. Gore Court started fast and Sam Miller converted their first short corner to settle any nerves with Nigel Eves and Neil Wanstall scoring two more from corner moves to give Gore Court a commanding lead by half time. HSBC started the second half strongly but full backs Chris Orr and Peter Bublik dealt with any threat. A fine individual goal from Sam Stone got Gore Court back on track and corner goals from Eves (2) and Miller sealed HSBC’s fate. Wingers Will Reynolds and James Anderson continued to torment the HSBC defence, but it was the visitors who scored the final goal of the game with a strong flick into the roof of the net.

GORE COURT 2 - 1 MAIDSTONE

Gore Court avenged last weeks defeat with a fine win against well drilled opponents. Gore Court started the game strongly and chances came and went at
regular intervals. New boy Paul Mills created havoc in the Maidstone defence and his persistence eventually told when a slipped short corner was converted by Mark Slater. Winger Will Reynolds tormented his full back all afternoon and but for some sloppy finishing the game could have been out of Maidstone's reach before half time. The second half was a much more even affair, with both sides pressing. Full backs Chris Orr and Ewan Spears remained composed and repelled Maidstone's attacks with relative ease. An inspired clearance by Jack Longley set Reynolds away again and, with his confidence high, he cheekily wrong footed the Maidstone defence to set up Nigel Eves for a simple tap in. A late short corner produced Maidstone's consolation goal.

BROMLEY & BECKENHAM 0 - 4 GORE COURT

Gore Court stormed to a comprehensive win against an athletic Brom/Beck side. The early skirmishes didn't look promising with Gore Court under pressure and full backs Chris Orr and Mutahir Khan busy. Indeed, only a goal line clearance from Orr kept the sides level. However, following some determined work in midfield from Sam Stone, a speculative shot from Tareq Bascal rebounded to Nigel Eves who slotted home between the keepers legs. This seemed to settle Gore Court and further chances came and went. The second half was all Gore Court, with only sporadic attacks from the opposition. An early driving run from Paul Mills resulted in him rifling the ball past a static keeper and within the next 10 minutes the game was effectively over when first Bascal and then centre forward James Anderson scored almost identical far post tap ins following switched short corner moves. This was by far Gore Court's best performance of the season with winger Will Reynolds' tormenting of his his full back worthy of the Man of the Match award.

GORE COURT 2 - 1 SEVENOAKS

Gore Court produced another solid perfomance to defeat a competent Sevenoaks side. Into their stride early, a slick passing move between Nigel Eves, Matt Hutson and Sam Stone resulted in Paul Mills rounding the keeper for the opener. Further excellent work up front from frowards Tareq Bascal and James Anderson led to a string of short corners, the last of which saw Bascal tap in from a corner move for a comfortable half time lead. However, Sevenoaks came out with renewed energy in the second half and full backs Jack Longley and Mutahir Khan had to be alert to fend off a series of attacks. Eventually the pressure told and Oaks scored from a direct corner strike. With the result in the balance, Gore Court had to dig deep but held on with the final whistle being greeted with much relief!

GORE COURT 4 - 2 UNIVERSITY OF KENT

Gore Court ran home comfortable winners against an athletic University side. The early exchanges were even but a surging run from Rob Goodwin resulted in a penalty corner which he converted by firing high into the net for the opener.  Shortly after a further corner saw Paul Mills deftly slipping the ball under the keeper. This should have opend the flood gates, but chances came and went and just before half time the students got back into the match with a corner goal of their own. A stern half time reminder from Captain Eves to concentrate on the basics resulted in immediate second half dividends when first, Paul Nicholls rifled home a corner strike from the top of the D and then Tareq Bascal neatly deflected a cross from Matt Hutson through the keepers legs for goal number four. Slack defending at the death resulted in a consolation goal for the Uni boys.

CANTERBURY 1 - 3 GORE COURT

The game didn't start promisingly with the home side scoring inside the first minute with the Gore Court defence sleeping. However, as the half progressed, the experienced midfield pairing of Nigel Eves and Paul Mills stared to exert control. Excellent work from Sam Stone led to Gore Court's best early chance when he put centre forward Ryan Elvey clean through only for the Canterbury keeper to pull off a blinding save. Eventually the pressure told and a mazy run from Eves resulted in him reverse hitting the ball home from a tight angle for the equaliser. The second half started evenly and only stought defending from the half back pairing of Matthew Hutson and Conrad Chamberlain kept the home attackers at bay. Slightly against the run of play, a fine solo run and cross from winger Jack Longley found Mills at the top of the D and he drilled home to give Gore Court the lead. It was all Gore Court after that and Elvey got his just reward for a fine performance when he slotted the third following a goalmouth scramble.

GORE COURT 1 - 2 SEVENOAKS

Gore Court fell to their first defeat in 5 games against an experienced Sevenoaks side. The game started brightly for Gore Court with wingers Will Reynolds and James Anderson creating havoc. After a couple of near misses, a short corner strike was drilled home by Nigel Eves. Gore Court's joy was short lived however as a flowing move from the visitors resulted with a fierce shot being deflected in past the stranded Gore Court keeper. The second half started with Sevenoaks in the acsendency and only stought defending from full backs Chris Orr and Paul Nicholls kept the scores level. As time was running out, a stray pass out of defence was snaffled by the Oaks centre forward who made no mistake with a reverse stick shot for the lead. Gore Court huffed and puffed to the end but couldn't find a clear opening. Gore Court will be looking to re-find their form against Holcombe next week.

HOLCOMBE 1 - 4 GORE COURT

Gore Court started strongly against a robust Holcombe side and created a host of scoring opportunities which went begging. Holcombe steadied their ship and only stout defending from full backs Mutahir Khan and Chris Orr kept the scores level. As the half wore on, Gore Court re-gained control and a mazy run by Paul Mills led to a short corner efficiently dispatched by new boy Tim Clark. Winger Will Reynolds and centre forward Ryan Elvy terrorised the home defence only to be kept out by some stellar saves from the keeper. As the half time whistle blew, Holcs manufactured a corner which they converted via a wicked deflection. The second half started with Gore Court on full throttle and within 5 minutes had gained the advantage when Reynolds brilliantly deflected a cross high into the Holcs net. Mills added a third and Tareq Bascal killed the game with a deft shot into the corner following more good work from Elvy. A very satisfying performance all round.

GORE COURT 3 - 1 GILLINGHAM ANCHORIANS

Gore Court produced another solid performance to defeat local rivals Anchs. Into their stride early, a slick passing move between Matt Hutson and Will Reynolds resulted in Paul Mills rounding the keeper for the opener. Further excellent work up front from forwards Tareq Bascal and James Anderson led to a string of short corners, the last of which saw Bascal tap in from a corner move for a comfortable half time lead. However, Anchs came out with renewed energy in the second half and full backs Jack Longley and Chris Orr had to be alert to fend off a series of attacks. Eventually the pressure told and Anchs scored from a direct corner strike. Gore Court upped the tempo after that and it was no surprise that the 2 goal cushion was restored when Mills again found the net following a corner move. Only outstanding keeping from the Anchs net minder kept the score respectable.

Gore Court go into the mid season break in the second promotion place.

GORE COURT 3 - 1 OLD BORDENIANS

Gore Court continued their winning ways with a victory against local rivals Old Bordenians. Old Boys held sway early on and deservedly took the lead following a goalmouth melee. The situation for Gore Court nearly worsened when Old Boys were awarded a penalty stroke but the striker slammed his flick against the post. This acted as a wake-up call for Gore Court who slowly asserted some control in midfield. Just before half time, the Old Boys centre back was caught in possession by centre forward Ryan Elvy who then raced away to coolly slot the ball home between the advancing keeper’s legs. The second half started more brightly for Gore Court with wingers Will Reynolds and James Anderson creating numerous opportunities for Gore Court's forwards. However, chances came and went and the result was still in the balance with 15 mins to go, but a surging run and cross from Tim Jenkins found Paul Mills who deftly slotted the ball home. Then, with 5 minutes to go, the final nail was applied by Nigel Eves direct from a short corner. A less than convincing win, but 3 points all the same.