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Phoenix lose to Gillingham on penalties in Kent Senior Cup

Phoenix lose to Gillingham on penalties in Kent Senior Cup

Clare Jackson10 Oct 2017 - 23:21
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Phoenix lose 5-6 on penalties following dramatic Kent Senior Cup tie against Gillingham.

Phoenix lost to Gillingham tonight in the Kent Senior Cup in front of healthy crowd at home, in what was a thoroughly enjoyable game for all in attendance.

The home side, who were accompanied onto the pitch by the Phoenix Under 11 Tigers, welcomed Lewis Mingle back into the fold following a foot injury that kept the defender out for a lengthy period.

The side that lost to Chalfont St Peter in the FA Trophy Cup on Saturday, also gave starts to youngsters Alfie Aldridge, Ben Allen and Billy Muckle.

After a strong start by both teams, Gillingham's Jesse Starkley floated a delightful ball straight into the top corner of Steve Phillips' net giving the travelling side the lead in just seven minutes.

For the next 15 minutes The Gills controlled the game, with Phoenix launching a couple of attacks to no avail. Then a lengthy break due to two injuries on the field seemed to give Phoenix a welcome break from the pressure.

Then a great piece of play involving Frankie Sawyer, Alfie Aldridge and Ben Allen, forced the Gillingham keeper into making an important save after Allen fired a shot at goal.

The young players in the Phoenix side were putting in a good shift in this first-half, with all three of them continuing to work hard alongside the more experienced members of the team.

Then as the board went up to indicate that the referee's assistant had deemed there to be an additional two minutes of extra-time, Ben Allen got behind the ball for a free-kick he had won just moments earlier.

The 16-year-old stepped up to take the free-kick in the dying moments of this first-half and as cool as a cucumber, fired the ball into the back of the Gillingham goal with an absolute screamer, causing the home fans to roar.

Half-time score: 1-1

As the second-half resumed, Phoenix made their first substitution on 52 minutes with the returning Mingle being replaced by AJ Dythe.

This half was more even, with both sides searching for the win. Then in the 80th minute Gillingham's No. 20 - Darren Oldaker put the away side in front.

Phoenix continued to push for the equaliser, and following the 87th minute substitution of Kweku Ansah for Alfie Aldridge, it finally came.

With his first touch of the ball, super-sub Ansah capitalised on a mistake by The Gills keeper and fired into the back of the net.

The next four minutes of extra time saw chances for both sides, but ultimately this tie was going to be decided by penalties.

And following a grand total of 20 penalties taken, Gillingham FC came out on top to take the win 5-6 on penalties.

Both teams played exceptionally well in front of the 232 supporters in attendance.

Gillingham will now go on to face Maidstone United on October 31.

You can read more about this match on Kent Online.

Or re-watch the dramatic penalty shoot-out which was broadcast live on our Twitter Feed.

Up next for Phoenix - Away v Molesley in the Bostik League South Division on Saturday.

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