Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance at the opening game of the 2024/25 Kent County Football League Premier Division season, between Kent United FC and newly promoted Guru Nanak FC, at the Efes Stadium on Friday night. This well attended step 7 match was won 2-1 by Kent United, after they had scored two goals during the second half. Started at a good pace, not long at all after Kent United’s centre-forward Tom Cullen had hit a low effort wide of the Guru Nanak goal from distance, the away side took the lead. After Nathan Reid had received Luke Pollard’s flicked pass on the right flank, the Guru Nanak winger found Luke Pollard just inside of the Kent United penalty area with a good cross. However, the Guru Nanak centre-forward’s looping header over the goalkeeper (Nic Taylor) found the back of the net, 0-1.

Kent United tried to respond soon after, as Tom Cullen’s first time effort from the centre of the away team’s penalty area went wide of the goal, after he had met George Oldfield’s cross. A couple of minutes later, at the opposite end of the pitch Gavindeep Basra’s header at the back post, following Jack Arnold’s free-kick delivery into the Kent United box, was held and gathered by Taylor. Continuing to be played at a good pace, it was Guru Nanak who would create the next chance of the game. The away side would try and counter Kent United, as Callum Coombes’ long forward ball found Jack Arnold on the edge of the Kent United penalty area. Arnold’s low effort (it took a slight deflection off a defender) went just wide of Taylor’s right-hand post, and behind for a corner-kick.

A chance on the follow-up for Kent United player Tom Cullen from the edge of the Guru Nanak penalty area, would result in his low effort going wide of goalkeeper Stanley Hill’s goal. Guru Nanak FC had been defending their lead really well during the first half of the match, despite the fact that the home side were seeing more of the ball. Not long before half-time and following a pass to Nathan Reid on the right flank from Luke Pollard, Reid would deliver the ball back to Pollard, inside of the Kent United penalty area. However, Luke Pollard was unable to connect with the ball properly, as his effort went wide of the goal.

The first real chance of the second half was created by Kent United. Following a skilful turn with the ball by Henry Phillips on the edge of the away team’s box, he hit a curling effort on goal, which was held by Stanley Hills. Some good hold-up play from the tireless Luke Pollard, would result in the centre-forward passing the ball to Nathan Reid, who took the ball into the Kent United penalty area, before having his effort well blocked behind off of Scott Wason. However, not long after that chance for Daniel Gibbs’ side, Kent United managed to score an equalising goal. Ben Wilson’s free-kick delivery from the right flank, was punched away by goalkeeper Hills (he was being challenged by a Kent United player, for the ball), as the ball came to Kent United substitute Damien Ramsamy, inside of the penalty area, and the Kent United player would finish into the goal, from not very far out, 1-1.

A good chance for Kent United, who were now creating a number of goalscoring chances after getting an equalising goal, would follow. As Kameron Mendez headed an effort wide at the back post of Stanley Hills’ goal, after meeting Connor McCormack’s corner-kick delivery. Then, a couple of minutes later, Henry Phillips hit an effort (on the bounce) wide of Hills’ goal, from the edge of the penalty area. A good and powerful effort from 20 yards out from Scott Wason, wouldn’t go far away from Stanley Hills’ goal, as it went behind for a goal-kick, before the Guru Nanak FC goalkeeper, gathered the ball well from the feet of George Oldfield.

During the latter stages of the game Kent United were really looking for that winning goal. And shortly after Reginald Stacey had hit an effort over from distance, the home side got a very late winner. After having been awarded a promising free-kick, some 20 yards out from goal on the edge of the away team’s box, the impressive Ben Wilson elected to take it. And his good deflected effort off the wall, would go into the left-hand side of Stanley Hills’ goal, 2-1. Just before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time, Guru Nanak player Michael Arthey was sin-binned by the referee. 

This was a good and competitive game to watch on Friday night. I thought that after Guru Nanak FC had taken an early lead, that they really did defend well. Kent United really did get on the ball and play their game to effect, but such was the fine defending and shape of the away side, they weren’t far away from getting a point from their first game of the season. Guru Nanak FC’s vocal central defender Gavindeep Basra had (in my opinion) an excellent game. His really good reading of the game and well timed challenges were very good. However, with the score at 1-1, he had to be substituted off, after picking up an injury during the second half. I thought that he was the away team’s player of the match.

My overall player of the match, was Kent United defender Ben Wilson. He had a really fine game in defence, but he was also involved in both of the home club’s goals, on Friday. There were a number of fine performances from both sides, but I also thought that Kent United defenders Ryan Johnson and captain Reginald Stacey, were very good during the game.