Camden Sports: Fa Cup Special

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Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT
Published: 21 August 2008

LEFT-BACK Roberto Quattromini was among the footballers who fulfilled their boyhood dreams of playing in the FA Cup when Kentish Town made their debut in the world-famous competition.

Heartbreak in club’s
historic Cup debut

Gallant Kentish Town go down fighting in replay

PLAYERS from Kentish Town Football Club have vowed to bounce back and turn disappointment into delight after suffering a heartbreaking defeat in their FA Cup debut.
In the biggest game in the club’s history, Town traveled to Northamptonshire on Tuesday for a tough replay against Wellingborough Town after being held to a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s home game at Barnet Copthall Stadium. Kentish Town saw plenty of the ball over the two matches. But they were clearly missing influential striker Lee Scott as they failed to turn their possession into clear-cut chances.
On Tuesday night, the Doughboys of Wellingborough got off to a bright start, forcing Kentish keeper Jason Hartles to push the ball over his own crossbar after only five minutes.
It was one of the few chances the hosts enjoyed as Town settled into their stride and started dominating the game. Wearing a new red and black kit to honour the club’s original colours, Town were restricted to a series of long shots as they went in search of an all-important breakthrough.
Javier Rivera was the first to try his luck from distance when he forced a good save from the keeper on the half hour mark. Wing wizard Karim Essiaghi also showed a keen eye for goal with two good efforts from the edge of the penalty area.
But Town were to pay the ultimate price for failing to make the most of their possession. Wellingborough took the lead on the hour mark when Arron Parkinson smashed the ball into the top corner of the net from an acute angle after Kentish Town failed to clear their lines.
Within minutes things went from bad to worse when a dubious penalty allowed Ady Fuller to double the home side’s lead to seal a 2-0 victory.
Sunday’s game followed a similar pattern as Kentish Town again dominated the game only to find themselves trailing. In front of a record-breaking crowd of 179 fans, Kentish were again forced into shooting from long-range, with Essiaghi and David Dawson both sending efforts wide of the post.
The Doughboys made the break-through on the half hour mark when Darren Frost found himself free on the edge of the box and looped the ball over the head of the helpless keeper Neil McDaid.
After the break Kentish Town made a tactical change, bringing Rivera on for Thomas Looney. With just five minutes left on the clock, the super sub made a mighty impact when he headed home from close range to force the replay.
But it was to prove nothing more than a reprieve as Kentish Town’s FA Cup dreams were shattered at the Dog and Duck Stadium. Despite defeat, the club, made up of elite players from across Camden and Islington, can still look forward to a bright future, which will include a return to the oldest football competition in the world next season.
Director of football Frank Zanre said after the game: “Obviously all the boys are really disappointed. But we’ll bounce back and still go on to enjoy a successful season.
“I think the game came too early for us. We never come out of the traps firing, and although we played really well, we were missing that cutting edge in front of goal.
“We’re still in the FA Vase, and a new league campaign has only just got underway. Hopefully we can bring in one or two strikers and enjoy the success that our football deserves.”

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