Ide Hill built on their strong start to the season by dismantling Farnborough last Saturday afternoon to take them to the summit of the league with three matches played.
Following two wins and two clean sheets the home side went into the game buoyant, and with another strong 11 and bench were hopeful that they would continue their momentum against a side they’ve had tight games against in the past.
After a helter-skelter opening 15 minutes, where both sides tried to wrestle control of the game, it was Ide Hill who took the lead; a Callum Heath throw in was flicked on at the near post by Craig Jackson and Rob Piper arrived late on the penalty spot to lash a volley low past the keeper for 1-0.
Ide Hill smelled blood, but were hampered by their lack of care in possession which gave the visitors encouragement as the game headed into the break still in the balance. However, a thunderous second half saw Ide Hill turn on the gas and hit six more to take the game well and truly away from Farnborough; Heath got the ball rolling on 50 minutes following a good switch by George Kensell, Heath raided into the box, evaded two tackles and poked under the keeper from 10 yards.
Kanan Fitton has been unfortunate not to open his account thus far, despite his barnstorming performances, and here he turned creator once more, charging down the right, riding tackles and arrowing a cross into the six-yard box which Sam Heasman powered home for 3-0. After a season of bedding in, Jamie Fearn looks ready to become one of the best players in the league this year and he turned on the style on the hour, running the ball from half way and cracking a 25 yard thunderbolt in for 4-0.
Number five came quickly after, Ben Pearson feeding Shaun Boyle out on the wide left, who cut in and fired in the goal his all round performance deserved. Fitton once more helped his teammates to stretch the lead, moving through on the right, firing a shot in which the keeper parried to Fearn to tap in his second of the game and cap a brilliant man of the match performance.
Farnborough did pull one back and score the first goal against Ide Hill of the season, a cross out wide taking a deflection and squirming past Lewis Wilkins. But Ide Hill fittingly had the last word, the excellent Kensell slipping a lovely through ball in to Heasman who slotted under the keeper for seven and the most convincing of wins.
Ide Hill move to top of the league, alongside a number of teams on nine points, but should approach the upcoming games with the confidence to go and beat anyone in the league after the start they’ve had, and really carve out a memorable season in the Kent County Premier.
