Cuxton 1991 1-3 Kent United - The ambition is to get back to Cuxton, that's our home, that's our village and that's where we want to be, says promotion-chasing Cuxton boss Adam Overton

Cuxton 91 1 – 3 Kent United
Location	Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ
Kickoff	06/10/2026 20:00

CUXTON 91 1-3  KENT UNITED
NRG Gyms Kent County League Premier Division
Tuesday 6 October 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from James Whatman Way

KENT UNITED manager Dean White says his side put in a really professional performance and showed every quality that you look for from a team as they signalled their promotion winning aspirations with a very impressive victory in Maidstone.

Originally from Dartford but currently hiring Chislehurst Glebe’s Foxbury Avenue ground and a separate entity from the defunct Kent Football United, White’s men moved into second-place in the eleventh-tier Kent County League Premier Division table.

AMG (who ironically play at Kent United’s ground at Lowfield Street in Dartford) are now joined by Kent United on 24 points from nine games, while Cuxton, who would have gone top with a victory, have slipped down a place into third with 22 points from 11 league outings.

Kent United went into the interval with the lead, courtesy of a clinical strike from winger Emmanuel Edward, who slotted in his fourth goal of the season.

Striker Tom Cullen was gifted his ninth goal of the season six minutes into the second half, before Marcus Williams returned from suspension to toe-poke in a third.

Cuxton pulled a late goal back through winger-turned-striker Lewis Sharp’s sixth goal of the season.

“Really pleased with the result. I thought the performance from the lads tonight was outstanding! I think we showed every element of we looked like a good team, defensively I thought we looked good,” said White.

“I thought we were very strong, particularly in the second half in possession of the ball.  Yes, really pleased with the guys, so overall, three points against a Cuxton team who were certainly a physical team, really pleased.”

Cuxton manager Adam Overton added: “A difficult one. I think first 20 minutes we rode our luck a bit. I think they hit the post a couple of times. We didn’t start very well at all but after we rode that first initial 10-15 minute storm we grew into the game and I think the second half of the first half we imposed ourselves on the game, created a lot of opportunities and we’ve had two clear-cut chances to score.

“That’s been the story of our season so far this year really, is we’ve created a lot of opportunities and a lot of chances and we’re just not clinical.

“I said to them after the game, I said, ‘in games like this where results are swinging on small margines, it’s having that ability in that final third to kill the game when you’re on top,’ and that’s where we are at the moment, unfortunately.

“Second half, I think we were the makers of our own downfall, both second and third goals have come from us, playing out from the back and just sloppiness and after that it was a game that would just fizzle out really.

“We’ve created a few chances where we pushed, the last 5-10 minutes after the changes and we got a deserved goal back but it was a bit little too late at the end of the day.”

Kent United set the tone by hitting the far post with their first attempt after 50 seconds.

Often high left-back George Jackson threw the ball to Cullen, before Jackson slipped the ball into the left-channel where Williams fizzed in a low cross, which whistled past the goalkeeper and pinged against the foot of the far post.

A bullet header forward from central midfielder Darrell Holness was played in behind Cuxton’s right-sided centre-half Shane Godden and Cullen drilled his right-footed shot across keeper Matthew Bowey to crack the far post with six minutes and 33 seconds on the clock.

“Tom Cullen’s record speaks for itself at this level, he’s a proven goalscorer, puts himself in those positions and was very unlucky not to score,” said White.

“Marcus was returning from suspension tonight, looked really sharp and it was nice to see both players get on the scoresheet, so we started well.  I think ultimately looking at the first half, we could’ve had four or five to be honest.

“We’re very unfortunate. We’ve got very effective players. The type of style we like to play is quite attacking. We play with a 4-3-3 so we try to utilise our speed of our wingers and their quality.”

Cuxton weathered the storm and missed a glorious chance to grab the lead through lone striker George Wady, with 15 minutes and 25 seconds gone.

Sharp was inside his own half when he played a ball along the deck, which cut open Kent United’s right-sided centre-half Ben Seymour to put Wady through on goal but he rolled his left-footed shot across keeper James Stallen and past the far post with only the keeper to beat from 15-yards.

It was a glorious chance that the former Greenways (SCEFL First Division) number nine just had to take.

“Exactly that and there were moments where we have to be lethal, we have to be clinical and we have to be ruthless and at the moment that’s just not us,” admitted Overton.

White added: “I think our line was on point for most of the evening. I think we got caught out on that moment, probably a little bit of lack of communication from the boys but I think we put that right in the second half.

“I don’t think offensively they really hurt us as such. They got a consolation goal at the end but overall I think we were quite solid in terms of our overall performance defensively.”

Wady missed a second chance to give the home side the lead (21:09).

Centre-half Matthew Gething played the ball along the artificial turf to Aaron Simpson, whose left-footed pass sent left-winger Davey on his way and from within the left-channel fizzed in a glorious low cross which was put on a plate for Wady, who swept his first time left-footed shot past the right-hand post from six-yards.

Overton said: “Yet again, whether he was still thinking about the previous chance. I’ve not had an opportunity to speak to him yet but I said to the team in the changing room, I said like ‘fine margines today and the fine margines fell to Kent.”

Kent United produced a good move down the left with Jackson and impressive winger Williams linking up well down the left, before the ball was worked into the penalty area where Cullen (with his back to goal) laid the ball back for Emmanuel Oyedeji, who drilled his first-time shot towards the left-hand corner from 22-yards, which was tipped around the post by Bowey, diving to his right.

White said: “I think ultimately looking at overall chances throughout the evening, the boys should’ve had seven or eight but that just goes back to their quality and the desire and hunger within the team to go and get more goals.”

Overton added: “Matt’s been brilliant for us this year. He’s been with the reserves for a good four or five seasons and he’s come in to be the number one and he hasn’t let us down.

“His shot-stopping is up there with one of the best in the league. He’s got stuff to work on but he’s willing to learn. He’s growing as a goalkeeper and he’s done well for us.”

Kent United were a threat down the wings with Williams (left) and Edward (right) and Williams’ hooked pass sent Edward through on goal (in between the two centre-halves) and his right-footed drilled shot from 16-yards was beaten away by Bowey, after the Cuxton keeper rushed off his line to narrow the angle.

“A good run from Eman. He’s been doing that all season. A real life-wire. It was a great run off the ball. He was very unfortunate and unlucky not to finish but credit to the goalkeeper – it was a really good save,” said White.

Kent United deserved their lead when it arrived with 37 minutes and 36 seconds on the clock.

Right-sided centre-half Matthew Gething (on dual-registration with SCEFL Premier side Hollands & Blair) wanted to smash a clearance up field from close to the half-way line but the ball went about 10-yards and smashed into the blue shorts of his right-back Alfie Lawson.

Cullen – who often dropped deep – slipped a through ball for Edward, who capitalised on two Cuxton defenders miles out of position and clinically rolled his right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

“Tidy finish. He gets himself in those positions every game. Very agile player, very quick on the back foot. A bit of a nightmare, I think, for defences. Again, showing that quality when it comes in front of goal that composure and that finish was great tonight,” said White, who was then asked why his number nine was dropping deep.

“I think Tom offers everything, he’s a goalscorer but his overall link-up play throughout the evening was superb tonight.

“I think when Tom drops in that pocket, he draws centre-halves out of play and we use our wingers to isolate the full-backs of centre-halves and that works really well for us.

“But I think you saw the quality of what he did tonight. Everything apart of his game from scoring goals to hold-up play to dropping into that 10 to almost being the playmaker at times.”

The Cuxton defending had a Sunday League element to it involving Gething and Lawson (who got in the way of Gething’s potential long ball, which going by his previous balls out of defence were heading towards a Kent United defender or goalkeeper).

Overton added: “That’s what I said.  We was in control with possession of the ball in the back line. You don’t, we shouldn’t be giving chances away when we’re in decent control of possession of the ball with no pressure and that’s how all three goals came today, us in controlled calm possession of the ball. It was just poor decision making, which has let them in.”

When asked what Gething brings to Cuxton, Overton replied, “He’s immense. He’s been part of Cuxton for a long, long time and full credit to Hollands & Blair for allowing him for the dual-signing and we needed him today. His leadership is there to see, unfortunately the players around him couldn’t quite get to that level today.”

A woeful back pass from inside his own left-channel by Gething opened the gate for the threatening Williams, who cut into the penalty area and neither him, Cullen or holding midfielder Rhys Irani could provide the finish, with Irani drilling his left-footed drive past the left-hand post from 20-yards.

Both managers were asked their thoughts at the interval.

Overton said: “Well, we were still in the game, for one. We had two really good chances to come in at half-time at 2-1.  Slight tweaks, not in formation but just in movement and I think we started the second half really, really well, on the front foot and we was getting in behind their back line with relative ease in the first couple of minutes of the second half.”

White added: “What I said to the boys was ‘look, it’s been a good half. I think you’ve got to go out there and start again.  Try to be ruthless, get the next goal, get the second and third, put the game out of harms way but at the same time be wary of yourself.”

Lawson travelled over the halfway line and his intended inside pass intended for Simpson was intercepted by Edward, before Irani and Williams linked up and Williams cut onto his right-foot and his 25-yard drive was comfortably held by Bowey, low to his right, to prevent the ball nestling inside the bottom corner (5:15).

Kent United were gifted their second goal, when it arrived with five minutes and 31 seconds on the clock, just 16 seconds later.

A poor touch from the poor Godden just inside his penalty area in a central position saw Cullen take a touch inside the box and emphatically drill his right-footed shot into the top right-hand corner when he only had Bowey to beat.

“Just a bit of a stumble, it’s unfortunate. These things happen in football when sometimes you want that little bit of luck to fall your side and Tom showed what he’s done all season, it’s a clinical finish and he was alert and gave the goalkeeper no chance,” added White.

Overton admitted: “But then again, like I said, makers of our own downfall. Playing out from the back, it’s got stuck under Shane’s foot. So Matt’s made the save, he’s looked to try and play quick because that’s what I said to them at half-time.

“I said to them, ‘look, be a bit braver playing out,’ and in fairness they’ve done it and that’s the obvious downfall of trying to play out.  Sometimes you make mistakes and most times you make mistakes in the 18-yard box it leads to goals and that’s happened today and it’s really, really unfortunate because the momentum was with us then and that really did kill us that second goal.”

Oyedeji counter-attacked straight down the heart of the pitch before playing the ball out to Edward on the right and he cut the ball back to Oyedeji, who drilled his first-time right-footed drive just over the top of Bowey’s fingertips as he only just cleared the crossbar from 16-yards.

Cuxton were lacking in desire.  They were caught offside on nine occasions with lone striker Wady caught in the trap on four occasions.

Man-of-the-match was Kent United’s left-sided centre-half John Umar, 19, who put in a composed performance and showed that he should be playing in the ninth-tier at least.

“John’s been with me since he was probably 14 – he’s an outstanding player! He was part of the Maidstone set-up down here as well, apart of Ebbsfleet, had an appearance as well in pre-season with Ebbsfleet,” revealed White.

“He’s a bit of a Rolls Royce centre-half. I think he shows you a bit of everything, solid on the ball, good on the ball. A very good partnership with Ben, who is also 19.”

When asked about Cuxton’s nine offsides, White replied: “We work a lot in training tactically in terms of positioning when we’re in possession of the ball and ultimately when we’re trying to have a high press. We want our team to play. We want them to feel confident. We like them to play out. We’re not a long ball team as you can see tonight. We try to draw their forwards into us and hopefully then find the pockets and go on the attack.”

Overton was asked about the offsides and failing to press the Kent United back four, with Umar often crossing the half-way line (or very close to it) unopposed with the ball at his feet.

“I think they’re aggressive in the press, especially first half, especially out of the blocks,” said the Cuxton manager.

“What was causing us quite a few problems with their nine (Cullen) dropping in and their high wingers but once we got to grips with that, we manged to force them a little bit longer and we were winning a lot of second balls and then we got it down and play but yes, I think the difference between the two teams was the final third today.

“That (not pressing) was intended, so as a team we drop in a little mid-block, so the idea, because we’ve got quite a big back four, the idea is to force it long and then we win the second balls where during the season it always works well.

“But they had quite a lot of ability and quite a lot of movement, which did unlock that at times but that’s intentional. If their happy to have it at the back, it’s no threat to us.

“It (the nine offsides) could be a combination of two things. We’re either not playing the ball quick enough or it’s the timing of the runs. I think it was a little bit of 50-50 today.”

Kent United killed the game off by slotting in their third goal of the night with 14 minutes and 25 seconds on the clock, with Overton pointing the finger of blame to Jack Jefferys, his left-back.

Edward and Cullen linked up in the final third before the ball was worked to high right-back Lewis Taylor, who appeared on the left-hand side some 25-yards from goal and he slipped the ball through to Willams, who poked the ball across Bowey to roll his shot into the bottom far corner and the winger screamed in delight as he wheeled away to celebrate his first goal of the season.

“We’ve not had Marcus all season, coming back from a suspension. He’s a very lively player,” said White.

“Marcus can play anywhere across the front three. He’s got a real eye for goal and it was a great run, it was a fantastic ball and a really tidy toe-poked finish past the goalkeeper and nice to see the boy celebrate that moment.

“He certainly enjoyed it. We like to let our football to do the talking and it’s nice to see a player smile scoring a goal!”

Overton added: “Again, it’s come from us down the left-hand side. Young JJ (Jefferys) has been absolutely brilliant for us this year. He’s only 17. I played him out of position today at left-back. He’s a natural centre-half and he’s just got caught cutting inside on his natural right-foot. I think the 11 has poked it home but we was in controlled possession of the ball in our own half and gave them another goal.

“Their two wingers were quick, yes they were very quick and we said it before the game, we knew exactly what they were going to be like in a 4-3-3.  Their wingers are nice and high, they look to get in behind and they did cause us problems but try to counter that we needed to keep the ball a lot better today and the transitions caught us.”

The game went dead from that goal and both teams made five substitutions each and with Sharp now playing as a central striker, he was proving to be more of an attacking threat than the now hooked Wady.

Now playing a back three with Rashaun Leacock (a very high left-back), Seymour (central) and Umar (right), a long ball from inside the Cuxton half by sub George Moore split open Seymour to put Sharp in on goal but goalkeeper Stallen dived to his left to hold (34:37).

Overton said: “If that one went in, that’s 3-1 and we’ve got a little bit of time to try to get the game back.  I think the same patters sort of developed for the goal at the end as well with Lewis Sharp.”

“James has been superb for us all season,” highlighted White, who’s side opened up with five new players on the pitch, who didn’t have the same quality and intensity as the players they replaced.

“I think when you think it’s a Tuesday night in Maidstone, a lot of boys have made an effort to leave work and get here and I’m a manager who likes to give players’ minutes and feel confidence in the guys, so yes, we did make changes.

“Sometimes you can argue that does upset the balance of the game but I have full confidence in the guys and ultimately I want to get all the players on the pitch, so I couldn’t be more pleased with what we did tonight.”

Cuxton scored a consolation goal with 44 minutes and 47 seconds on the clock, when substitute striker Emmanuel Ajayi had his pocket picked by how own team-mate Moore, who slipped the ball through to Sharp, who slotted his right-footed shot past the advancing keeper to find the bottom far corner.

“Sharpy’s got lightening pace and that’s the threat it does cause down the middle. I can play Sharpy left, right, through the middle but play him through the middle just gives us a bit of a different dimension because of his pace,” said Overton, who will have to start Sharp in the number nine role instead of Wady when the two sides meet again.

“He is one player more often or not, if he does get a chance, he scores, so fair play to Sharpy.

“When George Moore came on, gave us a lot of energy, nicked quite a lot of stuff but ultimately it was a bit little too late.”

White was clearly disappointed with his side conceding only their seventh league goal of the season.

“I was gutted, gutted to not have a clean-sheet. Last season we had the joint-second best defensive record (conceding 48 goals in 36 games, two more than Aylesford, who finished one place above us, in fourth).

“We’re a young team and look it was frustrating to concede the goal but it didn’t take away the overall performance from the boys today.

“I think they had a really professional performance and showed every quality you look for from a team tonight, so I was really, really pleased.”

Cuxton almost notched a flattering second goal (47:44) when Gething’s ball over the top of Seymour (Kent United’s weak link in defence) sent Sharp though on goal again but his right-footed drive from 16-yards sailed just over the crossbar as the keeper rushed off his line.

White was delighted with his side’s impressive performance as Cuxton suffered their third home league defeat in five games in Maidstone.

“I just thought the overall attitude of the players, I think getting here on a Tuesday night was difficult for a lot of the guys and they turned up with real focus knowing it was a very important game.  They just followed the instructions to a tee.

“I thought we looked great in possession. I think there was a number of outstanding performances from the boys today. It’s not an easy place to come, Cuxton are doing really well.  They’ve lost one in the last five games (before tonight), they’re a good team, they’re a physical team, an experienced Kent Prem team.  They’re vying for promotion, just as much as we are, so three goals, three points, eight wins out of nine, I couldn’t be more pleased than that.

“Listen, what more could you want? It’s the boys’ hard work and credit for the effort they put in and how hard they worked during pre-season to get to this point, so we will do our utmost to challenge.”

White revealed Oyedeji (cut shin), Williams (groin) and Alfie Beazley (rolled ankle) suffered knocks tonight, as did Cuxton’s holding midfielder Lennie O’Connor who turned his ankle, as Cuxton picked up five cautions from referee Kacper Krzykowski.

White said: “Cuxton tonight, with five bookings, showed ultimately the other side of the game, which I don’t like to see…”

Overton claimed: “Yes, yes, we are a side that picks up a fair number of yellow cards. I think it’s part and parcel of the aggression we try to instil into the team. It’s part and parcel of the game, unfortunately.”

Both sides are involved in home Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield Second Round ties on Saturday, against two sides in Division One Central & East.

Cuxton welcome fifth-placed Woodnesborough, while Kent United host leaders Sittingbourne Valley.

“We know a lot about Woodnesborough when we were in Division One, we played them a lot and it’s always a good competitive game,” said Overton.

“I will take this opportunity to rotate. We’ve got a big squad, we’ve got a very young squad so players will get opportunities on Saturday.”

White added: “Look, they’re having a good season. Don’t really know much about them but we don’t look past any team. We’ll treat them as we would any other team. We’ll take the game seriously and we’ll look to come out and continue this momentum and hopefully come away with a win.

These two sides will lock horns again in the League at Foxbury Avenue on Saturday 17 October.

“Round two, right? So I expect exactly the same type of game, another competitive game. We’ll go into that game with confidence. We know how Cuxton play. I’m sure they’ll want revenge and I’m sure it will be a very entertaining game for the neutral but we’ll certainly be focused for that game as well,” said White.

When asked what was missing from his side, who failed to turn up when all eyes were on them, Overton replied: “It’s a bit of a killer blow because we were second, they were third. They have now leapfrogged us and we had the opportunity to go top today.

“But like I said to them (my players) after the game. I said we’ve got them again in two weeks’ time and we need to be taking points off them at their place.

“I don’t know playing them so quick after the first time is a good thing or a bad thing. We know exactly what they’re like and vice-versa but it’s really, really critical that we go to their place and take some points off them.”

Both Kent United and Cuxton – two amateur sides that don’t have a playing budget - want to celebrate winning promotion into the tenth-tier Southern Counties East Football League First Division at the end of this season.

White said: “We finished the highest that the team has finished (fifth) since Kent United was formed. We want to be challenging for the league, it’s as simple as that.

“I have all confidence in the team. I believe in them. I don’t think we should fear anybody in this League. I think we’ve got to continue what we’re doing and come the end of the season, we’ll see where we are.

“It’s a great club. It’s a very ambitious club. Matt Purser, the chairman, has invested a lot of money and time into the club. We’re a very progressive club and we’re building lots of exciting things ahead.

“Look, I think ultimately this squad should be in the SCEFL League. I think my players are extremely talented and should be playing at a higher level and credit to them. They want to stay here to try and push Kent on.  Without a doubt our goal here is promotion.  That was the target last year. We had to finish top five to be able to apply, unfortunately, we didn’t get the promotion but we’ll certainly be fighting to the very last kick of the ball and let’s see where we are and go from there.”

Overton revealed their lease at Maidstone United ends at the end of next season, by which point he wants to win promotion this season and the club will then bring their Bush Lane ground in the village up to standard, including floodlights.

“Our aspirations? It’s promotion, yes, it’s promotion. We’ve got internal goals and targets, at the moment we’re there or there abouts.  We’ve played a lot of league games and a lot of teams are playing catch-up but the most important thing is points on the board. We’re siting in the top three. If we’re still sitting in the top three at Christmas then we’re heading in the right trajectory.

“But the ambition of the club and the squad and the management team is promotion.

“Maidstone have been a fantastic landlord. We’ve got a really good relationship with their under 23s and we have got two of their 23s with us, Aiden Hatton and Cellan Wenham.

“Cellan has been tremendous, so, so composed at the back. We missed hm today and we’ve signed Aiden, who’s a really exciting quick winger, which I think we need.  Aiden will be with us on Saturday and I’m hoping Cellan will be back in a couple of weeks’ time.

“The relationship with Maidstone is strong and we hope it will continue into next year but the ambition is to get back to Cuxton. That’s our home, that’s our village and that’s where we want to be.

“Like anything, money talks, so the idea and the plan is hopefully is get promoted here, then we’ll look at funding and grants and what opportunities that brings at playing at SCEFL.

“The chairman of the club and the committee are fully behind that and pushing us to do it. We’ve got the full backing and the support of the club. The youth teams have got some good Kent Youth teams coming through, got some fantastic youth teams at the younger age groups, so the club’s strong.

“We’ve got no budget. We’re lucky enough to have quite a few sponsors that more or less pays our way for the season. We’ve got a really, really supportive club.”

Cuxton 91: Matthew Bowey, Alife Lawson (Teddy Walker 65), Jack Jefferys, Lennie O’Connor (George Moore 74), Matthew Gething, Shane Godden, Alfie Davey (Emmanuel Ajayi 74), Bamidele Faboyede, George Wady (Liam Maxwell 61), Aaron Simpson (Sam Ryan 85), Lewis Sharp.

Goal: Lewis Sharp 90

Booked: Alfie Lawson 56, George Wady 58, Lennie O’Connor 72, George Moore 77, Aaron Simpson 81

Kent United: James Stallen, Lewis Taylor (Josh Larkin 74), George Jackson (Rashaun Leacock 65), Emmanuel Oyedeji, Ben Seymour, John Umar, Marcus Williams (Cavelle Ffrench-Lee 65), Darrell Holness, Tom Cullen, Rhys Irani (Alfie Beazley 74), Emmanuel Edward (George Harris 77).

Goals: Emmanuel Edward 38, Tom Cullen 51, Marcus Williams 60

Booked: Alfie Beazley 90

Attendance: 56
Referee: Mr Kacper Krzykowski
Assistants: Mr Oliver Simmons & Mr Aidan Machin-Monkman

Match Duration:
First Half: 46:05
Second Half: 48:28