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Sport

Vote for your star man in KentOnline's team-of-the-year

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 14 May 2019

It’s time for KentOnline’s team-of-the-year.

A big thanks to everyone who nominated players on Twitter and to the thousands who’ve read team-of-the-week throughout the season.

We’ve got our final XI - plus substitutes - and there’s a chance to vote for your favourite in our poll.

We squeezed four strikers into last season’s team but we’ve gone for an old-school 4-4-2 this time.

Tonbridge goalkeeper Jonny Henly pips Nathan Ashmore to the No.1 jersey after a brilliant campaign between the sticks.

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Angels kept 23 clean sheets on their way to Bostik Premier play-off glory and a place in National League South, with Henly showing his class.

Anyone who scores 12 goals from right-back deserves a place in the team - step forward Joe Kane after a prolific season for Lordswood in Southern Counties East.

Former Aston Villa youngster Ben Swift is in central defence after an excellent campaign at Margate.

Swift was part of the fourth-meanest defence in the Bostik Premier and also popped up with five goals.

Alongside him is Kevin Lokko after a starring role in Dover’s climb to National League safety.

Dover defender Kevin Lokko Picture: Alan Langley

The ex-Maidstone man was a rock at the heart of the Whites defence and the fact he won players’ player-of-the-season at Crabble says it all.

At left-back it’s Chris Bush of Ebbsfleet.

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Bush was Fleet’s most improved player this season, making himself one of the first names on the teamsheet, and he also scored five goals, including two magnificent free-kicks.

Brendan Kiernan missed out on promotion with Welling in Sunday’s play-off final but he’s been one of the stand-out players in National South.

Comfortable on either flank, he finished as the Wings’ top scorer with 15 goals, to go with numerous assists and fancy footwork.

Ashford captain Sam Corne has been a regular in our team-of-the-week, prolific from central midfield as the Nuts and Bolts reached the Bostik South East play-offs.

He also scored in the play-off semi-final win at Hastings and again in the final defeat against Horsham, producing the form of his life.

D’Sean Theobalds only joined Tonbridge after Christmas but what an impact he made.

Tonbridge midfielder D'Sean Theobalds Picture: David Couldridge

You look for players who change a club's season and Theobalds certainly did that, both with his performances in the league and the late wonder goal which forced extra time in Angels’ super play-off victory at Met Police.

Anthony Edgar completes our midfield after leading Cray Valley to Southern Counties East title glory and a place in the FA Vase final at Wembley.

Edgar has started 53 games, scoring 30 goals from midfield, including some absolute crackers.

Ask any manager in the division and chances are they will say Edgar is the best player they have come up against this season.

Tom Eaves finished the campaign with 22 goals as Gillingham comfortably survived in League 1.

The popular Scouser is out of contract and will be sorely missed if he moves on this summer.

Certainly no one will forget his wonder strike in the Gills' 2-0 victory at then-leaders Portsmouth.

Gillingham striker Tom Eaves Picture: Ady Kerry

Eaves is partnered by Chatham striker Paul Vines.

It’s been a marvellous campaign for Vines who finished with 45 goals and captained Chats to a Kent Senior Trophy and Challenge Cup double, their first trophies in two decades.

Ashmore, Thierry Audel, Lee Noble, Joe Turner and Danny Parish are on the bench.

Our manager-of-the-year is promotion-winning Tonbridge boss Steve McKimm.

McKimm worked wonders to get Angels into the Bostik Premier top five and then negotiated three play-off games to lead them into National South.

Andy Hessenthaler pulled off the great escape at Dover after taking charge with Whites in desperate trouble at the foot of the National League but McKimm just edges him.

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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