Greenways 2 Staplehurst Monarchs United 1

Match 17/21/1882 - Monday, 9th August 2021 - SCEFL 1

Greenways (1) 2 Abioye 44,63
Staplehurst Monarchs United (0) 1 Pallet 70
Attendance: 83

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 26/823

Two teams without a point on the board following the opening two rounds of fixtures fought out a feisty encounter at Cobdown with the home side, Greenways emerging as the winners on the night.

With potentially three clubs to be relegated from SCEFL Division 1, I fear that my home town club, Staplehurst Monarchs’ stay in Step 6 might be a short one. But I am also inclined to think that Greenways might be similarly looking over their shoulders.

At half-time the game was evenly poised and Staplehurst were more than a shade unlucky to go into the break a goal down, but come the finish, wasteful finishing from Greenways denied them a clearer margin of victory.

A decent crowd of around a 100 had very little to enthuse about in the opening 20 minutes before Staplehurst brought the first real save of the game from Greenways goalkeeper Dan Stevens.

A free kick saw the Staplehurst central defender’s header go marginally wide after 28 minutes, quickly followed by Stevens saving at Peter West’s feet. After 34 minutes a free kick from the right clipped the far post with the Monarch’s cursing their misfortune.

After dominating the half, the visitors fell behind in controversial circumstances a minute from the break. Greenways swung in a corner from the right that was met with a downward header that goalkeeper Steve Lawrence parried low into the path of Rhys Abioye who touched home from close range with the Staplehurst defenders claiming offside.

Greenways were more of an attacking force in the second period but Abioye was wasteful when sent clear and shot wide two minutes into the half and James Austin shot over after 55 minutes.

Abioye scored his second of the evening after 63 minutes when he slotted in from close range but a tight angle.

Staplehurst got themselves back into the game after 70 minutes when a long through ball sent Kieran Pallet clear to score with a very good finish.

This did set up a tense finish that on a couple of occasions threatened to boil over with a couple of naughty challenges bringing recriminations from both sides.

As the Monarchs desperately sought an equaliser, going closest seven minutes from time, Greenways also had a couple of chances on the break. And thereby lies the tale, both sides need to be much sharper in front of goal or a long, hard winter is going to follow.