Larkfield & New Hythe (2) 3 Walker 33 Day 39 Babington 62
Staplehurst Monarchs (0) 1 Watson (pen) 49
Attendance: 201
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 22/6,978
Staplehurst Monarchs suffered a set back in their march to the SCEFL Division One play-offs but whilst it should not prove fatal in that quest, it might prove a pivotal defeat in the all-important battle for a top three place and a home tie in the post-season finale.
Larkfield and New Hythe, with this win, now stand four points adrift of the Monarchs but with two games in hand.
A bumper Easter Saturday crowd were treated to a feisty encounter that saw the home side, with perhaps the most to lose, play with an aggression that sailed pretty close to the wind at times but without doubt brought a deserved three points.
From the first minute when a great block from a Staplehurst defender denied an early goal, it was obvious that the home side were “up for it” with as much noise coming from the pitch as from the assembled crowd.
Staplehurst had decent chances on six minutes when the eccentric Larkfield goalkeeper, Jordan Carey, saved from Omar El Mantaway with the follow-up turned wide and on nine minutes when Harley Gorse headed over but after the visiting goalkeeper, Steve Lawrence, had made a brilliant reaction save to turn over a header from Tyrell Richardson, the resultant corner found its way to the left side of the box from where Fraser Walker drove low and cleanly into the bottom corner.
Larkfield doubled their advantage on 39 minutes when Matt Day beautifully flighted a free kick over the Staplehurst wall leaving Lawrence helpless.
Staplehurst were given a helping hand back into the game early in the second half when the referee awarded them a hotly disputed penalty which was converted by Connor Watson which brought a spell in which they threatened to pull the game level but Larkfield regained their momentum and regained their two goal advantage just past the hour with a close range header from Timmy Babington.
The final half-hour was one of attrition and not very easy on the eye but Larkfield saw the game out with relative ease to gain the vital three points.
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