Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 1 Smith 40
Rochester United (0) 0
Attendance: 342
Admission: £4
Mileage: 1/7,732
Staplehurst’s “biggest game in their history” ended as just a prelude to the biggest game in their history as they emerged from a tense, hard fought Playoff Semi-Final, desperately clinging on to their one goal lead earned on the half-hour.
They will now visit Larkfield on Saturday for a place in the SCEFL Premier Division.
Home advantage for the semi-final was sealed on the last day as a point for Staplehurst at K Sports proved enough whilst Rochester United lost at Thamesmead and thus an impressive 342 were drawn to the Jubilee on an evening that turned a little cold after the warmest day of the year.
A tight game was always on the cards as both teams have won the away fixture in the regular season by an odd goal and from the outset it was obvious that this game would be no different. Staplehurst had the early half-chances with Caine Smith’s seven minute effort clearing the bar and a header that drifted wide.
A long throw hoisted into the Rochester box saw Danny Ashton head wide before the visitors created chances with Fjord Rogers shooting over and Steve Lawrence was the first goalkeeper seriously tested when he turned over a header from Freeman Rogers after 26th minute.
Five minutes before the break, the hosts broke the deadlock. A quickly taken throw-in allowed Grant McIlheron to deliver a cross that was headed home by Smith.
As the second half progressed and Rochester searched hard for an equaliser, Staplehurst’s back line was put under serious pressure with central defenders, McIlheron and Jack Bray being asked time again to deal with the aerial onslaught being imposed.
Lawrence was only asked to make routine saves and in their sporadic attacks, Smith tested Rochester’s goalkeeper, Luke Watkins, who with seven minutes remaining made a fantastic double save from Stanley Oldfield and the follow-up from Toby Sargeant to keep Rochester in the game.
Seven minutes seemed an eternity for the home support but only a shot that drifted well wide from a good position from Ben Wyness was the only real scare.
The visitors ended with 10 men after a show of dissent from Tony Whittaker saw him sin binned.
Regular season results suggest that Saturday’s final will be a similarly closely fought affair.
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