K Sports 4 FC Elmstead 1

Match 49/16/1356 - Friday, 4th November 2016 - SCEFL Division 1

K Sports (3) 4 Smith 4,40 Barratt (o.g.) 8 Norman 74
FC Elmstead (1) 1 Babalola 45
Attendance: 341

Entrance: £5
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 40/3,899
New Ground: 297

Match Report

The grand opening of K Sports new ground (the same Cobdown location as their old ground) brought a bumper attendance of 341, an amazing number given that the eight games in SCEFL Division One on Saturday amounted to just 275 with the largest being Glebe's at 52. I cannot admit to knowing too much about the standard at this level, but it was very watchable with the home side giving people every reason to return for the next home game. Whether they will, is open to question.

The new venue has a 3G pitch which played well and didn't look particularly inferior to their senior neighbours, Maidstone United. There is a small stand straddling the half-way line that, guessing, would hold around 120 people. The high perimeter open mesh perimeter fencing does give a feel of a cage which doesn't offer a lot of character. But at this level, it does what it says on the tin, and doubtless, will be good for the club's coffers as it gets rented at any time during the week.

K Sports (if anybody knows why they are called that, please leave a message) are a club that has had many guises. Aylesford Paper Mills became APM to become APM Contrast before their present name.

They celebrated the opening with a goal after just four minutes. Jason Perry, who caught the eye on the evening, deceived the Elmstead defence from a free kick, slipping it straight through to Caine Smith, who drove his shot past the goalkeeper.

One quickly became two, after eight minutes, when a long throw caused confusion that ended with Reece Barratt poking it past his own keeper.

Five minutes before the break, Smith was played through with a superb pass over the top from Gabriel Luckhurst, he rounded the goalkeeper and scored from a tight angle close to the bye-line to make it 3-0 to K Sports.

Elmstead gave themselves a lifeline with a goal on the stroke of half-time when Dexter Babalola latched onto a pass from Jack Jeffreys to round the keeper and score.

A fine drive from 25 yards by Norman after a corner was cleared to him was the highlight of the second half.

The Elmstead goalkeeper did well to deny Smith a hat-trick saving with his feet and his 85th minute save from Ashley Cooper was a class above this division.

K Sports have played all their games away from home whilst waiting for their ground to be completed and presently sit in mid-table. It is going to be interesting to see where they are going to finish with the run of home games they will now have and, even more so, how many people they are going to attract on a week-to-week basis.