Staplehurst Monarchs (2) 3 Brown 20,57 Bertram 40
Snodland Town (0) 2 #6 53 Sherwood 78
Headcount: 12
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 1/239
It’s a little bit of a shame that I don’t get down to my local club, Staplehurst Monarchs, more often. Just twice in the last couple of years have I ventured the half-mile from home to Jubilee Fields and, on both occasions, I have been pleasantly surprised by the standard of football.
Twenty-four hours have past since the bitter disappointment of England’s exit from the World Cup at the semi-final stage in Russia. Everybody is rightly proud of the performance of the national team and they come home with their heads held high. But football moves on and, like falling off a bike, it was good to get back to grassroots at the first opportunity.
Staplehurst Monarchs are a club that appears to have on-field ambition with the appearance of ex-Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper, Steve Lawrence between the sticks and leading the line, they have pulled off a major coup with the signing of Josh Brown, a striker from K Sports. Unfortunately, however good their season might turn out to be, significant progress needs to made in terms of infrastructure for promotion to be sought.
Both goalkeepers were in early action making good saves before the home side took the lead after 20 minutes. A fine through ball from the number eight saw Brown brush aside a challenge to fire into the bottom corner from 10 yards at the right hand angle of the box.
The game was a feisty encounter for a pre-season “friendly” and the referee needed to remind a couple of players of the meaning of the word.
After 40 minutes, Staplehurst deservedly doubled their advantage when a cross from the right fell to their central defender Nathan Bertram who swept the ball home.
Snodland Town, of SCEFL 1, a step higher than their hosts, were offered a way back into the game when their lively number 15 was brought down but the evergreen Dave Sherwood blasted the spot kick over the bar.
Snodland began the second half with a great deal more purpose and reduced the arrears after 53 minutes when their number 6 took a pass to score from close range.
The Monarch’s two goal advantage was quickly restored when Brown executed a fine finish from the edge of the box.
Snodland’s 15 was further agitated when he saw his header come back off the crossbar and with 12 minutes to go, Sherwood got his customary goal when he intercepted a poor back pass to tuck the ball home.
Staplehurst’s Brown was denied his hat-trick with a good double save from the visiting goalkeeper and from the resultant corner a header was directed wide.
Good luck to my local club, I will be watching closely their results and will not miss an, albeit limited, opportunity to see them.
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