South East Athletic 2 Staplehurst Monarchs United 0

Match 123/18/1716 - Wednesday, 24th April 2019 - Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield Final

South East Athletic (0) 2
Staplehurst Monarchs United (0) 0
Attendance:

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 30/7,106

When I moved to Staplehurst six years ago, I took a trip less than a mile down the road, to Jubilee Fields to catch an end of season Kent County League game that the Monarch won at a canter but there was nothing to suggest that they had any potential to become future champions and even less to suggest that the infrastructure would be place for them to progress into the Southern Counties East.

Fast forward to 2019 and they are indeed Champions and, by 31st March of this year, the infrastructure is in place for them to take their place in SCEFL1 next season. Full hardstanding with pitch perimeter fencing is in place. Atcost stands to sit and stand the appropriate number of spectators is ready to go and floodlights, purchased from Chatham Town are ready to erect. Staplehurst is a village that is quickly outgrowing that title which does not go down particularly well with its residents, but the football club can certainly view a growing population as an opportunity.

As Champions of the Kent County League they went into this game against South East Athletic, who play their football a division lower in Division One West, as favourites but ended the evening a well beaten side as the Kidbrooke-based side thorough deserved their victory. Hopefully I caught my local side on a bad night because their performance certainly belied that of a team about to enter the SCEFL.

Staplehurst had a penalty appeal turned away after just two minutes and a couple of half-chances in the opening 20, but once the south Londoners had found their feet in the game they became the dominant party.

Luke Alliband fired over and Darren Wynne rounded ex-Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper Steve Lawrence before seeing his shot deflected to safety.

Staplehurst had a chance, against the run of play on 38 minutes when a cross from Ryan Parks was fumbled by the South East goalkeeper, Andrew Cooper, but Luke Wallond spooned the chance over the bar to see the game into the break goalless.

After six minutes of the second half South East opened the scoring. A cross from the right to beyond the far post found Padraig Biggane who fired in a shot under the body of Lawrence.

South East Athletic were now fully in control of the game and Lawrence was over-employed saving from Alliband, Billy Rutherford, Biggane and Wynne whilst the Monarch only mustered a header from Josh Brown.

Eventually the game was put to bed in the 67th minute when a well-executed lob from Wynne put South East Athletic two up.

There was to be no rally from Staplehurst and South East Athletic saw out the game in relative comfort.

With their newly-acquired status I’ve no doubt that I will see a bit more of the Monarchs next season, hopefully on better days.