Hugh Christie 1 Abbey School 3

Match 116/23/2239 - Friday, 17th May 2024 - Kent Schools FA Academies League Cup Final

Hugh Christie (Tonbridge Angels) (1) 1 Richardson 35
Abbey School (Dover Athletic) (2) 3 Marapara 17 Hatcher 28 Young 52
At Herne Bay
Estimated attendance: 200
Admission: £8
Mileage: 74/7,964

Despite a valiant effort, Tonbridge Angels Academy found a powerful Dover Athletic side a touch too strong in the Kent Schools FA Academies League Cup Final at Herne Bay.

Dover, who play a level higher than the Angels, fielded a strong side that included Archie Hatcher and Henry Young who have both been members of the Crabble’s first team squad and Hatcher will trial this summer at Blackburn Rovers.

Tonbridge started the game brightly forcing a couple of corners and having an early opportunity when Hayden Velvick sent Mackenzie Richardson clear but his effort was narrowly wide.

In response to that scare, Dover had a decent chance before Tim Marapara gave them the lead after 17 minutes after winning a challenge in midfield and striding forward to score from the edge of the box.

Dover continued to dominate and when Hatcher fired a free kick into the top corner from 20 yards the Angels faced an uphill battle.

But battle on they did and, on 35 minutes they were back in the game when Noah Millis crossed from the right for Mackenzie Richardson to finish.

Early in the second half, Tonbridge struck a post and Leo Vowles and Ollie Thomson linked well to go close but it was Dover that extended their lead after 52 minutes when a cross from the right found Young who swept the ball home from 18 yards.

The Angels worked hard to find a way back into the game and were on the wrong end of a couple of dubious refereeing decisions that might have offered an opportunity from the penalty spot and Josh McArthur went close but Dover had the quality to see the game out and lift the trophy.

Gateshead 2 Solihull Moors 2

Match 115/23/2238 - Saturday, 11th May 2024 - FA Trophy Final

Gateshead (0) 2 Booty 45 Brown 109
Solihull Moors (0) 2 Beck 69,96 (pen)
After Extra Time, Gateshead won 4-3 on penalties
Attendance: 19,964
Admission: £10
Mileage: 100/7,890

Match Report

Great Wakering Rovers 0 Romford 3

Match 114/23/2237 - Saturday, 11th May 2024 - FA Vase Final

Great Wakering Rovers (0) 0
Romford (0) 3 Nalbant 53, 90+1 Deering 55
Attendance: 19,964
Admission: £10
Mileage: 100/7,890

Match Report

Chatham Town 0 Enfield Town 3

Match 113/23/2236 - Monday, 6th May 2024 - Isthmian Premier Play-off Final

Chatham Town (0) 0 Tanner 48 Wyllie 70 Taaffe 90+1
Enfield Town (0) 3
Attendance: 3,000
Admission: £6
Mileage: 32/7,790

Match Report

Larkfield & New Hythe 1 Staplehurst Monarchs 0

Match 112/23/2235 - Saturday, 4th May 2024 - SCEFL One Play-off Final

Larkfield & New Hythe (0) 1 McIlheron (o.g.) 61
Staplehurst Monarchs (0) 0
Attendance: 828
Admission: £3
Mileage: 26/7,758

It was the cruellest of ways to lose any game of football but to see a season ended in this manner was harsh in the extreme.

Just past the hour, a forward pass down the left saw Larkfield’s Matt Day’s cross from the byline take a deflection off Staplehurst’s Grant McIlheron that looped up and over a helpless Steve Lawrence and into the net.

Premier League managers regularly lament “fine margins” and this was the finest of margins in a SECEFL First Division Playoff that had all the hallmarks of either being settled by a single goal or going the distance to penalties. If there was one small mercy we were spared that.

A relative local derby and warm sunshine attracted a huge crowd of 828 to Larkfield and New Hythe’s Taray Group Community Stadium where the second and third clubs in the division would meet for a place in next season’s Premier Division.

In an attritional first half that was edged by the visitors, the first chance of the game fell to Staplehurst on 11 minutes as Caine Smith managed to get on the end of Danny Ashton’s pass before the onrushing Larkfield goalkeeper, Jordan Carey, but his lob nestled on the roof of the net. That proved to be the one and only chance of the half.

Early chances in the second half also fell the way of the Monarchs with Smith firing over three minutes into the half and, on 55 minutes, Carey produced a magnificent save to turn over Smith’s near post header from Ashton’s cross.

It was probably the defining moment as five minutes later Larkfield were in front courtesy of McIlheron’s misfortune.

Staplehurst were a whisker away from parity just two minutes later when Jack Hyslop’s free kick was wide by the narrowest of margins with Carey beaten.

Larkfield, to their credit, managed the game to the final whistle well with neither side creating much in the final 25 minutes.

Larkfield take their Premier place and look forward to visits to, and from, the likes of Faversham Town and Whitstable Town, big clubs that really should not be in the League while Staplehurst regroup and although the disappointment will be acute they should remember that two years ago, just being in this league was only dawning on them as a reality.

Paul Atkins, Staplehurst manager, said: “I’ve said to the boys before we started, ‘make a good account of ourselves’ and I think they did. I know that they did.”

You did and the village should be proud of the season’s achievement.

Staplehurst Monarchs 1 Rochester United 0

Match 111/23/2234 - Wednesday, 1st May 2024 - SCEFL One Play-off SF

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.

Sittingbourne 1 Three Bridges 2

Match 110/23/2233 - Tuesday, 30th April 2024 - Isthmian League SE Play-off SF

Sittingbourne (1) 1 Harris 22
Three Bridges (0) 2 Jalloh 71 (pen) Leighton 87
Attendance: 809
Admission: £5
Mileage: 32/7,731

Match Report