Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 3 Luke Adams 21 Headley 69 Sean Adams 80
Rochester United (0) 1 Wilkins 59
Attendance: 67
Admission: £5
Mileage: 1/5,238
Staplehurst Monarchs and Rochester United slogged their way through 90 minutes on a pitch where the going would have been described as heavy had it been a racecourse.
That they produced an entertaining game is a credit to both sides. On a first viewing, the pitch that has been the subject of several postponements this season, didn’t look too bad but 20 minutes after kick off it was cutting up badly making anything played along the ground a serious risk.
In Jack Bray, Staplehurst had a defender for the occasion, he headed everything, heaved his clearances long with a thou shalt not pass attitude.
The pitch has been a major concern for Staplehurst since their promotion into Step 6 football but, hopefully, a resolution is just around the corner.
Funding is in place for the laying of a 3G pitch and approval sits with Maidstone Borough Council and it is reported that a decision is fairly imminent. It is seen by the local residents to be a community asset, so MBC, let’s get on with it.
Staplehurst took the lead on 21 minutes after an opening period when the visitors just about held the balance of play. Luke Adams buried a shot into the bottom corner to give the Monarchs a lead that they took into the break.
Rochester equalised, deservedly, on the hour when a long throw was only partially cleared to Liam Wilkins who scored from the edge of the box.
At this point, and with the pitch churning up, the game could have gone either way but it was the home side that restored their lead on 69 minutes when a long throw was scrambled home at the near post by Phil Headley.
With 10 minutes remaining Sean Adams made the game safe with the best goal of the game, an angled shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Both sides continue to harbour outside ambition of a play-off spot with Rochester in the better of the position with games in hand.
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