Kent County League Inter-Regional Challenge Cup Quarter Final
The Maude Pavilion, New Romney
Admission : None
Programme: None
Attendance: 60 (rough headcount)
With all trains cancelled this morning on my local line thanks to a trespasser, and not really fancying a long drive in search of a new senior ground, today I decided to make quite a rare visit to a Step 7 ground outside of the groundhopping "silly season" of midweek early evening kick-offs.
The Maude Pavilion is half way between New Romney High Street and the town's light railway station, about 5 minutes walk from each, and several signs of varying age decorate the roadside wall of the clubhouse, advertising the club and forthcoming fixtures - although this information was not updated for today's fixture. After walking through a very small car park to the side of the clubhouse, the main pitch is roped off all around, with the posts neatly coloured in blue and yellow hoops. Dugouts are installed on matchday opposite the clubhouse. The clubhouse straddles the half way line and has a bar and a small seating area inside, with its veranda making for a popular vantage point. Located alongside the clubhouse is the back wall of a community hall. Trees line both ends, whilst behind the opposite length to the clubhouse is quite a large expanse of playing fields. It is quite a pleasant location on a sunny day like today, and a healthy and enthusiastic crowd in attendance created a decent feel to the game. As usual in this division, no programme was produced and admission was free, although spectators were invited to contribute by a club official walking around the ground with a donation box during the second half.
This match promised to be a closely matched affair, with both clubs in the Premier Division of the Kent County League, and separated by two places and five points. New Romney, who were losing finalists in this competition last season, were in sixth place, having won 12 and drawn one of their 21 league games, while Sidcup based Tudor Sports were in eighth place, following nine wins and five draws from their 21 league games. To reach this stage, New Romney had beaten K Sports Reserves 2-3 away, and then Sutton Athletic Reserves 5-7 away, while Tudor Sports had beaten Fleetwood United 0-2 away, Bromleians 2-4 away, and then Faversham Strike Force on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
On an almost unbelievably glorious afternoon of blue skies, sunshine and exceptionally mild temperatures for February of around 13C, the match started off quite evenly, but the hosts had the first clear chance of the game, when a powerful shot from a tight angle was well saved by the keeper's outstretched leg. But they did take the lead on 27 minutes when the ball was lumped forward and as the keeper came racing out of this area, he just lost the race to the ball, the striker lifted the ball over the keeper, chased after it and nodded it home into an empty net. Both sides then created some very presentable chances, and New Romney had a couple of fine saves and blocks to thank for preserving their lead. But less than a minute after seeing a bullet header from a corner fly just over the bar, New Romney doubled their lead on 39 minutes. A ball over the top sent their striker clear of the defence, and he showed excellent composure to fire the ball low past the keeper. They almost made if 3-0 four minutes later when the ball bobbled around the six yard box, but no-one could get a decisive shot away.
So New Romney held a comfortable lead at half time, and they just about wrapped the game up on 61 minutes when they scored their third. The visitors lost possession following a free-kick, and on the counter attack, a New Romney player raced down the left wing before eventually clipping the ball over the keeper and into the net from a tight angle. And the result really was put beyond all doubt on 75 minutes when New Romney scored their fourth. The ball was crossed to the far post, the keeper tried to narrow down the angle, leaving his goal exposed and the ball was passed to a team mate in a central position in front of goal to tap the ball into the empty net. Credit to Tudor Sports for continuing to work head to at least get on the scoresheet in the closing minutes, although New Romney had several and better chances to further extend their lead themselves. But four was more than enough to seal their progress to the semi-finals of the competition.
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