Southern Counties East League Division One
Rede Court Road, Strood
Admission: £7.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 279
This was a bonus extra game for me today, before my afternoon's action to come at The Valley, enabled by the GroundhopUK organised Southern Counties East League groundhop weekend taking place. While Strood is not really on my way to Charlton, it was an easy enough diversion. There was an evening game on the hop, at Whitatable Town, but unfortunately I would not have enough time to make that game.
Today would be a revisit for me, with my only previous visit ten years ago. Following a short walk from the passing through, through an area containing car parking and junior pitches, entrance is gained by paying admission at quite a large booth in one corner. All of the grounds facilities are located along the length closest to the entrance, with a rather rustic and rickety all seater stand straddling the half way line, the clubhouse building behind it to the side, and a small covered area between the clubhouse and entrance. There is just hard standing along the opposite length and behind the goal closest to the entrance, while the remaining end is out of bounds to spectators. It is a pleasant, rural ground, despite a busy road passing close by behind a row of trees.
After just missing out on a play off spot by two points last season, Rochester United have made a decent start to this season, coming into this game in second place in the table, following seven wins and a defeat from their opening eight league games. Faversham Strike Force used to share Rede Court Road when they first came up to the Southern Counties East League, although they now play at Faversham Town's ground. They did reach the play-offs last season, finishing in fourth place, before losing in the semi finals to eventual winners Lydd Town, but this season has started fairly slowly for them, winning four and losing four of their eight league games so far, and were in ninth place in the 16 club division.
On a gloriously sunny and unseasonably very warm morning, and with a record crowd in attendance here today, this was an entertaining game to watch, always played in a competitive bordering on feisty spirit. Rochester saw a shot come back off the cross bar in the sixth minute, and after that, both sides created some decent chances, with Rochester always looking slightly the more likelier to break the deadlock, but the scoreline remained goalless at the break.
The second half continued in much the same vein, but despite plenty of attacking intent being shown, it looked increasingly inevitable that the game would end goalless, until the deadlock was finally broken in the 89th minute, greatly assisted by the Faversham number 7, who played the ball backwards, in between two defenders and with a Rochester player chasing the ball, the Faversham keeper elected to weakly kick the ball away, only for Harrison Hume to delicately chip the ball into the virtually unguarded net.
Match highlights can be viewed by clicking here
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