A cool and cloudy Wednesday evening, at the end of August, saw me at the Jubilee Ground, home of Staplehurst Monarchs to watch my first Southern Counties East Football (SCEFL) Development League fixture of the season.

This fixture is Staplehurst Monarchs first development league fixture of the season. Ramsgate played and lost 1-2, at home to Maidstone United, in their first fixture last week. The new structure of the SCEFL development league pitches 11 teams from “East” Kent together, allowing for an exciting competition between development sides attached to SCEFL, Isthmian and even National league clubs.

The Jubilee Ground has ample free parking and a welcoming clubhouse. The pitch is grass and the ground also benefits from a small grandstand, with seating for 50, as well as a small covered standing area. There was a respectable crowd of around 70 in attendance.

Ramsgate were on the attack from the whistle, having a goal denied for off side within three minutes. In the 6th minute Staplehurst broke and relieved the pressure on themselves, with Ainsley Linton scoring, to make it 1-0, against the early run of play.

As the half progressed, both sides created chances, with Ramsgate FC looking strong going forward but lacking the final touch needed to convert into goals. Staplehurst Monarchs began to counter attack with real efficiency as the half time whistle approached and a headed chance from a corner narrowly missed creeping under the bar. However at half time the sides went in with Staplehurst Monarchs 1-0 ahead.

The second half continued evenly but on 57 minutes Staplehurst Monarchs put themselves two ahead, with a fine headed finish by Sam Winch, from a corner.

The game looked to be going the way of the home side but as the half progressed it was Ramsgate who began to show greater stamina and to put pressure relentlessly on the home side’s defence.

In the 80th minute Ramsgate finally converted a chance, with Zak Jove finishing, to make the score 2-1 and put themselves within a single goal of the home side. Ramsgate then threw everything at trying to equalise, while Staplehurst Monarchs tried every trick in the book to attempt to play out the remaining time as they tried to preserve their lead.

In the last minute of additional time Ramsgate FC were level. A neat cross from the left was headed home by Wes Hennessy. Staplehurst Monarchs were unhappy about the referee’s decision to allow for additional time and protests led to two red cards being issued to home side players.