This fixture looked on paper to be a really exciting clash. A cup quarter final involving two teams from one of my favourite leagues (the Southern Counties East Football League). The side with home advantage, Lordswood FC, were very much on the up in the Premier Division (sitting in twelfth place) and with a new manager Nicky Southall bringing ex Premier League experience and belief to his side, to enable them to begin to reestablish themselves as one of the leading teams in the division, rather than a team known for battling relegation, as has been the case in recent years.

Their opponents, in the Kent Senior Trophy quarter finals today were Larkfield & New Hythe, a side pushing from promotion from the SCEFL Division 1 and instilled with confidence and belief by their skilled coach and manager, Danny Lye. This season, following a transition period over the summer, Lye’s new squad have risen to fourth in the table, winning nine and losing only three of their opening 15 fixtures.

Goals for both sides have come with regularity. Larkfield & New Hythe FC averaging two a game, with their leading scorer Matt Day having 18 goals to his name already, whilst being supported by Joe Bingham (4 goals) and Jack Sammoutis (3 goals). Lordswood themselves have scored 34 league goals in just 22 games, with the talented James Jeffrey finally showing with regular play and good service, how dangerous he can be, scoring 16 goals.

The first half opened with Larkfield & New Hythe in the ascendency. They had a goal disallowed and created chances which could have easily been converted, with Matt Day spearheading the attack with real passion. It was however the Premier Division side who took the lead when in the 24th minute against the run of play, Lordswood’s Callum Peck took the ball on the edge of the area and half volleyed home, to make it 1-0.

On 37 minutes Larkfield & New Hythe were level at 1-1, when Tyler Ibe created his own chance from nowhere, matching Peck’s feat at the opposite end.

Just on the stroke of half time, Tyler Ibe added his second to make it 1-2 and in the process give Larkfield & New Hythe a well deserved lead to take in at the break.

The second half continued with more dominance from the away team. In the 57th minute Matt Day managed to bundle the ball over the line from close range to extend Larkfield & New Hythe’s lead to a two goal margin at 1-3.

Lordswood did try to throw everything into pulling back into the game but as they went forward they left themselves exposed and in the 75th minute Kwasi Amoah was able to seal a fine 1-4 victory, with a well placed finish.

So it will be Larkfield & New Hythe who progress into the semi-finals this season after a clinical and dominant performance. Lordswood will go back to the drawing board as they look to continue their recent improvements, despite the disappointment today of losing to lower league opposition.