The Aquatherm Stadium is home to two Faversham sides. Faversham Town of the Souther Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Premier Division and their tenants Faversham Strike Force of the SCEFL Division 1. Both sides were playing at home today which meant I was reporting on the Strikeforce fixture, against Rochester United, in an unusually early 11.00 am kick off.

The Aquatherm Stadium boasts a new 3G surface, a seated grandstand as well as a clubhouse, refreshment stand and covered standing. There is a range of free parking on site and Faversham is a town well worth exploring before or after the kick off.

Faversham Strike Force have had a disappointing season, coming into today’s game in ninth position, with nine wins, three draws and 12 defeats from their 24 games. Their defence has leaked goals at a rate of almost two per match. Goals have come readily, with forty being scored in their 24 matches, with Marshall Wratten (13 goals) and Tom Barton (12 goals) leading the way. Manager Gary Axford would have wanted his side to kick start their season, going into a final run of eight matches, with a win against one of the league’s high fliers!

Rochester United, by comparison, have had a very positive season, sitting currently in second place in the league. Goals have flowed for the away side this season, with their leading scorers being, Fjord Rogers (18 goals), Harvey Brown (6 goals) and Liam Wilkins (5 goals). Manager Matt Hume would have wanted his side to develop more consistency moving into the last eight games of the season, having seen three wins and two draws in the previous five matches.

The opening 20 minutes saw heavy Rochester United pressure, including a missed chance from close range when Liam Wilkins scuffed his shot past the post.

In the 21st minute, Faversham Strike Force went ahead, when Joe Kay struck a free kick with precision across the surface of the penalty area and into the Rochester United net.

Soon after this a Faversham Strike Force defender was sin binned for a comment to the referee. This would prove to be the first of a long list of cards today.

The second half of the opening period saw Faversham Strike Force side assert more and more pressure. Frustrations grew for the away side and on the stroke of half time Rochester United’s Harvey Brown was dismissed after an altercation with an opposition player. This sent the teams in at half time with Faversham Strike Force leading 1-0 and with a man advantage.

The second half saw a more even balance of play for both sides but it was Faversham Strike Force who went 2-0 ahead on 62 minutes, when Brooke Tiernan scored his team’s second. In the aftermath of this a Rochester United player was sin binned by the referee, reducing the away side to 9 men for ten minutes.

After a frustrating end to the second half for Rochester, with just ten minutes to go Fjord Rogers was dismissed for the away side, after a bad tackle, reducing them to nine players once again. Two minutes later Faversham Strike Force’s Brooke Tiernan followed, after the referee judged that he had kicked out unnecessarily.

As the referee blew the whistle it was the home side who turned around the league positions to secure a welcome three points in front of a decent crowd of 165. This was a rare match where the number of red cards actually outweighed the goals seen!