The Easter Saturday saw sunny weather as the game dawned and I decided to travel locally after my visit to the seaside yesterday, to watch a game in one of my favourite leagues, the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Division 1.

The Eden Park Estates Stadium is always a welcoming venue to watch football, with a decent grass surface, a welcoming clubhouse, refreshment stands and a grandstand with seating for around 60 as well as a covered standing area.

Today’s game held huge significance as both sides sat in one of the four play-off places at kick off, with the visitors seven points clear of Larkfield & New Hythe, but with today’s opponents still holding a two game advantage over them. There is also a very real possibility that both sides could, in the coming weeks, end up replaying this fixture in the play-offs.

Larkfield & New Hythe’s manager, Danny Lye, has been able to rely on his sides high goals per game count this season as he embedded his belief in attacking football. Goals have come from the prolific Matt Day (27 goals), with supporting contributions this season, also from Joe Bingham and Jack Sammoutis (5 goals each).

Staplehurst Monarchs have turned around a disappointing campaign in 2022-23 to launch a promotion challenge this season which is based around manager Paul Atkins commitment to a tight defensive structure, which has enabled them to concede only seventeen goals in twenty three games, and that in a league where teams often average three goals a game. Staplehurst Monarch’s goals have come this season in a steady stream from the boots of Stanley Oldfield (10 goals), Omar El Mantaway (7 goals) and Ted Rossetti (7 goals).

The game opened with both sides battling hard to secure the opening goal. Staplehurst Monarchs saw an early chance roll agonisingly close to the open Larkfield & New Hythe goal. Both teams were throwing everything into the tackle and it was clear that the team scoring first would be hard to beat today.

On 34 minutes Larkfield & New Hythe were ahead. A corner was duly despatched by Frazer Walker from a tight angle to break the deadlock and give the home team the advantage, in what had been a very close fought opening half hour.

In the 41st minute a wonder free kick by Matt Day and a real contender for SCEFL goal of the season, put Larkfield & New Hythe 2-0 ahead.

As the half ended and the sides went in it was going to be quite a task for Paul Atkins to re-energise the self belief in his Staplehurst Monarchs side for the second half. On paper there had been little to choose between the teams in terms of possession and passing, but the score at half time, reading 2-0, said differently.

The second half opened with a penalty being awarded to Staplehurst Monarchs in the 49th minute, that not even they seemed to expect. Up stepped Connor Watson, to put the spot kick away and give the away team some hope.

On 65 minutes the advantage was back at two goals to Larkfield & New Hythe, when a long hit free kick found Timmy Babbington who finished with his head, to make it 3-1 in front of the 201 fans who’d come to see this top of the table clash.

The remainder of the half saw some passion from both sides and some really full blooded tackles.

At full time it was Larkfield & New Hythe who pushed their credentials for the play-offs. One thing is sure, if these two teams meet again at that level then it will be some match!!