To start the month of February I decided to head for a first visit to Bourne Park Stadium in Sittingbourne. The game was a Kent County League Division 1 Central and East fixture between Rochester City FC and Cuxton 91 Reserves.

The Bourne Park Stadium in Sittingbourne was the training ground of Sittingbourne FC when built within the Central Park complex in 1990. Then in 2002 the club began playing here and the stadium was adapted when the greyhound track began making it more complicated for Sittingbourne to access the main Central Park stadium. Sittingbourne FC left the stadium in 2013 due to financial difficulties and Rochester City have recently taken up the stadium for their home ties.

Rochester City came into the game in third place, seven points behind Aylesford in the last promotion spot. They’ve won ten of their opening seventeen games this season scoring 40 goals and conceding 26. Joint managers Aaron McCall and Ashley Stone would really have been hoping for a win against their opponents today to secure their promotion hopes. Goals this season have come from Joshua Wheeler (11 goals), Dominic Traille (7 goals) and Max Provan (5 goals).

Cuxton 91 Reserves are managed by Scott Greenaway and came into today’s game desperately hoping for three points to be able to climb away from the relegation places. Cuxton 91 Reserves have only won six out of their sixteen games, scoring 28 goals but conceding 39. Cuxton 91 Reserves have welcomed the goals of Emmanuel Ajayi (18 goals), but the nearest other high scorers all sit on 2 (David Blaikie, Ryan McDonald, Ryan Phillips and Noah Stevens).

The game opened in bright sunlight, which took the edge off the cold wind. Both sides went close early on and there was a clear commitment to attacking football.

On 25 minutes Rochester City were ahead, a cross from the right being turned in clinically, by Joshua Wheeler to put them 1-0 ahead.

After 39 minutes another Rochester City attack down the right hand side left the score at 2-0. The ball was squared again for another clinical finish by Rochester City’s No.9.

Just on the stroke of half time, Cuxton 91 Reserves had a great chance of their own. A free kick was well saved by Rochester City’s keeper and the rebound was also blocked, to ensure the teams went in at the break separated by two goals.

In the 55th minute Rochester City had the game sewn up when they edged 3-0 ahead after Max Provan headed home from a corner kick.

In the 90th minute the score was extended to 4-0 when Rochester City’s No. 9 scored again, this time turning in a chance at the near post.

At the fulltime whistle it was Rochester City’s keeper who left with all three points as they kept up their assault on the promotion places. Cuxton 91 Reserves FC just failed to threaten up front today despite creating opportunities but should have enough in the tank to stay safely in the division this season.