Heavy rain fell all morning as the muggy heat of yesterday broke with the heavens overnight. I decided to stay closer to home today and attend a local fixture at Rochester United of the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Division 1, whose campaign last year saw them fall outside of the play off places by three places and seven points.

Rochester United, managed this season by Michael Betts, faced a Bearsted FC team, who after a decent Premier Division campaign in 2024-25, when they secured twelfth place, came into this season with manager Kevin Stevens’ expectations for continued growth. As the kick off approached the weather was grey but warm and for once today the rain held off.

After an even opening ten minutes, which saw some fierce midfield tackling by both teams, it was Bearsted who took the lead on 13 minutes when Nathan Light finished from close range.

Just three minutes later a shot from the right hand side of the area was fired home by Jake Embery, to put the away side two ahead.

Immediately after this the game swung when a mistimed tackle led to a second yellow and subsequently a red card, for a Bearsted player.

The remainder of the half saw the ten men of Bearsted continue to make the best use of the ball when in possession, whilst Rochester United began to win back more ball, using the extra player to ease their way back into the game. At half time the sides went in still separated by two goals.

Seven minutes into the second half a beautifully struck shot by Bearsted’s Nathan Light, flew into the corner of the net to put the visitors 0-3 ahead.

Two minutes later the lead was four when the left back, James Nurden, found himself in the opposition area to slot home with ease.

With just eighteen minutes left on the clock, Rochester United had a goal back when Luis Dos Santos followed up to jab a low cross home from close range.

With just ten minutes to go a Rochester United corner was palmed into the goal by the despairing outstretched hand of the Bearsted keeper.

At the final whistle the crowd went away having seen a bad tempered but entertaining match. Like the weather in the last twenty four hours, the play was stormy but both sides pushed themselves in preparation for the season ahead.