Larkfield & New Hythe have finally won promotion to the SCEFL Premier… at the third attempt!
A tough, rugged, physical and tight game in which no quarter was asked and none given was always going to be decided by a mistake or something very special, and in the end it was a little bit of both as Matt Day’s brilliant teasing centre saw defender Grant McIlheron having to play at and it was the Staplehurst defender who looked on in horror as the ball looped over keeper Steve Lawrence and nestled in the net for the history making goal for the Larks.
Many times, in Finals, what is at stake overweighs the football and sadly for the record crowd over 800, many will have forgotten this game by the time they left the car park, but at the end of the day, it was the home side who achieved the goal of promotion.
That said, both sides went at it from the off and referee Gillespie was a busy man throughout the afternoon as a fierce paced opening half saw tackles flying in on both sides and sadly little football – indeed the only chance of note fell to the Monarchs as Caine Smith raced onto a through ball and did very well to lob the advancing keeper Jordan Carey but sadly for the striker, the ball dropped onto the roof of the net.
Thankfully, the second period became more of a footballing contest and Smith will have been annoyed not to have tested Carey after doing really well on the edge of the box – he made some great room for himself before firing high over the bar.
Smith was then denied again – this time at the end of the best move of the game, as a superb ball into the box saw Smith power a header towards the top corner only for a flying Carey to magnificently tip the ball over the bar.
Then came the goal with McIlheron slicing Day’s cross over Lawrence and into the Staplehurst net and the Larks had grabbed an advantage that they were not to release.
Jack Hyslop hammered a Staplehurst free kick a yard wide as they responded to going behind, but Danny Lye’s side shut up shop with Nathan Daly outstanding at the heart of their defence and with Jack Clark alongside the Larks skipper, there was to be no-way back for Staplehurst.
It could have been better for Larkfield – Luke Russell’s corner was spilled and scrambled clear; Tyrell Richardson-Brown shot a yard wide and in stoppage time Lawrence did well to beat out Kwasi Amoah’s effort.
The final whistle brought scenes of celebration from the home side’s yellow and black donned supporters and ended a game that will be remembered for the significance rather than the football on offer.
It was tough on the Monarchs who have had such a great season and pushed the top two in the division so very close for so very long, but the scenes at the final whistle showed just how much it meant to the locals and Danny Lye’s management team who arrived at the club just over twelve months ago to finish the job that others had started over the last three years.
LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE – Carey, Lewis (Jackson), Russell, Amoah, Clark, Daly, Richardson-Brown, Wade, Day (Sammoutis), Bingham, Woodcock (Babington).
Subs – Ibe, Rowland.
STAPLEHURST MONARCHS – Lawrence, Wheeler (Sargeant), Delaney (Oldfield), West, McIheron (Munn), Bray, Ashton, Hyslop (Beech), Smith, Gorse, Elmantawy (Pallet).
REFEREE – Mr. Gillespie