Rochester United picked up their first league win in 4 games with victory over Minster at Hartsdown Park.

Still relatively early in the season and you could say this was a must win for Rochester, not having won in their previous three league games with a single goal scored.

While Minster newly promoted from the Kent County Premier, wanted to defeat the visitors from Medway.

The first half was nervy with both teams not looking to give their opponent an opportunity to get a real shot on goal. 

Minster with mainly long range efforts while Rochester had a free kick from roughly 22 yards out. Nether less none of the shots really tests both goalkeepers and the half ended goalless.

HT 0-0.

With the second half underway it was the home side with a shot by Jake Munday with his shot narrowly wide of Chris Swifts’ goal.

The breakthrough came after a through ball was played to Bobby Hulme, a slip from the Rochester centre back, and potentially the use of the hand which played him through to slot home to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Rochester’s best effort of the game was a strike from Dan Lott but his effort was well saved by the Minster goalkeeper.

Minster doing well to defend the pressure forced on them by the visitors and with fifteen minutes to go Rochester have the ball in the net.

It was a header from a cross which fell to Reilly but the official on the far side raised his flag and said It was offside.

With 4 minutes to go and if I’m honest out of nowhere Rochester levelled. A through ball from captain Lucas Payne through to Kevin Dance who beat the offside trap, the Minster keeper came out and the Spartans forward lobbed him and the ball fell into the net.

Just two minutes later Rochester took the lead. Passing around the Minster penalty area trying to find some room to get the valuable pass or shot, the ball fell to Connor Watson and lashed a shot on goal that went into the bottom right corner.

With not much time left to play the visitors hold on to gain a valuable three points.

FT 1-2

MINSTER: Lewis, Colham-Lai, Hobday (Jobe 59’), Coyne [C], Weatherley, Jordan (Ray 71’), McArthur (Neaves 84’), Jordan (Waddell 74’), Hulme, Munday, Sharp.

Subs not used: Banks.

ROCHESTER UNITED: Swift, Wyness, Lott, Payne [C], Whitaker (Dos Santos 74’), Currie, Wilkins, Loynes (Robert’s 71’), Freeman (Watson 71’), Akhazzan (Reilly 61’) Dance.

Subs not used: Reeves.

Attendance 66

Photos courtesy of Sophie Barnes