Rochester United end the season with defeat with a loss at home to Lordswood.

Both sides came into the game knowing both have secured their play-off sports with Rochester confirmed a third-place finish. Lordswood on the other hand had to better Croydon’s result to maintain their fourth place spot.

The game started with Lordswood on the front food and deservedly took the lead on the tenth minute. Tadiwanashe Nago drove at Spartans Right back Loynes, he produced a cross into the box it fell to Lordswood’s Rameses Meseorisa to head home with a looping header past Luke Watkins.

Lordswood captain Freeman Rogers had a couple of efforts to double their lead. The first was a header from a corner which went narrowly wide and the second was from a Nago free kick and again headed over.

The Spartans best chance of the half came from a Mack Reilly free kick with the ball about 20 yards out, he looks up to check the wall and shoots the ball towards goal Lordswood’s Goalkeeper was beaten but it flies narrowly wide.

Just before the interval the away side was calling the referee to award them a spot kick. A shot is well saved by Watkins it clips the crossbar and Spartans defender Loynes clears out for a corner. Lordswood are adamant he used his harm/hand to clear, but referee pointed to the corner. A couple of minutes stoppage time was played, and the referee blew his half time whistle.

The second half started promisingly for Rochester with more possession and their first chance of the half came with a free kick from Luke Adams. He swings an inviting ball in but Lordswood eventually clear.

Midway through the second half there was no clear-cut chances it was more the possession game for both sides. Until, while Rochester was trying to find that elusive equaliser Lordswood counter. The ball ends up to Nago on the right he drives into the Spartans box and try’s his luck to bend a left footed shot past Watkins but goes narrowly past the post.

In the dying embers of the game Rochester should have levelled. Ball was fizzed into the box Lordswood try and clear but the ball fans to Mack Reilly and he tries an ambitious overhead kick. Lordswoods ‘keeper does brilliantly to get a hand to it and tips it just over the crossbar. Soon after the full-time whistle is blown and ends with a win for Lordswood.

FT Rochester United 0-1 Lordswood

Rochester will be at home to Lordswood and SE Dons will be at home to Croydon respectively in the end of season playoffs.

Referee – Kayden Abnett

Assistant referees – Richard Myers and Mathew Falkner

Attendance – 144

Rochester United

Watkins, Loynes, Lott, Payne, Whitaker, Bray, Wilkins, Adams (Parker 81’), Reilly, Medley (Obasa 71’), Akhazzan

Subs: Jakubowski, Ngegba

Lordswood

Hall, Shadwell, Miles, Medhurst (Tristram 90+3’), Rogers (Harris 46’), Plummer, Williams, Nago, Manning, Dos Santos (Babington 17’), Meseoria

Subs: Davey, Golding

Pictures supplied by Sophie Barnes