Rochester United picked up a valuable three points against a well organised Sheppey Sports at the Rochester Utilities Stadium.

A late Pat Ward goal clinched the win for second placed Rochester late in the second half to give Rochester United the win against Sheppey Sports in the Southern Counties East Division One encounter.

The first chance of the game came from the visitors with just two minutes on the clock, David Latunde beat the offside trap to go through on goal but a save from the Spartans keeper denied the certain goal. 

Rochester was getting a bit of luck down the right side in the early stages with a couple of runs from Wilkins, Loynes and the occasional one from Kevin Dance. 

A ball from the right came in and both Freeman and Wilkins both had shots denied. Just past the thirty minute mark of the game Rochester had a free kick, Connor Watson took it, the ball fell nicely to Freeman and his effort was nicely saved by  Sports ‘keeper Adebowale.

With about seven minutes before the interval Sheppey Sports midfielder Ryan Freeman thought he was Lionel Messi and dribbled through a few Rochester defenders and produced a long cross that ultimately went way past the bodies in the box and went out for a goal kick.

HT 0-0

After the interval Rochester midfielder Watson had a tame effort on goal comfortably saved by the Sports ‘keeper. 

Just minutes later Rochester forward Freeman was put through on goal, rounded the on rushing Adebowale, Sports defence did well to deflect his effort and his tame shot was cleared by the defender on the line.

With almost an hour played Rochester came close again. Midfielder Watson produced a great effort from around twenty or so yards and it rattled the crossbar, the keeper was well beaten. 

Both teams in the last twenty minutes making substitutions and changing their tactics to try and grab the winner. The defences were winning every battle until with just two minutes to go Rochester got a corner, Connor Watson swung the ball in, Lucas Payne tried to get his head on it just behind him there was Pat Ward. On his debut Ward tapped home to make it one nil to the home side. 

With Rochester one up Sheppey Sports tried to grab an equaliser but didn’t really test Swift in the Spartans goal and the referee ended the game for a valuable theee points for Rochester United.

FT 1-0

Att: 120

ROCHESTER UNITED: Swift, Wyness (Webb 89’), Lott, Payne [C], Whitaker, Bray, Loynes (Ward 61’), Wilkins, Freeman, Watson (Thomas 89’), Dance (Roberts 71’).

Subs Not Used: Dos Santos.

SHEPPEY SPORTS: Adebowale, Uttley, David (Boichat 45’), Riches, Cole [C], Munday, Latunde (Aguagwa 74’), Freeman, Marsh, Skinner (Maciocia 75’), O’Neil.

Subs Not Used: Flynn, Linkson.

Photos courtesy of Sophie Barnes & Jason Stanley.