Rochester United reached Round One of the FA Vase after defeating ten man Banstead Athletic at the Rochester Utilities Stadium.
It was a tale of two halves with the first half having very little to happen, whereas the second you could say it had everything.
With most of the play in the first half being played around the midfield and the odd long ball, Banstead had the two best chances of the half.
The first came after ten minutes where the ball fell to Jacob Evans and his effort went wide of the post narrowly.
Their other chance fell to Luke Danby with the attacker put through on goal, Chris Swift in the Spartans goal rushed out to save well to give the visitors a corner.
Half time ended goalless.
Within the first minute of the second half, Rochester took the lead. An excellent ball was played long ball hit the head of a defender and Tom Loynes received the ball and lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper.
Despite protests from Banstead saying he was offside and the ball came off a Rochester head, the goal was given.
It got worse for the visitors just four minutes later after Banstead right back Alfie Hyett received his marching orders, violent conduct according to the linesmen.
This must’ve given Banstead a lease of life in the game and within ten minutes they got an equaliser. The ball was playing pin ball in the Rochester penalty area and fell to Carter de Ste Croix and he rifled home an effort past Chris Swift.
Just four minutes later Banstead took the lead, an excellent strike from substitute Jeffery Barnieh from just inside the penalty area.
On the 68th minute and quite frankly out of nowhere a Christ Swift clearance fell to Rochester attacker Kevin Dance, he cut in and shot and scored a lovely goal in off the post to make it level at 2-2.
Within a minute after the restart Rochester regained possession and Kevin Dance was brought down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.
Aston Freeman stepped up and placed it bottom right to give Rochester the lead for the second time.
With Banstead trying to get the leveller, Rochester broke and the ball fell to Mack Reilly and his effort struck the post.
In the dying embers of the game a fantastic save from Chris Swift denied an almost certain goal. Moments later the referee blew the full time whistle with sense of relief by everyone connected to Rochester United.
Full Time: Rochester United 3-2 Banstead Athletic
The Spartans progress to the next round of the FA Vase and will find out their opponent this coming Monday.
ROCHESTER UNITED: Swift, Wyness, Lott, Payne [C], Whitaker, Currie, Wilkins (Komolafe 70’), Watson (Bray 77’), Freeman (Reilly 77’), Roberts (Dance 45’), Loynes (Dos Santos 59’).
BANSTEAD ATHLETIC: Markey, Hyett, Haynes, Smith, Allchurch [C], Evans, Haughey (Owonta 74’), Williams (Lloyd 59’), Okakpu (Barnieh 60’), Danby, de Ste Croix.
Attendance: 107
Photos courtesy of Harriet Cole & Rochester United.