Saturday 15th December

Premier Division
Bearsted v Croydon
Beckenham Town v Deal Town
Canterbury City v Glebe
Chatham Town v Hollands & Blair
Corinthian v Erith Town
Fisher v Crowborough Ath
K Sports v AFC Croydon
Punjab United v Sheppey United
Rusthall v Lordswood
Tunbridge Wells v Cray Valley

A full card for our entertainment on Saturday as all 20 Premier Division sides take to the field on what should be a great day of SCEFL action. The big game of the day takes place at Eden Park Avenue as 2nd placed Beckenham Town host a Deal Town side that currently occupy 5th place. The 'Hoops' are coming off the back of an excellent win at Cray Valley last time out and with the hosts having only lost 1 in 10 we are set up for a potential classic. Fisher are still the side that all others are chasing and today they put their current 7-game winning run to the test with the visit of Crowborough Athletic to Rotherhithe. The 'Crows' are on a 4-match losing run but will be out for revenge for a 4-1 defeat in the reverse fixture back in August. They were a different side back then, much improved now and despite recent defeats they are sure to push the leaders all the way. Cray Valley returned to winning ways in midweek and will look to build on that when visiting in-form Tunbridge Wells at the Culverden Stadium. 'Wells' have won the the last 5 games to move them away from trouble and the 5-1 reverse game defeat in August now seems a long time ago. Corinthian are looking to close the gap on the top two so will not want to drop points with the visit of Erith Town. The 'Dockers' went from winning 6 in a row to going 3 without a win so will be aiming to return from Longfield with a needed victory. Chatham Town host Hollands & Blair at Maidstone Road in a game that will support local charity 'One Big Family - Helping the Homeless'. Spectators are being asked to bring certain items to the game that can be passed to those in need in the area, more details can be found here. On the pitch Chatham will be looking to get the points that will keep them in touch of the top few while 'Blair' will be aiming to distance themselves further from the relegation zone by claiming at least a point. Bearsted are on a mini-unbeaten run and will hope that continues at home to bottom-placed Croydon. Another defeat for the visitors midweek was their 5th in a row but if they can stop that run and take maximum points here they may just rise off the base. Rusthall can prevent that from happening by claiming a first League home win when welcoming Lordswood to the Jockey Farm Stadium. The Rustics are on an awful run and if they are to have any chance of staying in this Division they need to get a win and get that win soon. Things are very tight in the middle of the table where 4 points cover 7 teams between 8th and 14th place. Two of those sides are Canterbury City and Glebe and they meet at Salters Lane for what could be a very vital three points. K Sports and AFC Croydon Athletic are also in that section and level on points so picking a winner in their match is not the easiest of precictions to make. Punjab United have gone 8 games without winning and it will be hard to stop that sequence when Sheppey United visit the Elite Venue on Saturday. The 'Ites' won the reverse fixture 5-1 and although this is sure to be a closer game it would be no surprise if Sheppey returned to their Island with 3 points.

First Division
FC Elmstead v Bridon Ropes
Forest Hill Park v Greenways
Holmesdale v Kent Football United
Kennington v Welling Town
Snodland Town v Meridian
Stansfeld v Rochester United

Hospitals Charity Cup
SC Thamesmead v Sutton Athletic

It seems that every week Welling Town have to fend off another contender to their title of 'Champions-elect' and minus a slight hiccup against Bridon Ropes, they have been able to hand their closest opposition fairly comprehensive defeats each time. The next rival to challenge the leaders is 4th placed Kennington and the team from Ashford are sure to provide the toughest of tests. They are unbeaten in the last 5 League games and seem to have the perfect combination of being tight at the back and explosive up-front. No side has scored more than Welling in this Division though and they look to have strengthened their attack further if last weeks result is anything to go by. Tariq Ossai scored a hat-trick on debut and paired-up with Top Scorer Ryan Golding they look to be the ideal partnership to keep 'The Boots' at the top. This is the game of the day and one not to be missed so Homelands should be the venue of choice this weekend. If the leaders are to drop points in that one then Bridon Ropes can take advantage of it by beating FC Elmstead and closing the gap at the top. 'Ropes' have had a week off so should be fresh for this while Elmstead have been busy with two games in that time, although they did lose both of those. We shall soon see which preparation was best. Two sides with a contrast in recent form meet at the Ladywell Arena with Forest Hill Park taking on Greenways. The visitors had a strong start to the season but have now gone 10 games without a win. They need to return to winning ways but are coming up against a tricky side to do that against. Forest Hill have won 4 in a row, are flying up the table and another win for them could earn them 7th position in the table. Kent Football United produced an outstanding performance to hit 7 past Rochester United last time and so will be full of confidence going into their game at Holmesdale. The side look to have responded quickly to Danny Wakeling's arrival as boss and they are now well placed to begin their climb up the table. The hosts are one of the contenders though and will look on this as a great chance to keep up the pace especially with two promotion rivals facing each other. Snodland Town lie bottom of the table and whatever the result against Meridian VP they will still be there on Saturday night. They have gone 9 games without a win and if that form does not turn around soon they will find themselves cast dangerously adrift. Meridian are also on a poor run having lost the last 4 so something has to change as someone has to win the points. Rochester United parted ways with their manager in midweek after a run of poor results that culminated in that 7 goal defeat last week. The side can respond in the best way possible by going to Stansfeld and coming home with the win.
In the Hospitals Charity Cup SC Thamesmead host Sutton Athletic with a place in the semi-final at stake. Sutton won the league game on this same venue so will be hoping for a repeat of that result in this Cup.

Wednesday 12th December

Premier Division

Croydon 0-2 Cray Valley PM

Hospitals Charity Cup

FC Elmstead 2-3 Erith & Belvedere

Cray Valley shot back up to 4th place with a 2-0 victory at Croydon. The Millers scored a goal in each half with Anthony Edgar getting the first on 15 minutes and Francis Babalola hitting the net with 13 left to play. Croydon remain pointless at home and are still at the bottom of the table.

In the Hospitals Charity Cup Erith & Belvedere came from behind to secure a semi-final place with a 3-2 win at FC Elmstead. Alvin Turytema twice put the hosts in the lead but each time Jamie Taylor equalised and with 7 minutes to go Guyliano Mpungi got the winner to send the Deres through.

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