First Division – Saturday 17th October
Saturday 17th October
First Division
Bridon Ropes 0-0 Kent Football Utd
Holmesdale 3-0 Greenways
Kennington 7-1 FC Elmstead
Lydd Town 1-3 Forest Hill Park
Rusthall 2-1 Lewisham Borough
SC Thamesmead 5-1 Croydon
Stansfeld 5-0 Meridian VP
Sutton Athletic 4-0 Snodland Town
Today the First Division gave us 8 games, 33 goals, 6 home wins, 1 away victory and a 0-0 draw….
Kennington got 1 of those home wins and 7 of those goals as they kept their winning run going in the league with a 7-1 victory at home to FC Elmstead.
It takes a lot to outscore Gary Lockyer at the moment but Gary Clarke did it, as he netted a hat-trick with Lockyer only being able to score twice, as did Callum Peck.
Kennington are now 5 wins from 5 and top while a 4th consecutive loss puts Elmstead in 15th.
SC Thamesmead are up to 2nd place after they comfortably beat Croydon 5-1 despite going behind.
With the Trams leading from an Andy Somo penalty they were reduced to 10 men 5 minutes before the break.
That inspired Thamesmead to turn the game around and with goals from Mayowa Olufeko and Connor Dobson they led at half time.
Olufeko, who has scored in EVERY game this season forced an own goal, then scored again while Merrick Simms wrapped up the points in the final minute.
It was a first league loss for Croydon and they drop to 6th ahead of a trip to leaders Kennington next week.
Holmesdale were another side to keep their winning run going as they claimed their 4th league win in a row to move up to 3rd place.
It is rare for Greenways to be kept quiet but Holmesdale managed it as they were shut out for the first time this season in a 3-0 Dale win.
Following an early own goal Shameek Farrell and Nathan Palmer both scored giving their side 3 goals, 3 points and a top 3 place.
Sutton Athletic came back with a bang to win their first game in 5 with a 4-0 victory at home to Snodland Town.
The returning Conor Evans scored twice and Arlie Desanges and Thomas Ngegba once each as they moved up to 9th place, just one position below today’s beaten opponents.
Stansfeld also ended a slow start to their league season in style as they picked up their first 3 points of the campaign thanks to a 5-0 home win over Meridian VP.
Macey Malyon got the ball rolling in the 7th minute before Billy Parkinson twice headed home Joe Minter set-pieces.
Minter scored the 4th from the penalty spot himself, then added a 5th to give Stansfeld the much-needed win and a slight advance to 14th place.
Meridian VP drop to the bottom of the table having earned just one point from their 5 games played.
Back-to-back wins have moved Rusthall up to 7th.
Today they were 2-1 winners over Lewisham Borough at the Jockey Farm Stadium with all of the goals coming in an entertaining second half.
Jefferson Aibangbee got the opener for the Rustics, James Miles doubled their lead and Courtney Swaby set up a tense finish with a late reply for the visitors.
Forest Hill Park were 3-1 victors at Lydd Town.
Alvin Turyatemba scored twice before Andy Constable pulled one back from the penalty spot for Lydd.
Matt Faithorn then wrapped up the points moving Forest above today’s hosts and up to 11th.
The game between Bridon Ropes and Kent Football United finished 0-0, a first for this Division this campaign.
The point earned was welcome for Ropes as it moved them off the foot of the table and get’s them up and running for the season.
The league table can be viewed here
Main Photo Credit: Steve Alison