On This Day – 27th April
On This Day – 27th April – 2019
SCEFL Premier Division
AFC Croydon Ath 0-3 Lordswood
Canterbury City 0-2 Cray Valley PM
Chatham Town 0-1 Fisher
Corinthian 5-0 Bearsted
Croydon 0-3 Punjab United
Glebe 0-4 Crowborough Athletic
Hollands & Blair 0-2 Erith Town
K Sports 4-4 Beckenham Town
Sheppey United 3-3 Rusthall
Tunbridge Wells 2-4 Deal Town
An excellent season just got better for Cray Valley PM as today’s victory at Canterbury City has confirmed them as Premier Division Champions 2018-19. Needing to win to confirm the title they were made to sweat by their hosts but eventually got the job done thanks to late goals by Francis Babalola and Gavin Tomlin. The Millers can now complete their incredible centenary year with a Wembley appearance in 3 weeks time. Full credit to Corinthian, who pushed Cray all the way and should be proud of their campaign despite just missing out on the glory. They closed the season with a 5-0 win at home to Bearsted. Fisher confirmed a brilliant 3rd place with a final day victory at Chatham Town, who finished 4th.
The highest scoring game of the day was at Cobdown as K Sports and Beckenham Town played out an entertaining 4-4 draw which was almost matched by Sheppey United and Rusthall who shared the points in a 6-goal final day thriller.
Lordswood just sneaked into a top half place thanks to a 3-0 win at AFC Croydon while Deal Town end in 11th, finishing with a good 4-2 victory at Tunbridge Wells. Erith Town should be very pleased with their top six position, sealed with a 2-0 win at Hollands & Blair and Glebe will also be happy with their progression and a top half finish, despite losing on the final day at home to Crowborough Athletic. Croydon leave the Division after a 3-0 home loss to Punjab United, who had a strong final month of the campaign to comfortably avoid the danger zone.
SCEFL First Division
Forest Hill Park 4-0 FC Elmstead
Holmesdale 2-1 Greenways
Kent Football United 2-2 Lewisham Borough
Lydd Town 1-5 Welling Town
Meridian VP 1-0 Stansfeld
Rochester United 2-3 Phoenix Sports Res
Snodland Town 0-3 Erith & Belvedere
SC Thamesmead 1-2 Kennington
Sutton Athletic 5-1 Bridon Ropes
Welling Town have won the SCEFL First Division at the first attempt and have now gained promotion to the Premier Division. A strong second half performance saw the Boots come away from Lydd Town with a 5-1 victory deservedly earning them the trophy. Erith & Belvedere pushed them all the way to finish in second place and now face a nervy wait to see of their points per game average is good enough to see them also promoted. Kennington end their debut season with us in third with Bridon Ropes and Sutton Athletic in 4th and 5th respectively. A final day victory saw Holmesdale end in 6th with Forest Hill Park one place lower after they won 4-0 at home to FC Elmstead.
At the other end of the table Meridian VP finished bottom despite ending with a win while Rochester United end one place above them after they fell to a late Phoenix Sports Reserves comeback this afternoon. A very good final month of the campaign saw Lewisham Borough finish in 11th as they closed the season with an eventful 2-2 draw at Kent Football United.
Welling Town Chairman Kevin Oakes looked back on the weekend and the season as a whole;
“The players and management, past and present, have helped make us successful and it is a reward for their hard work and dedication. The time and sacrifices made to work full-time, and then train and play 2-3 times a week is not easy, but that commitment was there and the lads have rightly got their rewards for everything they have put in. The celebrations will live long in the memory, and we’re already looking forward to testing ourselves at the next level, which we know is a big step, but hope to continue surprising a few people”….
It has certainly been a great campaign for Welling Town and for the League as a whole. Two thrilling title run-ins gave us last day drama and we can hardly wait to do it all over again in 4 months time.