Opening Weekend
FRIDAY 31st JULY
Erith & Belvedere 1-2 AFC Greenwich Borough
SATURDAY 1st AUGUST
Bearsted 2-0 Chislehurst Glebe
Beckenham Town 1-0 Hollands & Blair
Fisher 2-2 Corinthian
Kennington 2-2 SE Dons
Phoenix Sports 2-3 Petts Wood & Holmesdale
Snodland Town 1-0 Rusthall
Sutton Athletic 2-3 Larkfield & New Hythe
Tunbridge Wells 3-3 Faversham Strike Force
The 2026/27 SCEFL Premier Division season got underway this weekend, with Friday night’s curtain-raiser followed by a full programme of seven matches on Saturday afternoon.
AFC Greenwich Borough took the honours in the opening game coming from behind to win at Erith & Belvedere. Freddie Cray got the opener for the hosts before Stefan Payne levelled from the spot. Deep into the second hal, 16 year old substitute Austin Tanner scored the winner for Borough in front of a fantastic Friday night crowd of 820 in Welling.
There was no shortage of goals on Saturday, with 28 scored across the eight fixtures.
The day’s biggest thriller came at the Culverden, where Tunbridge Wells and Faversham Strike Force shared a pulsating 3-3 draw. Rory Ward gave Wells an early lead before Harry Taylor levelled, and after Cian McCormack put the visitors ahead, Regan Corke equalised. McCormack’s second looked to have earned all three points before Hayden Marshall struck in the 90th minute to rescue a dramatic draw.
Petts Wood & Holmesdale made a dream start under their new identity, coming from behind to beat Phoenix Sports 3-2. Former Phoenix player Paul Lee levelled early on before a late penalty from Omotunmise Akanni and a header from Ryan Mahal turned the game around after Lee Bird had restored the home side’s lead.
Larkfield & New Hythe also began the campaign with three points, winning 3-2 away at Sutton Athletic despite the hosts twice pulling themselves back into the contest. Daniel Gabor, Ezekiel Bademosi and George Monger with the goals for the Larks.
Beckenham Town marked their return to the Premier Division with a dramatic victory, Mohammed Diaby scoring deep into stoppage time to seal a 1-0 success over Hollands & Blair.
Bearsted enjoyed a winning start thanks to Matt Day’s penalty and a late strike from Luka Radojevic in a 2-0 victory over Chislehurst Glebe, while Snodland Town edged last season’s beaten play-off finalists Rusthall 1-0 through Sayku Treore’s late goal.
There was more late drama at Fisher, where Donald Macaulay converted a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time to earn a 2-2 draw against Corinthian after Jamie Billings had put the visitors ahead. Alex Kozak had earlier opened the scoring for the hosts before Asanti Amoah levelled.
The points were also shared at Kennington, with SE Dons appearing set for victory before Ryan Philpott’s 89th-minute equaliser secured a 2-2 draw for the hosts. Aaron Watson and Alex Teniola were on target for the Dons following a goal from Alfee Wincott.
The opening weekend produced 31 goals, suggesting another highly entertaining SCEFL Premier Division season lies ahead.