Premier Division – 31st July
36 goals, 1 abandoned game, sending offs, late winners, torrential rain in July, a first minute own goal – welcome to the opening day of the Premier Division Season.
The first goal in the SCEFL came at the Culverden Stadium today in the big match between Tunbridge Wells and Sheppey United.
It went in favour of the hosts but was scored by the visitors as Wells got off to the perfect start thanks to an own goal.
Sheppey were level just before the break thanks to a Junior Aikhionbare strike and took the lead early in the second half when Renford Tenyue finished well.
With 15 minutes to play Taurean Roberts sealed the Sheppey United win giving them all 3 points and a great start to the campaign.
Things went well for Glebe too.
Aaron Watson and Jamie Philpot gave the Foxes a 2-0 lead at Bearsted within the first 10 minutes and they added to their total with second half goals from Dami Olorunnisomo, Jamie McGeoghegan and again from Philpot to give them a 5-0 win and an early share of the top of the table.
“3 points and a clean sheet away from home at a hard place to come too. I’m happy with that!” said Harry Hudson.
Glebe’s result was equalled by Fisher, who picked up a comfortable victory against Rusthall at St Pauls.
Lee Weemes was the star of the show as he scored a quickfire second half hat-trick, sandwiched between goals from Michael Sarpong and Malaki Coker.
Punjab United and Kennington were involved in a classic in Gravesend with the hosts just coming out best in a 5-goal action-packed game.
Chandler Kasai scored first for Punjab in the 8th minute but Callum Peck quickly levelled.
Will Johnson-Cole restored the hosts lead and Paul Vines extended it further just before the break.
With just over half-an-hour to play Gary Clarke narrowed the deficit but that was the end of the scoring with just a red card a-piece to follow.
Deal Town v Chatham Town, at The Charles Sports Ground, was abandoned at the start of the second half following a period of torrential rain.
At the time the match was well poised at 1-1, with Liam Friend equalising Macauley Murray’s 20th minute penalty for the hosts.
The match will have to be rescheduled.
Tower Hamlets took the lead at Canterbury City but the hosts would go on to deny them their first SCEFL win.
Shortly after Hamlet’s keeper Kevin Manuel saved a 40th minute penalty his side took the lead thanks to Wade Odedoyin.
In the second half City came back though and with a Sam Lawford double it would be them that took the points.
At Park View Road Erith & Belvedere got off to a great start to the season by beating Hollands & Blair 3-1.
Keanan Allesani scored twice, Rob Curtis got the other, meaning Luke Harvey’s penalty for Blair was merely a consolation effort.
Erith Town were opening day winners after a strong second half performance gave them a 4-1 win at home to Lordswood.
After a goalless first half Harry Gamble opened the scoring soon after the break but The Dockers lead was short-lived when Kyle McDowell quickly equalised.
The hosts were not to be denied though and a double from Steadman Callender was added to late on by Fred Obasa and Erith Town are off and running on day one.
The lowest scoring game in the Division came at Cobdown where Segun Ikudehinbu’s goal was the only one of the game – but it was enough to give K Sports victory against Holmesdale.
The only draw came between Crowborough Athletic and Welling Town, yet The Boots were not far away from stealing the game away from today’s hosts.
Rhys Bartlett had given The Crows a first half lead, an own goal saw they game made even, then Ryan Golding looked to have given Welling all 3 points late on.
However, Jacob Lambert hadn’t read the script and from a 25 yard free-kick in the final minute, he calmly found the top corner.