Saturday August 29
SATURDAY 29 AUGUST
Banstead Athletic 0-2 Welling Town
FC Elmstead 1-5 SC Thamesmead
Greenways 1-1 Croydon
Lewisham Borough 5-1 Rochester United
Lordswood 3-0 Bridon Ropes
Stansfeld 4-1 Lydd Town
The SCEFL First Division was turned on its head on Saturday as Rochester United’s perfect start came to a spectacular end, while Lordswood, SC Thamesmead and Stansfeld all recorded convincing victories.
The result of the day undoubtedly came at Lewisham Borough, where the hosts produced a stunning 5-1 victory over leaders Rochester United.
Rochester arrived having won all four of their opening league games, but found themselves in trouble from the moment Harry Bunclark opened the scoring after 17 minutes.
An own goal brought Rochester level eight minutes later, but the response from Lewisham was emphatic. Bunclark struck again on the half-hour before Donnell Anderson made it 3-1 after 38 minutes, giving Borough a two-goal advantage at the break.
Nfonkeu Noel added a fourth on 70 minutes before Bunclark completed a memorable afternoon by sealing his hat-trick in stoppage time.
It was a first defeat of the season for Rochester and a dramatic one, although their four opening victories ensure they remain top of the table on 12 points. Lewisham, meanwhile, climb to fifth after an afternoon to remember.
Lordswood took advantage of Rochester’s slip by moving into second place following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bridon Ropes.
The hosts were quickly in control as Luke Adams opened the scoring after ten minutes before Luke Kimberley doubled the advantage nine minutes later. Bridon prevented any further damage for much of the afternoon, but Tyler Sterling added a third in the 88th minute to complete Lordswood’s third league victory from four games.
Lordswood move onto nine points, level with Staplehurst Monarchs, while Bridon drop to the bottom of the table with one point from four games.
There was also a five-star performance from SC Thamesmead, who ran out 5-1 winners at FC Elmstead.
Henry Awokere gave Thamesmead the lead after 32 minutes, but Elmstead responded shortly after the break through Jamie Fearn, who levelled in the 51st minute.
The scores were level for only three minutes before Henry Phillips restored the visitors’ advantage, but it was the closing stages when the scoreline really got away from Elmstead.
Andrea Carrera produced a remarkable seven-minute hat-trick, scoring in the 83rd, 87th and 90th minutes to turn a competitive contest into an emphatic victory. Thamesmead move onto seven points and up to sixth in the table.
Another unbeaten record disappeared at Stansfeld, where the hosts collected their first league victory of the season in style with a 4-1 win over Lydd Town.
Obinna Igwe opened the scoring after 15 minutes before Teddy Green doubled the advantage five minutes before half-time. Adam Wallis made it 3-0 in the 69th minute to put Stansfeld firmly in control.
Charlie Gill pulled one back for Lydd in the 79th minute, but any thoughts of a late comeback lasted barely 60 seconds as Jack Calvert immediately responded with Stansfeld’s fourth.
Lydd had gone through their opening four games without defeat but suffered their first loss of the campaign, while Stansfeld climb into the middle of the table.
Croydon are now one of the remaining unbeaten sides, although they had to settle for a point following a 1-1 draw at Greenways.
Ali Fofahan put the Trams ahead after 27 minutes, but their task became considerably more difficult when Alex Arif was sent off in the 42nd minute.
Ten-man Croydon held onto their advantage for much of the second half before Max Cutler equalised for Greenways in the 77th minute. Neither side could find a winner, leaving Croydon fourth with eight points from four games.
At the other end of the table, Welling Town’s revival continued as they recorded their first victory of the season with a 2-0 success at Banstead Athletic.
After a goalless first half, the visitors struck twice in the space of four minutes. Hassan Omar broke the deadlock on the hour before Harly Baker doubled the advantage in the 64th minute.
Having lost their opening two games without scoring, Welling have now taken four points from their last two outings and climbed away from the bottom of the table.
After Saturday’s action, Rochester remain top despite their first defeat, but the chasing pack have closed in. Lordswood and Staplehurst sit three points behind on nine, unbeaten Croydon have eight and Lewisham Borough move onto seven.
And there is little time for anyone to dwell on Saturday’s results, with another full round of Bank Holiday Monday action ready to shake up the First Division table all over again.