Saturday January 17
FIRST DIVISION
Chessington & Hook P-P FC Elmstead
Lydd Town 1-2 Banstead Athletic
Rochester United 1-2 Sheppey Sports
SC Thamesmead 1-1 Welling Town
SE Dons 3-0 Greenways
Staplehurst Monarchs P-P Lordswood
It was a very good day at the office for SE Dons, who took full advantage of events elsewhere to stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points.
The league leaders brushed aside Greenways with a convincing 3-0 win, extending their unbeaten run to 15 league games and once again proving that the Bauvill is about as welcoming as a brick wall. Aaron Watson opened the scoring right on the stroke of half-time, before Joe Thomas (84’) and Alex Teniola’s stoppage-time penalty put a firm seal on the points. Ruthless, controlled, and exactly what you expect from a side setting the pace.
The Dons were helped by a surprise result at Rede Court Road, where Sheppey Sports dented Rochester United’s promotion push with a 2-1 away win. Sheppey flew out of the traps, David Latunde firing them ahead after just three minutes before Joe Skinner doubled the advantage four minutes later. Rochester hit back through Luke Medley’s 44th-minute penalty, but drama followed late on as Medley saw another spot-kick crash against the bar in the dying moments. It ended Rochester’s perfect home league record and lifted Sheppey up to ninth.
Down at the sharp end, Banstead Athletic claimed a massive win in the relegation six-pointer at Lydd Town, edging a 2-1 success that could prove pivotal. Tyler Sterling had given Lydd the lead on 29 minutes, but Banstead responded to turn the game around and climb out of the drop zone. Lydd, meanwhile, remain firmly stuck in trouble and running out of room for error.
A point apiece at Bayliss Avenue did little for Welling Town, who slipped into the bottom three despite a 1-1 draw with SC Thamesmead. Harvey Roberts put Welling ahead after 16 minutes, but Theophilus Hayford struck late on to earn Thamesmead a share of the spoils.
Elsewhere, there was frustration rather than football, with Chessington & Hook v FC Elmstead and Staplehurst Monarchs v Lordswood both falling victim to waterlogged pitches.
At the top, SE Dons are pulling clear. In the middle, it’s chaos. At the bottom, it’s getting uncomfortable fast. Classic SCEFL First Division.