Saturday September 26
FIRST DIVISION RESULTS
Banstead Athletic 0-1 Stansfeld
Bridon Ropes 0-3 Minster
Croydon 2-0 Rochester United
Greenways 0-0 Staplehurst Monarchs
Lewisham Borough 2-3 Hythe Town
Lydd Town 0-3 SC Thamesmead
Tooting Bec P-P Lordswood
Welling Town P-P Sheppey Sports
FIRST DIVISION REVIEW
Hythe Town maintained their perfect league record with a dramatic late victory at Lewisham Borough, while Rochester United suffered a setback at Croydon on a Saturday that saw six SCEFL First Division matches survive the weather.
With leaders Lordswood seeing their trip to Tooting Bec postponed due to pitch conditions, Rochester had the opportunity to move clear at the top. Instead, Croydon produced a 2-0 victory to move themselves firmly into the leading group.A pivotal spell arrived late in the first half when Rochester were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Tony Whitaker in the 37th minute. Tom Barton put Croydon ahead from the resulting free-kick before Cameron Macmillan doubled the advantage in the 42nd minute. There were no further goals after the break as Croydon completed an important victory and moved onto 15 points, four behind the leading pair.
While Rochester stumbled, Hythe Town continued their remarkable 100 per cent start with a dramatic 3-2 win at Lewisham Borough.
Jake Embery gave Hythe the perfect start after just four minutes, but Lewisham responded strongly. Mamadaliu Balde levelled in the 15th minute before Tyler Kerlew-St Louis struck on the half-hour to send the hosts into the interval 2-1 ahead.
Hythe fought back through Josh Byford in the 63rd minute and, with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Byford struck again in the 95th minute to snatch all three points. It is now six wins from six in the league for Hythe, who climb to third with 18 points – just one behind Lordswood and Rochester and with games in hand on both.
SC Thamesmead are also well placed after recording a convincing 3-0 victory at Lydd Town. Andrea Carrera struck twice in the opening half, scoring in the 20th minute and again in added time, before Henry Awokere completed the scoring in the 78th minute. Thamesmead move onto 17 points from nine matches and sit fourth.
There was another impressive away performance from Minster, who collected a 3-0 win at Bridon Ropes. Todd Jordan opened the scoring after eight minutes and Jake Munday made it 2-0 before the break. Charlie Sharp added the third in the 72nd minute as Minster climbed to 13 points from eight games.
Stansfeld left it late at Banstead Athletic, with the only goal of the game arriving in the 88th minute. The scorer was Jordan Patterson and the 1-0 victory was enough to move Stansfeld onto 11 points.
The afternoon’s only draw came at Rede Court Road, where Greenways and Staplehurst Monarchs finished 0-0. Staplehurst remain sixth on 14 points, while Greenways move onto ten.
Two matches fell victim to poor pitch conditions, with Tooting Bec v Lordswood and Welling Town v Sheppey Sports both postponed.
The results leave the top of the First Division increasingly congested. Lordswood and Rochester remain level on 19 points, but Hythe are now just one point behind after winning all six of their league matches. SC Thamesmead are another point back on 17, while Croydon’s victory takes them to 15.
With Hythe still holding games in hand on all of the sides around them, the battle at the top is beginning to take shape.