Saturday 14 November
SCEFL Premier Division Fixtures
AFC Greenwich Borough v Phoenix Sports
Corinthian v Bearsted
Fisher v Tunbridge Wells
Hollands & Blair v Chislehurst Glebe
Kennington v Erith & Belvedere
Larkfield & New Hythe v Petts Wood & Holmesdale
Rusthall v Snodland Town
SE Dons v Faversham Strike Force
Sutton Athletic v Beckenham Town
SCEFL Premier Division Preview: New Beginnings, Winning Runs and Crucial Points
There is plenty to look forward to in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division this Saturday, with all 18 clubs in action and some fascinating fixtures at both ends of the table.
AFC Greenwich Borough will make history as they play their first-ever match at their new GB10 Sports home in Eltham, while opponents Phoenix Sports arrive in outstanding form, having won their last six league matches.
League leaders Fisher will look to strengthen their position at the summit, Hollands & Blair aim to keep up the pressure, and there are important points at stake for several sides towards the bottom of the standings.
With nine matches scheduled, another entertaining afternoon of Premier Division football awaits.
AFC Greenwich Borough v Phoenix Sports
History will be made in Eltham on Saturday as AFC Greenwich Borough host their first-ever match at their new home, GB10 Sports.
It promises to be a special occasion for Borough, although they could hardly have chosen a tougher opponent for their landmark fixture.
Phoenix Sports arrive sitting third in the table and enjoying an exceptional run of league form. Jake Goodman’s side have won six successive league matches since their 1-1 draw against Greenwich Borough in the reverse fixture, with Goodman recently rewarded with the Premier Division Manager of the Month award for October.
The two clubs also met in the SCEFL Challenge Cup last week, when Greenwich Borough edged a closely contested encounter 1-0.
Borough themselves have made an impressive start to the campaign, collecting 20 points from just ten league matches, and victory would take them above Phoenix in the standings.
With the excitement of a new home, two in-form sides and recent history between the clubs, this has all the ingredients of the standout fixture of the weekend.
Corinthian v Bearsted
Bearsted travel to Corinthian looking to build on a strong start to the season that has left them sixth in the Premier Division.
With 19 points from 11 games, the Bears are well placed among the chasing pack and will be hoping to continue their push towards the leading positions.
Corinthian sit 13th with 15 points, although they have played the same number of matches as their visitors and could close the gap considerably with a home victory.
With just four points separating the sides, there is plenty at stake in this encounter.
Fisher v Tunbridge Wells
League leaders Fisher welcome Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, with the visitors heading to St Paul’s Sports Ground following the resignation of manager Steve Ives earlier this week.
Ives departed on Tuesday after more than three years in charge, leaving Wells searching for a new manager at a difficult stage of their season.
Tunbridge Wells currently sit 16th in the Premier Division with nine points from 12 matches, just one point above the relegation zone. Their most recent outing ended in a dramatic 5-4 home defeat against SE Dons, and Saturday’s visit to the league leaders presents another significant challenge.
Fisher have collected 27 points from 13 matches, winning eight times and losing just twice. Their 38 league goals make them the division’s leading scorers, although they were held to a goalless draw at Snodland Town last weekend.
With Fisher looking to maintain their four-point advantage at the summit and Tunbridge Wells beginning life after Ives, there will be plenty of interest in how both sides respond.
The visitors have yet to confirm who will take charge for Saturday’s fixture, but whoever leads the team will be hoping to make a positive start against the division’s current pacesetters.
Hollands & Blair v Chislehurst Glebe
Second-placed Hollands & Blair will look to maintain their pursuit of leaders Fisher when they welcome Chislehurst Glebe.
Blair have enjoyed an impressive campaign, collecting 23 points from 12 matches and boasting one of the strongest defensive records in the division, having conceded just 13 goals.
Chislehurst Glebe sit seventh on 19 points and will be looking to close the gap on the teams above them.
Glebe’s matches have certainly provided entertainment this season, with 25 goals scored and 27 conceded across their opening 13 league fixtures. Talisman strike and acptain Jamie Philpot has recently returned from injury and is great form.
It promises to be an interesting contest between a well-organised Hollands & Blair side and visitors capable of finding the net.
Kennington v Erith & Belvedere
Kennington host bottom club Erith & Belvedere knowing that three points would strengthen their position in the middle of the Premier Division table.
The hosts sit 11th with 17 points from 11 games and remain within striking distance of the teams competing higher up the standings.
For Erith & Belvedere, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult.
The Deres have picked up just six points from 13 league matches, losing 11 of those fixtures and conceding a division-high 42 goals.
With a five-point gap to safety, every game is becoming increasingly important for the young visitors as they search for a change in fortunes.
Larkfield & New Hythe v Petts Wood & Holmesdale
Petts Wood & Holmesdale travel to Larkfield & New Hythe looking to keep themselves firmly in contention near the top of the table.
The visitors currently occupy fourth position with 20 points from 12 games, having scored an impressive 32 league goals.
Larkfield sit tenth with 18 points from 13 matches and could move level with their opponents on points with a victory.
With just two points separating the clubs, this is an opportunity for both sides to make an important move in a tightly packed section of the table.
Rusthall v Snodland Town
Rusthall will aim to continue their push towards the top five when they welcome Snodland Town.
The hosts occupy eighth position with 18 points from 11 games and have matches in hand on several clubs above them.
Snodland sit 14th with 15 points from 12 matches, although their record of six draws is the highest in the Premier Division.
The visitors have scored and conceded exactly 16 goals so far, underlining how closely contested many of their fixtures have been.
Rusthall will be looking to make home advantage count, while Snodland will hope to turn another competitive performance into maximum points.
SE Dons v Faversham Strike Force
SE Dons welcome Faversham Strike Force in a fixture between two clubs whose league positions tell very different stories about their seasons so far.
The Dons sit 15th with 13 points, but have played just eight league matches, fewer than any other side in the division.
Their record of four wins from those eight fixtures, together with an impressive goal difference of +10, suggests they have the potential to climb rapidly once their games in hand are played.
Faversham Strike Force occupy ninth position with 18 points from 13 matches and will be aiming to improve their position among the mid-table pack.
With both sides capable of scoring goals, this could be another entertaining encounter.
Sutton Athletic v Beckenham Town
Two sides looking to end disappointing runs meet when Sutton Athletic welcome Beckenham Town.
Sutton sit 12th with 16 points but have suffered consecutive league defeats, conceding five goals in each of those matches.
Beckenham’s problems have been even more severe.
The visitors are 17th in the table and have lost nine consecutive league matches, leaving them with just eight points from 14 fixtures.
With only ten goals scored all season and 33 conceded, Beckenham desperately need a change in fortunes as they attempt to climb away from the relegation places.
Sutton will see this as an opportunity to return to winning ways, but both sides will know that a positive result could provide a much-needed boost.
A Big Saturday Ahead
With Fisher leading the way, Hollands & Blair in pursuit and Phoenix Sports carrying an impressive winning streak into their visit to Greenwich Borough’s new home, there is no shortage of intrigue at the top of the Premier Division.
Further down, Tunbridge Wells, Beckenham Town and Erith & Belvedere will all be desperate for points, while several clubs in the middle of the table have the opportunity to make significant moves.
Nine matches, plenty at stake and a historic first afternoon at GB10 Sports — Saturday promises another exciting chapter in the SCEFL Premier Division season.