Saturday 24th October
Premier Division Preview – Leaders Fisher Face Beckenham as SE Dons Return to League Action
Saturday 24th October – Premier Division Fixtures
AFC Greenwich Borough v Rusthall (12pm, at Glebe FC)
Bearsted v Tunbridge Wells
Corinthian v Phoenix Sports
Erith & Belvedere v Faversham Strike Force
Fisher v Beckenham Town
Hollands & Blair v SE Dons
Larkfield & New Hythe v Chislehurst Glebe
Petts Wood & Holmesdale v Snodland Town
A full programme of SCEFL Premier Division football returns this Saturday, with eight matches scheduled and plenty at stake at both ends of the table.
The action begins at midday when AFC Greenwich Borough host Rusthall at Glebe FC’s Foxbury ground, with Borough’s own home ground still a few weeks away from completion.
Greenwich Borough sit tenth in the table with 14 points from eight matches, although they have played fewer games than most of the teams above them. Rusthall arrive in seventh place, just a point better off, and having won their last two league matches, including an impressive 4-0 victory over Erith & Belvedere.
League leaders Fisher will be looking to bounce back from their surprise 2-1 defeat at Larkfield & New Hythe when they welcome struggling Beckenham Town to St Paul’s.
Fisher remain three points clear at the top despite that setback, having scored 35 goals in their opening 11 league matches. Beckenham, meanwhile, have endured a miserable return to the SCEFL following relegation from the Isthmian League. Seven consecutive defeats have left them second from bottom, and they head into Saturday’s fixture following the resignation of manager Adam Griffin.
Second-placed Hollands & Blair face a fascinating home encounter with SE Dons, who return to league action following their remarkable FA Cup exploits.
The Dons have enjoyed an extraordinary cup run in their first season competing in the competition, highlighted by their stunning 5-1 victory away at Weymouth. With just six league matches played so far, they have plenty of catching up to do and will be looking to improve on their current position of 15th.
Hollands & Blair, meanwhile, have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and sit just three points behind Fisher, with a game in hand. Their defensive record is particularly impressive, having conceded only nine goals in ten league matches.
Another side arriving in good form are Phoenix Sports, who travel to Corinthian looking to continue their climb up the table.
Phoenix have won their last four league matches, scoring nine goals in their most recent two outings. Jamarie Brissett was the star of their latest victory, scoring a hat-trick in the 5-1 success at Tunbridge Wells. They now sit sixth, level on points with fourth-placed Sutton Athletic and fifth-placed Bearsted.
Corinthian have played only eight league matches themselves and will be hoping to build on their recent unbeaten run, which includes a 5-2 victory over Erith & Belvedere and a goalless draw at Sutton Athletic.
At Otham Sports Ground, Bearsted welcome Tunbridge Wells with the hosts looking to build on their impressive 1-0 victory over AFC Greenwich Borough last time out. Sam Stace scored the winner that lifted Bearsted into fifth place, while Wells will be keen to respond after their heavy home defeat to Phoenix.
There is another important fixture towards the bottom of the table as Erith & Belvedere entertain Faversham Strike Force.
The Deres remain rooted to the foot of the Premier Division with just three points from ten matches, having suffered nine defeats and conceded 35 goals. Their latest setback was a 4-2 home loss against Sutton Athletic, and they will be desperate to bring their difficult run to an end.
Faversham Strike Force arrive in eighth place on 15 points, having drawn 2-2 with Snodland Town in their previous league outing.
Larkfield & New Hythe will be hoping their victory over leaders Fisher proves a turning point when they host Chislehurst Glebe. Goals from Oghosa Williams and Lauris Chin secured that eye-catching 2-1 success, moving Larkfield onto 12 points. Glebe sit one point and two places above them, making this another closely matched contest in the middle of the table.
Finally, Petts Wood & Holmesdale welcome Snodland Town to Oakley Road, with the hosts looking to build on their emphatic 5-1 victory at Beckenham Town.
That result provided a much-needed boost for Petts Wood, who have moved up to 14th place following a difficult opening to the campaign. Snodland sit ninth with 14 points, having drawn five of their opening ten league matches.
With the leaders looking to respond, their nearest challengers hoping to close the gap, and several clubs desperate to improve their fortunes, another intriguing Saturday of Premier Division football awaits.
All other matches kick off at 3pm.