Saturday 24th October – Premier Division Results

AFC Greenwich Borough 3-2 Rusthall

Bearsted 2-1 Tunbridge Wells

Corinthian 1-5 Phoenix Sports

Erith & Belvedere 0-4 Faversham Strike Force

Fisher 3-1 Beckenham Town

Hollands & Blair 2-1 SE Dons

Larkfield & New Hythe 3-2 Chislehurst Glebe

Petts Wood & Holmesdale 3-1 Snodland Town

 

Fisher March On as Stormy Saturday Brings 33 Goals

Fisher maintained their three-point advantage at the top of the SCEFL Premier Division as all eight matches survived a storm-hit Saturday afternoon that produced 33 goals, plenty of drama and more disappointment for the clubs struggling at the foot of the table.

With Storm Boelo bringing dreadful weather across the country, conditions were far from ideal for football, but the Premier Division still delivered another action-packed afternoon.

League leaders Fisher were made to work for their 3-1 victory over Beckenham Town, who arrived at St Paul’s Sports Ground looking to end their miserable run of results.

The visitors actually made the better start, taking the lead through Etanas Sapezinskas in the 15th minute, but Fisher turned the game around before half-time.

Rafael Garcia levelled in the 37th minute before Festos Kamara struck just two minutes later to put the hosts ahead. Beckenham remained within touching distance until Gabriel Darby settled matters five minutes into stoppage time.

It was Fisher’s eighth league victory of the campaign, taking their tally to 26 points from 12 matches and keeping them firmly in control of the early promotion race.

There was no room for complacency, however, with Hollands & Blair continuing to apply pressure following a 2-1 home victory over SE Dons.

Blair made the perfect start when Reece Gillies opened the scoring after just three minutes, and Malachai Belboda doubled their advantage in the 54th minute.

Michael Kamara pulled a goal back for the Dons in the third minute of added time, but it came too late to prevent the hosts collecting another valuable three points.

Hollands & Blair now have 23 points from 11 games, just three behind Fisher with a game in hand.

One of the stories of recent weeks has been the impressive form of Phoenix Sports, and they continued their climb up the table with a thumping 5-1 victory away at Corinthian.

Phoenix wasted little time establishing control, with Lyle Della-Verde opening the scoring in the eighth minute. Ahkeem Belford added a second four minutes later before Khayrie Harris made it 3-0 inside 20 minutes.

Oluwaseyi Adegbehingbe gave Corinthian some hope with a goal in the 56th minute, but Phoenix responded through Isaac Hadlow five minutes later.

Jamarie Brissett completed the scoring in the 78th minute as Phoenix recorded another five-goal haul, following their 5-1 success at Tunbridge Wells earlier in the month.

The result lifts Phoenix into third place on 19 points, with 10 goals scored across their last two league outings.

Bearsted are level on points with Phoenix after securing a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Tunbridge Wells.

All three goals arrived in a frantic five-minute spell before half-time.

Matt Day gave Bearsted the lead in the 36th minute, only for Ollie Hyland to equalise two minutes later. However, an own goal in the 41st minute restored the home side’s advantage.

There was no further scoring as Bearsted held on for their sixth league win of the season, moving onto 19 points from just 10 matches.

Faversham Strike Force also enjoyed a productive afternoon, recording an emphatic 4-0 victory at bottom club Erith & Belvedere.

New signing Harrison Pont opened the scoring after 17 minutes, with Josh Oliver doubling the advantage shortly after half-time.

Kane Taylor made it three in the 67th minute before Alfie Giles completed the scoring with 11 minutes remaining.

The result takes Strike Force into fifth place on 18 points, while Erith & Belvedere’s difficult start to the season continues.

The Deres have now lost 10 of their opening 11 league matches, conceding 39 goals and remaining rooted to the bottom with just three points.

The afternoon’s action actually began at midday, with AFC Greenwich Borough hosting Rusthall at Glebe’s Foxbury ground while work finalises on Borough’s new home.

The early kick-off produced five goals and a dramatic finish as Greenwich Borough claimed a 3-2 victory.

Christie Pattisson put Borough ahead in the 30th minute, but Rusthall responded with an equaliser ten minutes later.

Bradley Ryan’s free-kick restored the home side’s advantage in the 44th minute, only for Rusthall to level again in the 70th minute.

With the game finely balanced, Stefan Payne struck the winner ten minutes from time to secure an important three points for Borough.

The victory moves AFC Greenwich Borough onto 17 points from nine matches, keeping them well placed among the clubs chasing the leaders.

There was another five-goal contest at the Eden Estates Stadium, where Larkfield & New Hythe defeated Chislehurst Glebe 3-2.

Glebe made a flying start when debutant Zcakerius Ejeta scored in the opening minute, but Larkfield turned the contest around through a quickfire double from Andrew Mensah in the 23rd and 30th minutes.

Chris Ojemen brought the visitors level in the 37th minute, leaving the sides locked at 2-2 heading into the interval.

The game remained in the balance until the 87th minute, when Charlie Wright struck to give Larkfield all three points.

It was a welcome victory for Larkfield, lifting them into tenth place on 15 points and continuing their recovery after a difficult spell earlier in the campaign.

Petts Wood & Holmesdale were also celebrating after recording a 3-1 home victory over Snodland Town.

Armani-Jordan Martin gave the hosts an early advantage in the eighth minute, but Chris Alhassan equalised for Snodland in the 37th minute.

The game remained level until the hour mark, when Omotunmise Akanni restored the home side’s lead.

Jesse Rowe then made sure of the points with a goal two minutes into added time.

The victory moves Petts Wood & Holmesdale onto 14 points and into 11th place, level with Snodland, who also have 14 points.

At the top of the table, Fisher continue to set the pace with 26 points, but Hollands & Blair remain close behind and have a game in hand.

Phoenix Sports and Bearsted are now level on 19 points, with Faversham Strike Force just one point further back. Kennington and AFC Greenwich Borough are also firmly in contention, making for an increasingly competitive battle near the top.

At the opposite end, the problems continue for Beckenham Town and Erith & Belvedere.

Beckenham remain 17th with eight points following another defeat, while Erith & Belvedere are five points adrift at the bottom.

Despite the dreadful October weather, it was another afternoon packed with goals, late winners and important results across the SCEFL Premier Division.

---