Saturday October 3

Rochester Take Over at the Top as Minster Stun Lordswood

There was a change at the top of the SCEFL First Division on Saturday as Rochester United moved into first place, while Minster produced one of the results of the day to beat previous leaders Lordswood. Elsewhere, Hythe Town left it late to preserve their unbeaten start and Stansfeld continued their excellent run of form.

Rochester United are the new leaders after a 3-1 victory over Tooting Bec, although both sides finished the afternoon with ten men. Rochester’s Harvey Roberts was dismissed in the 37th minute, but the numbers were evened up when Tooting’s Ozion Bowen was shown a second yellow card in the 61st.

Four minutes later Liam Wilkins broke the deadlock for Rochester, before Kai Udondem levelled for Tooting in the 78th minute. The game was still in the balance heading into stoppage time, but Rochester finished with a flourish. Recent signing Pat Ward struck in the 90th minute before Mack Reilly added a third seven minutes into added time to seal the points. Rochester move onto 22 points, three clear at the summit.

That opportunity came courtesy of Minster, who continued their impressive start to life in the First Division with a dramatic 3-2 win over Lordswood at Hartsdown Park.

Charlie Sharp struck twice in the space of three first-half minutes, scoring in the 22nd and 24th minutes to give Minster a 2-0 advantage. Lordswood responded after the break through Luke Adams in the 49th minute and, with four minutes remaining, Adams scored again to seemingly rescue a point for the visitors.

Minster weren’t finished. Six minutes into added time, Tom Coyne grabbed the winner to give his side a fifth league victory of the season. Lordswood drop to second on 19 points, while Minster climb to seventh with 16.

Hythe Town also have 19 points after showing plenty of character to rescue a 2-2 draw at Staplehurst Monarchs and maintain their unbeaten league record.

Timmy Babbington gave Staplehurst the perfect start with a goal inside the opening minute and Oliver Lankshear doubled the advantage in the 54th. Hythe faced their first league defeat of the campaign, but Jake Embery pulled one back with ten minutes remaining before the visitors found an equaliser in the 90th minute. Hythe have now taken 19 points from seven games, while Staplehurst have lost just once in eight.

Stansfeld are another side moving rapidly in the right direction. Their 4-1 victory over Croydon was a third successive league win, following victories over Banstead Athletic and Halls AFC.

Teddy Green opened the scoring in the 41st minute before Jack Calvert doubled the advantage midway through the second half. Charlie Dale gave Croydon some hope in the 78th minute, but Stansfeld finished strongly as Freddie Warwick struck in the 86th minute and Nana Kufour added a fourth in stoppage time. Stansfeld are now up to fifth with 17 points, having scored eight goals in their last two matches without conceding until Dale’s late strike.

There was another entertaining game at Ladywell Arena, where Lewisham Borough beat FC Elmstead 4-2. Boluwatife Oduntan put Lewisham ahead just before half-time and Harry Bunclark doubled the lead in the 64th minute. Kameiko Pope-Campbell quickly pulled one back for Elmstead, but Tyreese Webb and Jeffery Oredein struck in the 79th and 82nd minutes to put the contest beyond the visitors. Frankie Driscoll’s late penalty reduced the deficit but Lewisham took the points and move onto 16.

Greenways were the other winners, returning from Halls AFC with a 2-1 victory. The returning Joe Thomas scored both goals for the visitors, opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time before converting a penalty in the 59th minute. Eze Amidi pulled one back for Halls in the 86th minute, but Greenways held on to claim their third league victory of the season.

It all leaves Rochester United three points clear at the top, although Lordswood have two games in hand. Hythe are level with Lordswood on 19 points and remain unbeaten, while SC Thamesmead sit fourth on 17 without playing this weekend. Stansfeld’s recent surge has taken them level with Thamesmead on points, with Lewisham and Minster close behind on 16.

With only seven points separating second place from ninth, the First Division is already developing into a tightly packed battle at the top.