Division One Cup 2025/26
Division One Cup
FINAL
Tooting Bec win 5-4 on pens
Referee: Darren Kempson
Assistant Referee: Katie Allen
Assistant Referee: Jack Matthews
Reserve Official: Jack Smith
Tooting Bec are the 2025/26 Division One Cup winners following a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Lordswood at Flamingo Park.
The final burst into life from the opening whistle and Bec wasted little time taking the lead, with Ali Taylor-Kamara converting in just the third minute to hand his side the perfect start.
There was an unfortunate moment soon after for Lordswood when their striker suffered a serious injury following a fall and was stretchered from the field before later requiring hospital treatment for a broken arm. A GoFundMe page has since been launched to support him during his recovery.
In his absence, Lordswood responded superbly and levelled the scores just before half-time when Rameses Meseorisa fired home to swing the momentum back in their favour.
Lordswood then looked set to lift the trophy when an own goal on the hour mark gave them the advantage, and with the clock ticking down, Bec appeared beaten. Football, however, enjoys chaos more than calm.
Deep into the closing moments, Sonny Harnett-Balkwill rose highest to head home a dramatic equaliser and send the final to penalties.
Both goalkeepers produced saves during the shoot-out, but the defining moment arrived when Dominic Oakes denied George Miles from the spot to secure the trophy for Tooting Bec after an absorbing contest.
A crowd of 432 was in attendance at Flamingo Park to witness a final that had pretty much everything.
SEMI FINALS
Lordswood 2-0 Staplehurst Monarchs
(Alfie Clark, Rameses Meseorisa)
Lewisham Borough 1-2 Tooting Bec
(Reese Cartwright – Joe Martin, Kai Udondem)
Lordswood booked their place in the Division One Cup Final with a late victory over Staplehurst Monarchs. Goals from Alfie Clark and Rameses Meseorisa in injury time earned the win against a Monarchs side that had to play the second half with 10 men, after Sam Harris was sent off.
Tooting Bec edged through to the Division One Cup Final with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Lewisham Borough, striking just before half-time through Joe Martin before Kai Udondem sealed it late on the counter. Reese Cartwright’s stoppage-time header set up a tense finish, but Lewisham couldn’t find an equaliser as Bec booked their place alongside Lordswood in the final.
QUARTER FINALS
Staplehurst Monarchs 1-1 Greenways (4-3pens)
(Morgan Davidge – Own Goal)
Lordswood 3-3 Halls AFC (4-3pens)
( Tom Davey, Vinnie Medhurst, Artem Kuchkov – Muraino Banjoko, James Bayford, Ben Martin)
Tooting Bec 3-0 Bridon Ropes
(Sonny Harnett-Balkwill, Antony Ogbanufe, Benjie Robinson)
Chessington & Hook 0-1 Lewisham Borough
(Jeffrey Oredein)
If you like your cup ties calm and routine, this wasn’t for you. Six goals in 90 minutes, both sides scoring in added time, and then the dreaded walk to the penalty spot. Tom Davey, Vinnie Medhurst and Artem Kuchkov were on the mark for Lordswood, while Muraino Banjoko, James Bayford and Ben Martin refused to let Halls go quietly. At 3-3 it could have gone either way, but it was Lordswood who held their nerve from 12 yards to book their semi-final spot. Brutal on Halls. Glorious for Lordswood.
No penalties. No chaos. Just business handled. Sonny Harnett-Balkwill, Antony Ogbanufe and Benjie Robinson did the damage as Tooting Bec powered into the last four with a performance that said, “We’ll have one of those semi-final places, thanks.” Comfortable, controlled, clinical.
Another shoot-out, because apparently we hadn’t suffered enough. Morgan Davidge put Staplehurst Monarchs ahead in the 40th minute, only for an own goal to drag Greenways level and force spot kicks. From there it was all about nerve. Staplehurst edged it 4-3 on penalties and march on. Greenways exit wondering what might have been.
One goal was enough here. Jeffrey Oredein was the man who made the difference, firing Lewisham Borough into the semi-finals with a hard-earned 1-0 win. League form might be giving both sides headaches, but the cup has offered Lewisham a welcome distraction — and now a genuine shot at silverware.
Four ties. Two shoot-outs. One dominant display. And a semi-final line-up that suddenly looks very tasty indeed.
SECOND ROUND
Click Match for details
Banstead Athletic 0-1 Chessington & Hook
(Danielius Burbulis)
Bridon Ropes 2-0 Welling Town
(Jack Church, Taylor Fisher)
Croydon 0-1 Tooting Bec
(Nathan Freckleton)
FC Elmstead 0-2 Halls AFC
(Zack Manning, Joseph Freeman)
Lewisham Borough 2-1 SC Thamesmead
(Bronum Reynolds, Shiloh Apena – George Dennis)
Lordswood 4-2 SE Dons
(Sam Wright, Tadiwanashe Nago, Nathaniel Murray, Thomas Davey – Alex Teniola, Reece Barrett)
Rochester United 0-2 Greenways
(Freddie Bull, Johnny Akoto)
Sheppey Sports 0-5 Staplehurst Monarchs
(Manny Cuttress x3, Bradley Webb, Harry Morgan)
Bridon Ropes were the first side to reach the Quarter Finals, with Jack Church and Taylor Fisher on target in a controlled win over Welling Town. Staplehurst Monarchs also eased into the last eight, producing a five-star display away at Sheppey Sports as Manny Cuttress helped himself to a hat-trick, with Brad Webb and Harry Morgan completing the scoring.
Halls AFC booked their place with a 2–0 victory at FC Elmstead, goals from Zack Manning on the stroke of half-time and Joseph Freeman late on sealing the result. Tooting Bec joined them in the Quarter Finals after edging past Croydon 1–0 on the road, Nathan Freckleton’s early second-half strike proving decisive.
Greenways booked their place in the Division One Cup Third Round with a composed 2–0 victory over Rochester United at the Rochester Utilities Stadium.
Freddie Bull gave Greenways the perfect start, firing them ahead after 18 minutes, and while Rochester pushed for a way back into the tie, clear chances were hard to come by. The game was finally put to bed ten minutes from time when Johnny Akoto struck to seal the win. Played at a familiar venue for both sides, Greenways were the sharper and more clinical on the night, seeing the tie out comfortably in front of a crowd of 64.
In the highest scoring match of the round Lordswood got past SE Dons in a 6-goal classic. Sam Wright, Tadiwanashe Nago, Nathaniel Murray and Thomas Davey all scored for Lordswood with Alex Teniola and Reece Barrett on target for the Dons.
Lewisham Borough beat SC Thamesmead 2-1 to make it through to the last 8. Borough took the lead early on through Bronum Reynolds with the equaliser coming from a George Dennis penalty in an incident that saw the hosts Captain, Nicholas Harvey, sent off. Despite the numerical disadvantage Borough won the game thanks to a Shiloh Apena goal with 20 minutes to play.
Chessington & Hook put aside their league worries to put their name into the last eight. This much-delayed game was heading to a goalless conclusion until Danielius Burbulis popped up with a late winner.
FIRST ROUND
Saturday 22nd November
Lewisham Borough 3-1 AFC Greenwich Borough
(Andrea Carrerra x2, Sineen Sineen – Stefan Payne)
Lordswood 1-1 Lydd Town~
(Harvey Welford – Bailey Korkis)
(Lordswood win 4-3 on pens)
Lordswood are through to the Second Round of the Division One Cup following a penalty shoot-out win against Lydd Town. Harvey Welford had given the Lords a first half lead that was levelled by Bailey Korkis in the final minute. Lordswood held their nerve best from the spot to set up a Second Round tie at home to SE Dons.
The other First Round tie was abandoned late on with Lewisham Borough 3-1 ahead against AFC Greenwich Borough. The match was abandoned due to an incident in the final minute but following an investigation the result stood.
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