Groundhop Weekend
PREMIER DIVISION
Friday 3rd October
Phoenix Sports 2-2 Corinthian
Saturday 4th October
Faversham Strike Force 3-3 Fisher
Tunbridge Wells 0-2 Larkfield & New Hythe
Chislehurst Glebe 3-3 Sutton Athletic
Holmesdale 1-1 Punjab United
Sunday 5th October
Hythe Town 1-2 Whitstable Town
Hollands & Blair 2-2 Snodland Town
The 2025 SCEFL Groundhop got underway in dramatic fashion on Friday night as over 350 fans braved the wind and rain in Bexleyheath to see Phoenix Sports and Corinthian share a 2-2 draw.
The visitors made the most of the conditions in the first half, taking the lead when Phoenix skipper Jake Goodman turned into his own net after 17 minutes. Tom Mitcham then doubled the advantage soon after with a tidy finish, giving Corinthian a firm grip at the break.
Phoenix responded strongly after the restart with the elements in their favour. Ahkeem Belford halved the deficit with 12 minutes to play, and deep into the 90th minute, Jensen Grant struck to spark wild celebrations and salvage a point for the hosts.
Saturday’s action brought more entertainment, with Faversham Strike Force and Fisher producing a six-goal thriller. Hayden Wood opened the scoring for the hosts before Fisher turned it around through Tom Jones and Jack Gibbons. Alex Willis and Baily Sinnock looked to have sealed victory for Faversham, but Lorenzo Duncan’s stoppage-time strike rescued Fisher a dramatic 3-3 draw.
At the Culverden, Larkfield & New Hythe claimed an impressive 2-0 away win at Tunbridge Wells to move up to third in the table. Both goals came from Tyler Ibe, who converted a penalty in the 55th and added a second soon after to secure the points.
Holmesdale and Punjab United also took their turn in the Groundhop spotlight, battling out a 1-1 draw. Nathan Palmer put Holmesdale ahead just before the hour, but Roman Campbell levelled matters with eight minutes to go.
The Saturday Night Groundhop game finished level too – but not for the lack of trying by both teams. Chislehurst Glebe took a very early lead when Reggie Rye finished well and then doubled that advantage when Jamie Philpot pressured the Sutton Athletic keeper into a mistake.
Sutton roared back though and thanks to quickfire goals from Louis Lovell, Emmanuel Oduguwa and Ryan Mahal, they led at break.
The second half was far quieter than the first but ended with a Malachi Morris equaliser for Glebe and late Red Card for Sutton substitute Ollie Farmer.
Sunday’s Groundhop action began on the coast as Hythe Town hosted Whitstable Town. The visitors arrived as favourites and did come away with the points, though they were pushed harder than many of the 450 crowd would have expected.
After a tight, goalless first half, Whitstable broke through two minutes after the restart when Ashdon Day struck. Hythe hit back almost instantly, Steadman Callender marking his debut with an equaliser, but the Oysters had the final say. With 15 minutes to play, Mikey Dalton netted the winner to seal victory for the visitors.
The 2025 Groundhop and the weekend’s Premier Division action came to a close on Sunday afternoon at Star Meadow, where Hollands & Blair and Snodland Town played out the fifth draw of the weekend.
Kane Rowland fired Blair ahead from the penalty spot on 35 minutes, only for Emmanuel Shoderu to level before the break. Ollie Gray restored the hosts’ advantage in the second half, but deep into stoppage time Paul Lee struck to ensure the sides shared the points.
Snodland move back up to 3rd, while Blair remain in 16th.