Saturday December 20
FIRST DIVISION
Chessington & Hook P-P AFC Greenwich Borough
Croydon 1-3 FC Elmstead
Lewisham Borough 0-2 Halls AFC
Lordswood 4-1 Banstead Athletic
Lydd Town 2-1 Greenways
Rochester United 4-3 Bridon Ropes
SE Dons 1-1 SC Thamesmead
Sheppey Sports 2-4 Staplehurst Monarchs
Welling Town 2-2 Tooting Bec
The First Division signed off for Christmas with exactly the kind of chaotic, dramatic, pulse-raising afternoon you’d expect from a league that refuses to do boring. Goals flew in, leads evaporated, tables shuffled and, just to keep everyone grounded, one pitch waved the white flag and surrendered to the weather.
At the summit, Rochester United will be tucking into their turkey knowing they’ve earned it. Their 4-3 win over Bridon Ropes was less a football match and more a festive thriller with extra time added for good measure. Veteran striker, Luke Medley set the tone early, added a second from the spot, and then watched as Tom Loynes and Luis Dos Santos completed a dramatic late surge. Bridon refused to play the role of grateful guests, pushing Rochester all the way, but seven wins from seven at home tells you everything about why the leaders sit where they do. Top at Christmas, fortress intact, heart rate through the roof.
Behind them, SE Dons learned the hard way that nothing comes easy in this division. Second-placed and heavily fancied, they were rattled by a fearless SC Thamesmead side who looked seconds away from pulling off a proper festive upset. Wale Odedoyin’s strike had Thamesmead dreaming, and only a stoppage-time intervention from new signing Alex Teniola spared the Dons a rare home defeat. A point rescued and a reminder that there are no easy games here.
Lordswood were far more decisive. Their 4-1 win over Banstead Athletic was ruthless, efficient, and keeps them firmly fourth heading into the break. Vinnie Medhurst set the tone early, goals followed at regular intervals, and although Banstead briefly threatened a comeback, the gap in quality eventually told. For Banstead, the defeat deepens worries as they slide into the bottom three with Christmas offering little comfort.
There was movement and misery at Welling Town, but also relief. Their 2-2 draw with Tooting Bec lifts Welling out of the relegation zone and gives them something to cling to over the festive period. Tooting, meanwhile, continue to drift — now seven without a win and slipping out of the play-off places. Momentum, once lost, is proving very hard to rediscover.
One side finding theirs at exactly the right time is FC Elmstead. Their 3-1 win at Croydon pushes them into the play-off places and continues a sharp upward curve. Goals at the start, middle and very end did the damage, with in-form pairing Jamie Fearn and Fraser Page again on target, while Croydon’s response — courtesy of Kanan Fitton against his old club — proved fleeting. Three defeats on the spin now for Croydon, and a play-off picture involving the Trams is starting to blur uncomfortably.
Halls AFC quietly continue to be one of the form sides in the division. A composed 2-0 win at Lewisham Borough makes it six wins from seven and lifts them into tenth. The goals came late, through Zack Manning and Ryan Golding, but the control was there throughout. Lewisham, on a tough afternoon, were the only side in the division not to score — a lonely statistic to sit with over Christmas.
At Sheppey Sports, the neutral got their money’s worth as Staplehurst Monarchs and Sheppey served up a six-goal classic. Two goals apiece either side of the break set the stage before Staplehurst finished with real authority, striking late — and in stunning style, very late from Brad Webb — to seal a 4-2 win. It’s three straight victories now for the Monarchs, who climb to eighth and look a side hitting their stride. Sheppey slip to 11th after a bruising but entertaining afternoon.
There was also joy at last for Lydd Town. After 13 league games without a win, their 2-1 victory over Greenways felt overdue and well earned. Two first-half goals, Travis Kemp and Tyler Stering, gave them breathing space before a nervy finish, with the full-time whistle bringing relief and celebration. Still second bottom, yes — but suddenly closer to the pack and with belief restored.
And finally, football bowed to the elements at Chessington & Hook, where their clash with AFC Greenwich Borough was postponed thanks to a waterlogged pitch. Even the league’s unpredictability has limits.
So that’s Christmas wrapped: leaders tested, chasers wobbling, form sides surging and survival scraps already taking shape. If this is the appetiser, January’s main course promises to be a thing of beauty.