Saturday January 3
FIRST DIVISION
Banstead Athletic P-P Rochester United
Bridon Ropes 0-3 FC Elmstead
Greenways P-P AFC Greenwich Borough
Lordswood P-P Lewisham Borough
SE Dons 6-1 Lydd Town
Sheppey Sports 8-4 Chessington & Hook
Staplehurst Monarchs P-P Croydon
Tooting Bec P-P SC Thamesmead
Welling Town P-P Halls AFC
The weather did its best to wipe out the First Division programme, but the three games that survived absolutely refused to be boring as we saw twenty-two goals and one changing of the guard at the top.
SE Dons are the new leaders of the First Division after a ruthless 6–1 demolition of Lydd Town at Bauvill Stadium. A crowd of 207 braved the Chatham chill and were treated to a Dons masterclass, as the home side made it very clear that their ground remains a fortress. Aaron Watson struck twice, with Palace Francis, Adrin Tajik, Joe Thomas and Alex Teniola (from the spot deep into stoppage time) adding gloss to a dominant display. Tyler Sterling pulled one back for Lydd, but one was never going to be enough. The Dons move to the summit; Lydd stay rooted in the relegation zone and will be relieved that this particular fixture is now safely behind them.
Sheppey Sports v Chessington & Hook was very much the game of the day. Eight goals for Sheppey, four for Chessington, and a 12-goal thriller that kept everyone warm and entertained. Jahmal Hector-Ingram was simply unstoppable, smashing in four including a penalty, while Simon Gyimaha, Joe Ganiwa, Ryan Godding and Callum Peck all joined the party. Chessington showed spirit through goals from Boe Fowler, Jamie Brewer, Thomas Lyons and Bailey Ellis, but remain bottom after a game that was fun for the neutrals but brutal for the defences. Sheppey climb to 10th and start the new year in style.
FC Elmstead quietly continued their push up the table with a professional 3–0 win away at Bridon Ropes. On a day when postponements were everywhere, this was the only SCEFL game played on grass — full credit to Tony Provan and the team at Meridian for getting the match on. Elmstead did the rest, with Fraser Page opening the scoring shortly after the break, Jordan-James Tingley doubling the advantage, and Issac Hadlow sealing it late on. The result lifts Elmstead into the play-off places and keeps their momentum firmly rolling.
Three games, plenty of talking points, and a new name at the top of the table. Not bad for a weekend the weather tried to cancel.