Saturday November 29th
FIRST DIVISION
AFC Greenwich Borough v Croydon
Bridon Ropes v Welling Town
Chessington & Hook v Greenways
FC Elmstead v Lewisham Borough (2pm)
Lordswood v Staplehurst Monarchs
Lydd Town v SC Thamesmead
Rochester United v SE Dons
Sheppey Sports v Banstead Athletic
Tooting Bec v Halls AFC
We close out November with a full slate in the First Division, headlined by a top-of-the-table showdown at Rede Court Road.
League leaders Rochester United saw their perfect winning record finally snapped last weekend, but they’re still unbeaten and still top heading into a huge meeting with SE Dons. The Dons haven’t lost in eight and know that an away win drags them to within a point of the leaders. There is a lot on the line and it’s comfortably the main event.
Sitting second, AFC Greenwich Borough host Croydon in another match with real consequences at the top end. Greenwich Borough are unbeaten and could go top if Rochester slip. Croydon, beaten narrowly by Rochester last week, need a statement win here if they want their play-off ambitions to look serious again.
Weather permitting, Greenways travel to Chessington & Hook in a classic “banana skin” fixture. Greenways are without a win in four and letting the top three get away from them. Chessington, bottom and four points adrift, still haven’t won at home. They’re running out of time for a turning point — this would be a good place to start.
Tooting Bec, clinging onto fifth despite four without a win, host a Halls AFC side charging up the table with four straight victories. Bec need to stop the slide; Halls smell blood and a route into the top half.
In sixth, Lordswood know a win could haul them into the top five, but they’ll need to overcome Staplehurst Monarchs — winless in seven and still without an away victory. Monarchs need to get back in the win column as it’s not too late to make a charge, but Lordswood will be going all out to closing that door on them as it’s one they are planning on walking through themselves.
Bridon Ropes vs Welling Town feels like the dictionary definition of “draw written all over it”… except Bridon haven’t drawn at home and Welling haven’t drawn away. Three points are needed by both but that can’t happen so a stalemate is expected between the two evenly-matched teams.
Further down at the bottom, Lydd Town meet SC Thamesmead in a game where both clubs really need to stop the season heading towards misery. Each sit in the relegation zone and wins have been scarce. Whoever finds one here gets a lifeline.
Just above them, Sheppey Sports and Banstead Athletic face off with survival points on the line. Sheppey have pulled themselves together in recent weeks, while Banstead want revenge for their 2–0 defeat in the reverse fixture — but more importantly, they need the three points to get clear of trouble.
The day actually kicks off early at Lower Road, where FC Elmstead meet Lewisham Borough at 2pm. Elmstead haven’t drawn all season and are climbing the table nicely; Lewisham have won five of their last seven and are one of the division’s sneakier in-form sides. Could be a cracker before the dark sets in.
Another big weekend awaits in the First Division — keep up to date with the match action via our Football Web Pages links.