Southern Counties East League round-up: Faversham draw, Glebe win to go top, Corinthian win, Deal and Erith Town drop points
Published: 20:45, 06 January 2024
Managerless Faversham were knocked off the top of the Southern Counties East Premier Division on Saturday.
Having sacked boss Sammy Moore, Matt Newman was in caretaker charge and he saw his troops lead inside the first five minutes against Tunbridge Wells at Salters Lane through Stefan Payne.
Trevor McCreadie and Nico Cotton scored in the space of three minutes for Wells midway through the second half to turn the game around and Faversham needed a goal from skipper Connor Essam with nine minutes left to rescue a 2-2 draw.
Glebe took over top spot with a 3-0 win at home to Holland & Blair. Jamie Philpot opened the scoring on 65 minutes and then added a late penalty after Rodney Eruotor scored their second goal.
Corinthian are up to third – three points behind Glebe with three games in hand – following their 3-0 success at Fisher. All the goals came in the second half with Charlie Clover, Michael Hagan and Sam Fitzgerald on target.
Two sides who will be in FA Vase action next weekend shared the points as Holmesdale claimed a late equaliser against Deal. Aaron Millbank gave Deal a first-half lead but Manny Oshinowo’s 90th-minute goal ensured the game finished all square.
Two goals in the last eight minutes saw Lydd come from behind to defeat Erith Town 2-1. Dean Grant and Luke Burdon did the damage after Ryan Mahal gave the Dockers a first-half advantage.
Whitstable also lost ground as they went down 3-1 at home to bottom side Stansfeld. Mayo Olufeko and Tommy Whitnell put Stansfeld 2-0 ahead at the break before Emmanuel Oloyede pulled a goal back, Olufeko’s second late on wrapping up the points.
James Jeffrey scored the only goal of the game as Lordswood beat Welling Town while Kennington are out of the bottom two following a 2-1 win at Sutton Athletic. Ryan Philpott’s penalty and Harry Linch responded after an early Dan Gunner spot-kick for Sutton.
Indeed, the bottom five sides are separated by only two points with Rusthall also in the mix after losing at Snodland, for whom Isaac Thompson scored the only goal of the game.
Nathan Palmer bagged a brace as Bearsted enjoyed a 4-1 home win over Punjab United. Joel Wakefield and Ollie Freeman were also on target.
Rochester missed the chance to close the gap on Division 1 leaders AFC Whyteleafe to five points after letting a two-goal lead slip at Bridon Ropes. Max Morgan and Fjord Rogers had netted for Rochester, who had to settle for a 2-2 draw following a 90th-minute own goal.
Marshall Wratten scored twice for Faversham Strike Force in a 3-0 victory at Forest Hill while Kola Salami netted a 12-minute hat-trick as FC Elmstead won 5-1 at Canterbury.
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Matthew Panting