Scott Porter’s first game as Lordswood manager ends in defeat against Fisher and the Southern Counties East Premier Division side host Glebe on Saturday

lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 03 April 2025

Lordswood’s new boss Scott Porter knows it’s win or bust time in the battle against the drop.

Porter’s first game in charge saw Lords lose 3-1 at Fisher, a result which left them nine points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division with six games left.

Lordswood's new manager Scott Porter after their weekend defeat @LordswoodAFC X

He’s set an ambitious target to get out of trouble, looking for at least five wins, which he feels is doable if the players have the right mindset.

“We’ve got six cup finals now,” said Porter. “We believe, and I believe, that we can get out of it. I think there’ll be more twists and turns.

“The teams lost in and around us at the weekend, but we’ve got to make our home pitch a fortress in these next coming weeks, and I expect to win.

“We’ve got Faversham (in their penultimate game on Easter Monday), which is a difficult one. They’re going for the title, but I expect to win every other game.”

Porter replaces Ross Wiles and Lee Garlinge, with Mark Lane joining as his assistant while director of football Jason Lillis takes on a coaching role.

Porter has spent hours on the phone speaking to potential signings ahead of Saturday’s home game with Glebe.

He said: “When you’re in a relegation battle, when you’re in the trenches, you need people to pull with you and stick together.

“The lads I’m going to bring in are going to do that along with the lads we’ve already got here.

“We need a win and that’s got to happen on Saturday.

“I’m pleased to be back. We’ve been bouncing off each other for a long time. Jason brings a wealth of experience and we all sing off the same hymn sheet.

“Me, Laney and Jase have got a good relationship. We’re in it together and we’ve just got to get the boys going again.”

🟠𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘⚫️ pic.twitter.com/8NErSDmMmK
— Lordswood AFC (@LordswoodAFC) March 31, 2025

SCEFL Premier Division table

Lordswood’s new management team only had one training session before last weekend’s game but had more time this week, putting the players through their paces on Tuesday night in a game against the club’s under-23s.

Last Saturday’s defeat highlighted some of the areas that need improving.

Jack Gibbons opened the scoring for Fisher, Tunde Aderonmu levelled for Lords but the hosts won it through Kesna Clarke and Billy Brown.

“All three goals were individual errors,” Porter said.

“It’s just tracking people and not doing the hard stuff and being disciplined in your position without the ball.

“If people haven’t got it in their locker, it doesn’t matter if you tell them until you’re blue in the face.

“I’ll be going with the players who I believe can do what I’m asking them to do.

“Tunde scored a great goal and he worked his socks off. He did well, but giving them those three goals away from home when you’re bottom of the league is not acceptable.

“There were some positives but they’ve just got to do the hard stuff. It’s just basics in football, which maybe they’ve not had to do and they didn’t look fit enough, either.

“You’ve got to put everything on the line and throw your body at things. That’s something I’m trying to bring to it. We haven’t got time to sit around and think if this or that happens, it’s got to happen now.”