Bearsted's Unbeaten Start Ends on Bank Holiday Monday as West Kent SCEFL Clubs Have Day to Forget

Bank Holiday Monday brought little cheer for West Kent's SCEFL clubs, with Bearsted and Staplehurst Monarchs both losing their unbeaten records and Larkfield & New Hythe extending a difficult run, while Tunbridge Wells were left kicking their heels as their derby with Rusthall was postponed.

Bearsted's perfect start to the season came to an end as Hollands & Blair fought back to win 2-1 at Otham. Jack Palmby had struck in first-half stoppage time to put the Bears on course for a fourth straight league win, but Blair responded with two goals in quick succession midway through the second half — Reece Gillies converting a 73rd-minute penalty before Drew Briffitt put the visitors ahead two minutes later. Bearsted held on for a losing margin no worse than one, but the defeat drops them to third on nine points.

It's now four defeats in a row for Larkfield & New Hythe, beaten 3-0 at home by Snodland Town after two goals in six first-half minutes — Kian Scott after 33 minutes and Nathaniel Olawole six minutes later — put the visitors in control, with Chris Alhassan completing the win late on. Larkfield's opening-weekend pace, two wins from two, already feels a long way off. Snodland move onto ten points and sit second in the table on goal difference, behind new leaders AFC Greenwich Borough.

West Kent's other early pace-setter also lost its unbeaten tag, as Staplehurst Monarchs — three wins from three coming in — were beaten 4-0 at home by SC Thamesmead. Wale Odedoyin struck twice in the first half before George Dennis and Joseph Ikuesan added late goals to complete the rout, which lifts Thamesmead to third in the First Division on ten points.

The one Premier Division fixture involving West Kent clubs that didn't go ahead was the derby between Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall, postponed on the day. Both sides will be looking for it to be rearranged soon, with Tunbridge Wells in particular keen to arrest a slide that started with Saturday's defeat at Kennington.