Staplehurst Monarchs Stun Bearsted, but Four Other West Kent Clubs Exit the Kent Senior Trophy

It was Kent Senior Trophy First Round weekend for West Kent's six Southern Counties East clubs, with none of them in league action - and the shock of the round came from the lowest-ranked side involved. First Division Staplehurst Monarchs knocked out Premier Division neighbours Bearsted, and Snodland Town also progressed; Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells and Larkfield & New Hythe all exited the competition.

Rusthall's cup exit came against opposition in the form of their lives: Phoenix Sports stretched their unbeaten run to eight games - seven wins and a draw - with a comfortable 5-1 win at The Primcura Healthcare Stadium. Jamarie Brissett was the chief tormentor, scoring twice either side of half-time to go with a Lyle Della-Verde opener, while a Ben Sangare own goal and a header from 16-year-old substitute Sebastian Levenson rounded off the scoring. Ronnie McClean's reply for Rusthall barely slowed the visitors down.

Form (last 5 league games): ✓✗✓✗✓
Next match: Saturday 24th October 2026 | 3PM (Premier Division) | AFC Greenwich Borough - Rusthall

Snodland Town made home advantage count at The G I Landscapes Stadium, goals from Elliott Carey and Chris Alhassan seeing off a Faversham Strike Force side who had Josh Oliver on the scoresheet in reply, to send the hosts through to the second round.

Form (last 5 league games): −−−✗−
Next match: Saturday 24th October 2026 | 3PM (Premier Division) | Petts Wood & Holmesdale - Snodland Town

Staplehurst Monarchs provided the shock of the round, First Division opposition dumping Premier Division Bearsted out of the competition with a 1-0 win at Jubilee Sports Field. Vinnie Medhurst's strike settled an all-West-Kent derby and sent the lower-division side through at the expense of their higher-ranked neighbours.

Staplehurst form (last 5 league games): −✓−−✗
Staplehurst next match: Saturday 24th October 2026 | 3PM (First Division) | Croydon - Staplehurst Monarchs

Bearsted form (last 5 league games): ✗✓−✗✓
Bearsted next match: Saturday 24th October 2026 | 3PM (Premier Division) | Bearsted - Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells were made to work for nothing at Culverden Stadium, Regan Corke's goal cancelled out by Sam Wright's equaliser for Kennington, before the visitors held their nerve in the shootout to win 3-1 on penalties and progress at Tunbridge Wells' expense.

Form (last 5 league games): ✗✓−✗✗
Next match: Saturday 24th October 2026 | 3PM (Premier Division) | Bearsted - Tunbridge Wells

Larkfield & New Hythe's run ended in midweek, beaten 2-1 away at FC Elmstead. Finley Williams and Brooke Teirnan scored either side of a Steven Famose reply to send the home side through.

Form (last 5 league games): −−−✗✓
Next match: Saturday 24th October 2026 | 3PM (Premier Division) | Larkfield & New Hythe - Chislehurst Glebe

Snodland Town and Staplehurst Monarchs now head into the Kent Senior Trophy second round draw. None of this weekend's results affect the Premier or First Division league tables, since all six West Kent clubs were in cup action rather than league fixtures. Source: scefl.com, Phoenix Sports FC, Football Web Pages