Latest News

2 – 2

LORDSWOOD  2-2  ROCHESTER UNITED
(Rochester United win 5-4 on penalties)
Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Second Round
Tuesday 3 November 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Martyn Grove

Rochester United booked their place in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, winning 5-4 on penalties after a hard-fought battle between the top two sides in the First Division.

Referee Kennedy Kikulwe pulled his calf in his right leg inside the opening two minutes and was replaced by assistant referee Alan Budden, while Kikulwe took up running the line for the rest of the game, which saw both sides reduced to ten-men.

Recalled Rochester United striker Aston Freeman fed Perez Goumou and his deflected shot from a tight angle was comfortably gathered by Lordswood’s fifth goalkeeper of the season, Louis Hall, 17.

Lordswood’s attacking midfielder Luke Adams had a couple of first-half chances to score against his former club, drilling a shot which was saved by ever-present Rochester keeper Christopher Swift, before heading Callum Coombs’ cross just past the post.

Rochester United left-back Daniel Lott cut inside a sliding challenge from Alfie Clark before his drive from outside the box was comfortably saved by Hall.

However, Lordswood opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.

Adams floated a free-kick into the Spartans’ box from inside the centre-circle, Harvey Welford rose to knock the ball into the middle and Bobby Parker (who was claiming the goal) swept a first time shot across Swift to find the bottom far corner.

Stand-in referee Budden had no option but to show Clark a straight red card after 52 minutes, for a bad challenge on Tom Loynes, making contact with the centre half’s right leg.

With Lordswood defending with two banks of four with Welford up front on his own, Rochester United dominated possession, often getting the ball out wide to their high full-backs, although Lordswood were a threat on the counter-attack, especially with pacey substitute left-winger Nathaniel Murray.

Lordswood left-back Lewis Tristram released Murray down the line and he cut inside but visiting keeper Swift rushed off his line to make a block.

Rochester United restored parity in this Medway derby when the wide and high right-back Ben Wyness fizzed in a cross towards the back post for striker Goumou to take a touch before finding the bottom far corner with 66 minutes gone.

Rochester United also had a man sent-off (76).  Holding midfielder Connor Watson picked up his second yellow for a nasty looking challenge from behind down Welford’s Achillies.

Lordswood went route one, as Callum O'Shea's side took the lead with 16 minutes left.

Hall launched a big kick straight down the middle of the pitch, the ball was flicked on by Welford (replicating his father Shaun) and put Coombs through on goal and he held his composure to find the bottom far corner when he only had the keeper to beat.

Lordswood had a couple of late chances to kill the game off but Parker shot over at the back post after Murray put it on a plate for him and Coombs had a shot saved by Swift.

The league leaders grabbed an equaliser when Luis Dos Santos swung in a corner from the left towards the back post and sub centre-half Jack Bray buried a free header, looping into the top right-hand corner with two minutes left.

Fourteen penalties were taken in the sudden-death shoot-out (more details on each kick tomorrow), as the left-hand post was struck by each team and Lordswood right-back George Miles had his one saved and up stepped Rochester centre-half Tony Whitaker to drill the winning penalty into the bottom left-hand corner to send Andy Pierce's side through.

Full report and reaction from Callum O'Shea and Andy Pierce to follow on Wednesday

Read more

1 – 0

FISHER  1-0  AFC VARNDEANIANS
The FA Vase Second Round
Saturday 31 October 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from St Paul’s Stadium

FISHER manager Ajay Ashanike says his side can do something special in The FA Vase this season if they stay focused and believe they can after deservedly beating Sussex minnows AFC Varndeanians to reach the last 64 for the second successive season.

Read more