Monday night football returns to the Masher Brothers Community Stadium when SC Thamesmead host Tunbridge Wells in a Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup first round encounter.

Currently fourth in Division One, the Acre have started as strongly as they finished last season with five wins, two draws and two defeats. They have gone three games undefeated and will be keen for a scalp before a sixteen day break without a game.

Visitors, Tunbridge Wells, are fourteenth in the Premier Division, having won two, drawn three and lost four. They have won once in their last six and will hope for a positive result to give them confidence ahead of their next league match, at home to Phoenix Sports. 

On Saturday, Thamesmead travelled to Lydd Town and enjoyed a comfortable win. Andrea Carrera opened the scoring for the visitors with a twentieth minute penalty before doubling his, and their tally in first half stoppage time. Substitute Henry Awokere rounded off a good afternoon for the Acre when scoring a third with twelve minutes remaining. 

Meanwhile, Tunbridge went down two-nil at Hollands & Blair. Matt Gething opened the scoring with under a minute on the clock and Reece Gillies’ twentieth minute penalty put the hosts two up. That was the end of the scoring as the hosts cemented their hold on second place in the table.

Whoever wins the match will be at home in the second round, and will host FC Elmstead.

Picture supplied by Steve Blunn.