After enduring penalty heartbreak in the play-off final twelve months before, SE Dons have been promoted to the SCEFL Premier after a hugely enjoyable contest and win over their Medway “neighbours” Rochester United in the Bauvill Stadium sunshine. 

With nearly fifteen hundred in attendance, they were treated to a scintillating first half where the hold side went ahead through Aaron Watson only for Gary Lockyer to lob Rochester level. Femi Akinwande then put the Dons back in front only for Lockyer to stab home the equaliser in stoppage time. 

In some respects that was the worst thing that the veteran striker could have done because the Dons came out after the break and dominated. They’d had more possession first half, but they looked so much more threatening as the game went on.  

Andre Coker gave the Dons the lead for a third time and when he sides footed home the fourth in the penultimate minute of the ninety, the dream had been achieved. 

Watson gave the Dons the ideal start as he did really well to keep composure to clip the ball past the advancing Luke Watkins to open the scoring. Rochester could have levelled almost immediately but after a great build up Mack Reilly blazed wide.  

Lucas Payne so nearly sliced a Coker cross into his own net at the other end before Lockyer raced onto a through ball and showed all his Ashford sharpness as he lobbed home. 

The game ebbed and flowed brilliantly and the home side then enjoyed a good spell of pressure – Pat McKay was denied by Watkins right boot; Billy Crook thudded a shot into Watkins chest and when the Dons did get the ball past the keeper, Tom Loynes was able to clear off the line. 

The lead though was restored when a corner was helped on at the near post and Akinwande turned the ball home at the back post.  

Rochester now responded and George Kamurasi did well to hold onto Payne’s downward header before controversy struck on the stroke of half time. A ball was played in from the Rochester right and the giant keeper seemed to have his hands on the ball, but Lockyer was there as well, and the ball ended up in the net! After long consultations the goal was given, and the teams went in level. 

Rochester came out at the start of the second period and had their best spell of the game – Liam Wilkins completely missed his kick from a corner, before Reilly did exactly the same as he tried to get on the end of a Harrison Hulme pull back. 

The Dons got into gear and got back in front as Coker took advantage of indecision at the back from a corner to force the ball over the line as the Dons began to up a gear – Watson ran out of room as he rounded the keeper; Reece Barrett stooped and sent a header flying just wide and Palace Francis had an effort beaten out by Watkins as the keeper stood up well to deny the Dons sub. 

The goal that sealed promotion and sparked wild scenes of celebration across social media came the hard-working Akinwande did really well down the right with Coker arriving at the right time to walk the ball home at the back post. 

So, the SE Dons joins Champions AFC Greenwich Borough in next year’s SCEFL Premier Division taking the place of either Rusthall or Punjab United – one of whom will be promoted to the Isthmian League on Monday afternoon. 

SE DONS – Kamurasi, Morgan-Griffiths, Kamara, Barrett, McKay, Demelo (Rose), Crook, Watson (Palmer), Coker, Akinwande (Ansah), Gugas-Cowin (Francis) 

Sub – Teniola 

ROCHESTER UNITED – Watkins, Loynes (Hume), Lott (Bodkin), Payne, Whitaker, Bray, Williams, Adams (Medley), Lockyer, Reilly, Akhazzan (West) 

Sub – Stone 

REFEREE – Mr Hall 

ASSISTANTS – Mr Stacchini & Mr Webb 

FOURTH OFFICIAL – Mr Amber