Men's football news
After the FA Trophy defeat on Saturday against National League South promotion candidates Truro City, The Rooks will refocus their attention on Bostik League South matters. One good piece of news that came out on Saturday was that Lewes retained their top spot after both challengers, Corinthian-Casuals and Greenwich Borough both dropped points. With neither in action this week, The Rooks have an opportunity to consolidate their position at the top when Phoenix Sports visit the Pan for our first ever league meeting.
It’s not the first him Sports have played at The Dripping Pan though. Two seasons ago they played here against Guernsey in the Preliminary Round Replay of the FA Cup, with the Green Lions unable to host midweek cup games on the island. Their 2-0 win set up a First Qualifying Round Tie up with….Lewes although few Rooks will want to remember the painful 2-0 defeat they delivered on us in Steve Brown’s second to last game in charge.
Despite their location on the South-East London/Kent borders, Sports had to play in the Isthmian League North for their first few seasons, after winning the South-Eastern Counties League title in 2014/15. Last season they recorded their best ever league position, finishing 8th in the Isthmian League North, having led the league for the opening weeks with goals from a certain Mr W Medlock! Last summer they moved across to the South league and once again started strongly, taking seven points from their opening three games.
They have caused a few upsets this season, becoming the first side to take points off Whyteleafe at Church Road when they beat them 1-0 a few weeks ago and beating Corinthian-Casuals 2-0 in their last run out last week. Frankie Sawyer is one of their main threats. The former Hythe Town striker has eight goals to his credit this season so far.
Their recent away form has been good, winning four of their last six league games on the road.
Darren will hope to have Gus Sow and Ronnie Conlon back in contention after missing the Truro City game on Saturday, although Alex Malins is definitely out for a few more weeks with his ankle injury sustained at Dunstable Town.
Kick off on Wednesday night is 7:45pm.