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FC ELMSTEAD  3-1  SPORTING CLUB THAMESMEAD
Invitation Charity Cup Senior Final
Friday 15 May 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Holm Park

FC ELMSTEAD celebrated winning the Erith, Crayford & Abbey Wood Cottage Hospital Charity Cup for the very first time after beating managerless holders Sporting Club Thamesmead at Holm Park.

Sporting Club Thamesmead went down in history to become the first side in Kent footballing history to be managed by a manager of another club as current Bridon Ropes boss Uche Ibemere stepped in to take charge for one night only, with Ben Williams and Craig Penfold both on holiday.

Sporting Club Thamesmead – who beat FC Elmstead 4-2 on penalties after last year’s final finished 2-2 at Bayliss Avenue – missed a sitter when striker Wale Odedoyin powered a free header past the far post after winger Joseph Ikuesan put in a cross from the left, as FC Elmstead right-back Tom Green often opened the gate down his side.

However, seventh-placed finishers FC Elmstead took a 25^th minute lead when midfield playmaker Tom Goodayle rolled the ball out to impressive right-winger Jamie Fearn, who cut inside and his angled drive was spilt by goalkeeper Michael Crabbe at the far post and winger Deshon Carty pounced to sweep home.

Ikuesan’s dinked pass found Odedoyin, who cut inside before laying the ball off to Henry Awokere, who drilled his shot past the right-hand post from inside the D, before FC Elmstead doubled their lead in the 37^th minute.

A dinked pass from centre-half Connor Cheek saw Goodayle lay the ball off before Fearn beat the goalkeeper at his near post with a clinical left-footed finish.

Tenth-placed finishers, Sporting Club Thamesmead missed another glorious headed chance just before the interval.

A cross came in from left-back Joaldo Cravid within the left-channel towards the back post where the unmarked Awokere glanced his free header across the keeper and past the far post.

Sporting Club Thamesmead came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half but referee James Bonney sent off Thamesmead’s centre-half Chris-Emmanuel Loko for violent conduct following an ugly flashpoint with FC Elmstead holding midfielder Alfie Sanders ten minutes in.

The Acre pulled a goal back when substitute holding midfielder Jack Hooper hit a long ball, the ball was controlled by Ikuesan before slipping a lovely through ball along the deck for Awokere, who cut inside the box to clip his left-footed shot across Tom Clearly into the roof of the net with 59 minutes gone.

FC Elmstead missed a glorious chance of their own when striker-turned-left-winger Scott Higgins put in a cross from the channel for Goodayle to control before looping his shot over the crossbar.

Perez Goumou came off the bench to release Fearn, who cut inside and drilled a low shot towards the bottom far corner, which was pushed away by a diving Crabbe, who was the busier of the two goalkeepers in this Southern Counties East Football League First Division showdown.

FC Elmstead sealed the deal with 74 minutes on the clock when Cheek’s sublime through ball split open a high Daniel Palfrey, Fearn latched onto the pass, skipped inside the advancing oalkeeper and dinked the ball into the empty net to score his 19^th goal of the season.

A late corner from Jack Hyslop was hooked on the volley by Matthew Faithorn, which was saved by the diving Crabbe, as FC Elmstead ran out deserved winners and brought their manager Brehn Chidley his first trophy of his career.

Apologies – due to sickness, the full report and post-match reaction will follow across the weekend

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IDE HILL  2-1  HALLS ATHLETIC RESERVES
Invitation Charity Cup Junior Final
Tuesday 12 May 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Darland Avenue

SIDNEY SOLLIS says he has no regrets wasting his talent and being more interested in his social life after his two moments of brilliance helped Ide Hill celebrate winning the Kent County League Invitation Charity Junior Cup for the very first time.

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