As the weather had warmed slightly throughout the week and the rain finally withdrew, I came back to a more local location, in which to watch one of my favourite leagues, with two sides expecting to battle the season out at the top end of the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Premier Division.

Potyn’s Field is always a great venue for football, with a large grandstand, modern clubhouse and bar, refreshment stands and always a very warm welcome.

Snodland Town, with their new manager, Byron Walker taking over from Luke Wallond in the summer, have had a mixed start to the season, sitting in thirteenth place with eight points from their opening six games. Disappointing defeats at Punjab United, Hollands & Blair and Tunbridge Wells have spoiled the success experienced in victories such as the 4-1 crushing of Stansfeld and the 2-1 win secured against much fancied Lordswood. Goals have come from Stanley Oldfield (4 goals) and Ryan Thompson (2 goals) but today’s game would have presented the home side with a true test of their ambitions this season, pitching themselves against the league leaders.

VCD Athletic have made a superb start, winning seven and drawing just one of their opening eight games. Goals have flowed with Bethel Gboda (5 goals), Ollie Freeman (3 goals), Nathaniel Olawole, Lee Bird and Charlie Heatley (all 2 goals), scoring freely. Manager Danny Joy would have brought his side into this game with confidence high, as the away side looked to continue to dumbfound more-fancied rivals such as Faversham Town and Tunbridge Wells by holding onto the top spot.

The game opened up with neither side in the ascendency. VCD started with more of the play but as the half progressed it was Snodland Town who pushed towards breaking the deadlock with more passion. The ruthlessness of VCD Athletic in their opening eight matches seemed hidden, as the first third came and went.

After 42 minutes a free kick on the right hand side for VCD Athletic caused a scramble in the Snodland Town penalty area. The hall broke free to the feet of Bethel Gboda, who placed a shot clear of the keeper to put the away team 0-1 up. At the break it was the league leaders who went in with a goal’s lead.

The second half opened with both sides working to break through and test the defensive line of the opposition. No matter how much Snodland Town probed, VCD Athletic’s defence always seemed to have an answer.

With 64 minutes on the clock a well worked forward move allowed George Whitelock to find the space and to be able to create a fine finish to put VCD athletic 0-2 ahead.

The remainder of the half saw an accomplished VCD athletic marshalling out the game to secure the result and an eighth win in nine matches.

At fulltime I was lucky enough to bump into Jon Phipps, one half of the dynamic team who present the Kent Non-League podcast each week. If you have never listened then it’s worth a visit here :

https://shows.acast.com/the-kent-non-league-football-podcast

The podcast is a mixture of fun banter and really informative news and interviews. Jon was sure VCD Athletic were going to be one of the league’s strongest teams this season and I and most of the 223 strong crowd today, wouldn’t disagree with him on today’s showing.