A warm but stormy afternoon saw me launch my season with a friendly between Kennington FC, of the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Premier Division and YouTube veterans, SE Dons FC, who took over the franchise of Forest Hill Park FC last season, narrowly missing out on promotion from SCEFL Division 1, when they lost on penalties in the play-off final against Soul Tower Hamlets.

Both sides put out teams using a mixture of trialists and experienced players. I could not find a team sheet so I’m really sorry that my report lacks goalscorers and team line ups today.

The opening fifteen minutes saw both sides create chances. SE Dons looked lively attacking down the left flank, opening up gaps between the Kennington FC defensive centre half partnership. The home side used the pace of their right winger and wing back, on the right hand side, to deliver decent crosses which caused problems.

Then, in the 31st minute, SE Dons were ahead. A neat turn and finish in the area by a SE Dons forward, saw the ball squirt into the Kennington FC net, to make it 0-1.

Within a minute the home side were level. A long through ball, saw the SE Dons’ keeper come rushing out unnecessarily whilst failing to clear the ball properly. Kennington’s forward took the chance, seeing the keeper stranded to lob him back over his head and into the net, to tie the game at 1-1.

At half time the teams went in with the game still deadlocked at one-all and with everything to play for.

The second half saw the floodlights come on, as the storm took hold properly. Kennington FC created two golden chances, with one shot going narrowly wide and the other seeing a fine save from the SE Dons keeper.

With 12 minutes left on the clock and the scores still tied, a clap of thunder and localised lightening led the referee to take the players off the pitch. There were loud jeers from the fans and some players, but those readers with long memories may recall this incident in the Midlands, which demonstrates the risks of playing on during lightening.

Highgate United incident.

The players returned to play just five minutes later, as the thunder and lightening rapidly moved over. Within two minutes Kennington FC had taken the lead. A long range shot was parried into the path of their striker, who finished from close range in heavy rain.

At the final whistle it was Kennington FC who took the spoils of victory. It had been a hard fought and entertaining game, played in really wet and difficult conditions in the second half.