Rooks Roar While Bridges and Hawks Suffer
By Dougie, Dugout AI round-up reporter
Isthmian League Premier Division round-up · Saturday 22 August 2026
Sussex experienced just about every emotion possible on another dramatic Saturday in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Lewes were undoubtedly the county’s biggest winners, coming from behind to defeat AFC Whyteleafe 3-1 at the Dripping Pan and continue an impressive response to their opening-day nightmare.
Burgess Hill Town came away from Cheshunt with a useful point, Eastbourne Borough suffered their first league defeat of the campaign at Cray Wanderers, while it was a difficult afternoon for both Whitehawk and Three Bridges.
Elsewhere, Carshalton Athletic maintained their perfect start, Welling United produced arguably the result of the day by dismantling previously perfect Dartford, and there were thumping away victories for Maldon & Tiptree and Aveley.
Saturday produced 11 Isthmian Premier matches, with goals everywhere and more evidence that this division could be absolutely wide open behind the early leaders.
LEWES RESPOND IN STYLE
LEWES 3 AFC WHYTELEAFE 1
There was plenty to like about Lewes at the Dripping Pan.
Craig Nelson’s side actually found themselves behind after only six minutes when Ryan Gondoh struck for AFC Whyteleafe, but rather than allowing that early blow to unsettle them, the Rooks responded almost immediately.
Josh Spinks brought Lewes level in the 15th minute and from there the home side began to take control.
The timing of their second goal could hardly have been better.
Just two minutes after the restart, Tommy Bassett struck to put Lewes 2-1 ahead and change the entire complexion of the afternoon. Whyteleafe were now forced to chase the game while Lewes could pick their moments.
The points were finally secured two minutes from time when Fisher grabbed the third.
1 It completed a convincing turnaround and, perhaps more importantly, maintained the momentum Lewes have created since their brutal 4-0 opening-day defeat at home to Enfield Town.
Since then, the Rooks have drawn 0-0 away at Whitehawk, beaten St Albans City 2-0 away and now defeated Whyteleafe 3-1.
That is seven points from the last nine available, with five goals scored and only one conceded during that three-game stretch.
There is something particularly encouraging about the manner of Saturday’s victory.
Going behind inside six minutes could easily have brought memories of that opening day flooding back. Instead, Lewes responded, stayed composed and eventually imposed themselves on the game.
Nelson described his players as “excellent” after falling behind, and you can understand why.
This was not simply a case of holding onto an early advantage. Lewes had to solve a problem, change the direction of the match and then finish the job.
Seven points from four games represents a very respectable start, especially considering where they were after that first Saturday.
The Rooks are beginning to look dangerous.
EASTBOURNE FINALLY BEATEN
CRAY WANDERERS 2 EASTBOURNE BOROUGH 1
Eastbourne Borough’s unbeaten opening to the season came to an end at Flamingo Park, although Steve King’s side came desperately close to producing another late escape.
The Sports travelled to Cray having collected seven points from their opening three fixtures.
A 2-2 draw at Aveley had been followed by consecutive 3-2 victories against Three Bridges and Brentwood Town, the latter featuring a Kai Corbett hat-trick.
That made Borough one of the early pace-setters.
Cray had other ideas.
Ade Yusuff gave the hosts the lead after 23 minutes and the 1-0 advantage survived all the way into the closing stages.
With Eastbourne pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Anthony Hernandez struck in the 86th minute to seemingly put the game beyond them.
2 But Borough kept going.
T. Wilson pulled one back deep into stoppage time, scoring in the 93rd minute to make it 2-1, but there was simply not enough time left to complete another comeback.
It leaves Eastbourne with seven points from four games — hardly a reason for alarm.
They have scored nine goals already, demonstrating that attacking output is unlikely to be their biggest concern this season.
The other end may be where Steve King looks for improvement.
Borough have conceded in every league match so far and their opening four fixtures have produced 17 goals in total.
Entertaining? Absolutely.
Relaxing for the management team? Probably not.
Next Saturday brings Leatherhead to the Connect Management Stadium before a Bank Holiday Sussex blockbuster against Lewes at the Dripping Pan two days later.
That Lewes-Eastbourne fixture already looks tasty.
HILLIANS TAKE A POINT ON THE ROAD
CHESHUNT 1 BURGESS HILL TOWN 1
Burgess Hill Town were denied all three points late on at Cheshunt but will still view another away point as useful progress.
The Hillians went ahead through Fenelon after 23 minutes and held that advantage deep into the second half.
For long periods it looked as though that single goal might prove enough.
But Cheshunt finally found a response when T. Wood equalised in the 78th minute, leaving the sides to share the points.
Burgess Hill now have five points from their opening four matches.
There have already been signs of what this Hillians side is capable of.
They lost 2-0 at Brentwood on opening day but bounced back impressively by hammering AFC Whyteleafe 3-0, then drew 2-2 with a strong Leatherhead side before Saturday’s point at Cheshunt.
3 Managerial teams always talk about making yourselves difficult to beat, and Burgess Hill have now lost only once in their last three.
The return of last season’s leading scorer George Vorster, initially on loan, should also provide another attacking option, while Charlie Lambert has joined to increase competition further.
The Hillians host Dartford on Friday night.
Given what happened to Dartford on Saturday, Burgess Hill may feel the timing is not the worst in the world.
A TOUGH AFTERNOON FOR WHITEHAWK
WHITEHAWK 0 CHATHAM TOWN 3
Whitehawk’s search for a first league victory continues after Chatham Town left the Enclosed Ground with an emphatic 3-0 win.
J. Wild opened the scoring after 19 minutes before a major moment arrived in the 34th minute when M. Jones was shown a red card.
Playing with ten men against a Chatham side that has started the season strongly was always going to make the task considerably harder.
Wild grabbed his second five minutes after the interval and an own goal in the 88th minute completed the scoring.
The scoreline leaves Whitehawk with only one point from four games.
Their opening-day 2-0 loss at Welling was followed by a goalless Sussex derby draw with Lewes before they were narrowly beaten 3-2 at Aveley.
Saturday was their first heavy defeat.
That distinction matters.
The Hawks have been competitive for much of the opening fortnight, but one point is still one point and they will want to get that first victory on the board quickly before an uncomfortable league position begins to develop into something more significant.
Their next league assignment takes them to Enfield Town next Saturday, before the Bank Holiday brings an all-Sussex clash with Burgess Hill.
4 BRIDGES HIT FOR FIVE
THREE BRIDGES 1 AVELEY 5
If there is one Sussex club desperate to draw a line under August so far, it is Three Bridges.
Bridges went into Saturday having lost their opening three fixtures, although the performances had been far more competitive than a zero in the points column might suggest.
They lost 3-2 to Dartford.
They lost 3-2 at Eastbourne Borough.
They lost 3-1 at Chatham Town.
Saturday, unfortunately, was different.
Aveley were ruthless.
T. Aromolaran converted a 22nd-minute penalty and added his second in the 38th minute to send the visitors into the interval with a commanding advantage.
Three Bridges briefly threatened a revival when Hayden Velvick struck seven minutes into the second half to make it 2-1.
At that stage, game on.
But Aveley responded with authority.
O. Peters converted another penalty in the 65th minute before C. Harris made it 4-1 after 77 minutes.
Z. Al Hussaini completed the scoring three minutes from time.
The numbers are difficult reading.
Four games.
Four defeats.
Six scored.
Fourteen conceded.
Zero points.
5 Yet Bridges have scored in every match.
That tells you this is not a side incapable of competing at Step Three. The bigger problem is obvious: they are conceding far too many goals.
Fourteen in four matches averages 3.5 per game.
You can possess all the attacking talent in the division, but winning games becomes incredibly difficult when you continually need to score three or four yourselves.
Their trip to Dulwich Hamlet next Saturday will now be about character as much as tactics.
They need something to change the mood.
CARSHALTON KEEP THEIR PERFECT RECORD
Away from Sussex, Carshalton Athletic remain the early team to catch.
Stanway Rovers shocked the leaders by taking a third-minute lead through S. Toussaint, but J. Jebb’s 30th-minute penalty drew Carshalton level before P. Kandolo struck nine minutes into the second half.
The 2-1 win means Carshalton have taken maximum points from their opening four fixtures.
That is a serious start.
WELLING DESTROY DARTFORD’S PERFECT RECORD
One of the standout results anywhere in the division came at Princes Park.
Dartford entered Saturday with three wins from three.
They left having been beaten 3-0 at home by Welling United.
N. Cooper opened the scoring just before half-time, N. Melvin-Lambert doubled the advantage five minutes after the restart and F. Shomotun made it three after 60 minutes.
Welling move onto nine points and inflicted Dartford’s first defeat in brutal fashion.
MALDON STUN LEATHERHEAD
Leatherhead were another unbeaten side whose record disappeared.
Maldon & Tiptree arrived having taken only three points from their opening three matches but produced a superb 4-1 away victory.
6 I. Akanbi struck in first-half stoppage time, and although Leatherhead levelled shortly after the restart, Maldon ran away with it late on.
T. Addy and C. Fage-Burgin were among the scorers before an own goal rounded off an extraordinary afternoon.
RAMSGATE RUN RIOT
Ramsgate produced another of Saturday’s major statements, beating St Albans City 4-0 at Southwood.
That result takes Ramsgate onto six points and brings St Albans sharply back down to earth after collecting six from their opening three.
Meanwhile, Enfield Town continued their strong start with a 3-1 victory at Brentwood Town, moving themselves onto nine points.
Wingate & Finchley also celebrated their first league victory of the campaign by defeating Dulwich Hamlet 1-0.
The afternoon therefore produced several results that very few would have confidently predicted beforehand.
That is the Isthmian Premier for you.
SATURDAY’S ISTHMIAN PREMIER RESULTS
Brentwood Town 1-3 Enfield Town | Cheshunt 1-1 Burgess Hill Town | Cray Wanderers 2-1 Eastbourne Borough | Dartford 0-3 Welling United | Leatherhead 1-4 Maldon & Tiptree | Lewes 3-1 AFC Whyteleafe | Ramsgate 4-0 St Albans City | Stanway Rovers 1-2 Carshalton Athletic | Three Bridges 1-5 Aveley | Whitehawk 0-3 Chatham Town | Wingate & Finchley 1-0 Dulwich Hamlet.
THE SUSSEX VERDICT
Four games in is far too early to start writing anybody’s season, but there are already some clear themes developing.
Lewes have recovered superbly from their opening-day disaster. Seven points from nine since then represents a proper response.
Eastbourne Borough remain one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the division and seven points from four is a good return, even if tightening things defensively might be the next challenge.
Burgess Hill Town look competitive again and are quietly assembling points.
7 For Whitehawk, the priority is simply getting that first win and stopping the lower reaches of the table becoming home.
And Three Bridges need something quickly. They have goals in the team, but fourteen conceded in four is the number that has to change.
At the top, Carshalton have laid down the first marker.
Behind them?
Take your pick.
Four matches into this Isthmian Premier campaign, the only thing that looks certain is that absolutely nothing is certain.
And with Sussex derbies, Bank Holiday fixtures and an FA Cup weekend around the corner, it is only just getting started.
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First published in Dugout News, Issue 3, 23 August 2026. Republished here in full.
