Division One Opening Statements
Matthew Rogers · the SNLF Show
SCFL Division One · 8/9 August
Matthew looks back at the Division One opening round, played on 8/9 August — most of the division was on FA Vase duty this Saturday.
A brief look at the opening round of fixtures in the SCFL Division One.
Last weekend saw the start of the 26/27 SCFL Division One season get underway, and already there is plenty to talk about. There were teams with a point to prove, plenty of new faces, and title contenders ready to hit the ground running. There’s a long season ahead, but starting well is something which cannot be undervalued.
Let’s start by taking a look at a team that found themselves relegated at the end of last season, Shoreham FC. Shoreham were a team that struggled massively last season, particularly in defence, but with a brand new season in a lower division ahead of them, there would have surely been optimism at the club. That optimism however, would be short lived. After two minutes, away side Selsey FC went 0–1 up courtesy of Tony Raymond Halsey, the worst possible start for Shoreham. Just two minutes later the score was doubled as Frederick Chipp-Smith made it 0–2; the demons of last season very much still present for Shoreham as the defence just could not keep the ball away from the net. Things went from bad to worse for the home side as in the 7th minute Frederick Chipp-Smith scored again to put the score at 0–3, even by last season’s standards, this was a poor performance from Shoreham. Things settled down after that, with the score remaining at 0–3 until late on, when in the 86th minute Selsey substitute Ben Collins scored to make it 0–4, before a consolation goal from Shoreham’s Alessando Luca Hardev Colombini bought us to our final scoreline of 1–4. It’s just the first game of the season, so for alarm bells to ring would be something of an overreaction, but it simply can’t be denied that this game couldn’t have gone much worse for Shoreham, especially the opening 10 minutes. I’m sure everyone will be watching closely to see how they respond!
Another team that’s new to Division one this season, this time coming up not down, is Hailsham Town FC, having earned promotion from Division 2 after a sensational 25/26 season. A tricky test awaited in the form of Dorking Wanderers B, a tough team to anticipate given the possibility of some first-teamers making their way to the team sheet on occasion. Hailsham went behind early, with Dorking’s Leo Bines scoring in the 20th minute to put the score at 0–1. Hailsham were not deterred however, and a huge second half performance in front of a very impressive 260 fans saw them turn things around thanks to a brace from Tyler Pearson to see things finish 2–1. To come from behind in the first game after promotion shows real character, something that is going to be incredibly important across what should be a very tight season.
On we go to the highest scoring fixture of the opening round, Arundel vs Ringmer. I had this down as a tricky fixture for Ringmer, who I am predicting will struggle this season after a lacklustre second half to their last campaign, and the loss of their manager. However, Ringmer gave a good account of themselves, despite the eventual scoreline they did not make things easy for the home side. Arundel raced into an early lead after a brace from Liam Brady made it 2–0 after just 18 minutes, showing real quality to control the game. Not long into the second half, Daegan Walsh scored to make it 3–0 to the home side, who looked to be running away with it. Ringmer however, did not give up, scoring in the 69th and 76th minute with goals from Lamin Sey and Jack Craig to really put the pressure on the home side. With the score at 3–2, the game could really have gone either way, before finally, in the 80th minute, Arundel put themselves 2 goals ahead once more thanks to a headed goal from Oliver Claydon off the bench. And so it finished, 4–2, a great match of football in which both teams showed their determination and quality. Despite getting nothing from the game, I reckon Ringmer will take plenty of positives as they look ahead to the next league game.
Next up, the team which all of us on The SNLF show put to win the league (no pressure), Infinity FC. After coming so close last season before playoff heartbreak in the final (again), the club will undoubtedly be hoping to avoid the playoffs altogether and secure the top spot of the table. They had a tough fixture at home to Mile Oak, and really had to work hard to secure all 3 points. For much of the match, it looked as though both teams were going to have to settle for a point in a goalless draw. That was until Evan Jamie Harris rifled it home in the 88th minute to secure a massive 3 points for Infinity, Mile Oak had no real chance to reply, and the score finished 1–0 to the home side. They never stopped pushing and were rewarded for their efforts, exactly the sort of mentality needed if they want to go all the way this season.
There were a couple of unknowns for us this season, one of which being Dial Square FC, a team that we may have written off too early. Their season couldn’t have started any better, as just 3 minutes into their match against East Preston, Daniel Martin Cenzano scored to put his team 1–0 up. At this point it looked as though it was set to be a high scoring affair, but that proved to be the only goal of the game. East Preston just could not get into the game and never really troubled the keeper all that much. An important 3 points for Dial Square, who won’t be getting underestimated any longer!
Clanfield are another new face for Division one this season, and their match against Saltdean most definitely peaked in the first half. Four goals saw the scores sit at 1–3, with Dan Chandler scoring the only goal of the game for Clanfield, and Jesse Burbidge, Luke Burbidge, and Charlie Yeates getting on the scoresheet for Saltdean. A rude introduction for Clanfield, who would have been hoping to make home advantage count ahead of some long-distance away days.
A team that are perhaps owed an apology, Oakwood FC. Predicted to come right down at the bottom of the table by pretty much all of us on The SNLF show, they had a point to prove and they did so in style. They controlled the match against Westfield FC, and a goal either side of half time from Jacob Todman saw them cruise to a strong 2–0 finish. It won’t be an easy season, and I see this being a very important 3 points which gives them plenty to build on.
Worthing United are a team many are predicting to be right in amongst it at the top of the table this season, and they certainly started strong against a new-look Loxwood side. After just 16 minutes United saw themselves up 2–0 thanks to goals from Liam Appleton and Daniel George Kingston, and they never really looked back. Loxwood kept pushing and were rewarded with a goal from Lewis Huggins in the 75th minute, but any hope of a comeback were quickly dashed as Ahmed Kamil scored for the homeside to instantly restore the two goal cushion just one minute later. And so the score finished 3–1, with United starting as they mean to go on. Work to do at Loxwood to get the team gelling, but some positives to take.
Perhaps my most surprising result of the afternoon came from the match between Reigate Priory and Guildford City. Guildford were another team new to the division for this season, and another team that may just have gone under the radar and been underestimated by ourselves at The SNLF. I had Reigate Priory down to do well this season, to get promoted via the playoffs in fact, but they were off the pace in this opening fixture. It was a quiet first half which saw the scores level and goalless, but the second half saw two goals from Luke Mitchell secure all 3 points for Guildford City as the score finished 0–2. Reigate have recruited well this summer, and manager Dale Wyatt will be looking to bounce back quickly after this disappointing start to the season.
And finally, last but by no means least, we have Jarvis Brook vs AFC Walcountians. A match between two teams I would say should be quite evenly matched across the season, predicting a safe, mid-table finish for both. On the day however, Walcountians were in full control from start to finish, with two goals from Charlie Alex Moore, as well as one from Calum Reeves, helping their team cruise to victory. Jarvis Brook managed what would just prove to be a consolation goal from Charlie Baitup, which saw the score finish at 1–3. Plenty to improve upon for the home side, who will be looking to bounce back quickly.
So there we have it, a look at every match from the opening round of fixtures, some upsets, some disappointing defeats, and plenty of talking points. What’s your stand out fixture from the opening round?
First published in Dugout News, Issue 002, Sunday 16 August 2026. Republished here in full.
