Shepherd Neame Performance of the Month, August 2024

Our awards have a new sponsor, but although they are new to us, they will certainly not be new to you! Many thanks to our friends at Shepherd Neame, who have been refreshing the masses since the seventeenth century!

Pitching In Isthmian Premier

When Dover Athletic headed north to take on Potters Bar Town on the opening day of the season, nobody knew quite what to expect. What we certainly didn’t expect, however, was that they’d start the campaign by hitting the sorry Scholars for eight! George Nikaj was the star of their eight-nil victory, claiming the match ball, and he was helped out- not that he seemed to need much help- by Luke Baptiste, Ruben Soares-Junior, Harrison Pont, Joe Tennent and Lindell Stewart in delivering what might yet turn out to be the biggest Pitching In Isthmian Premier win of the campaign. Congratulations to all at the Crabble- our first award winners of the season. 

Pitching In Isthmian North

Felixstowe and Walton United were nominated for this prize for their wins over both Bury Town and Newmarket Town, and they take the prize for their four-nil hammering of their promotion- and local- rivals. We expected an FA Cup match between the Seasiders and Town to be close, and indeed the first meeting was, Bury coming from behind twice to earn a draw- but the replay was anything but close as the Seasiders put their visitors to the sword. The first half was a forty five minute nightmare for Bury, as Callum Harrison, Zak Brown, Charlie Warren and Harrison once more hammered home four goals without reply. The second half saw no more additions to the scoreline, but the damage was already done.

To really rub salt into an open sore, the sides met again in the League six days later, and Felixstowe won that one, too! Congratulations to all at the Martello Ground on a first trophy of the season!

Pitching In Isthmian South Central

What a start Farnham Town have had to their first Pitching In Isthmian campaign. Two matches, two wins, ten goals scored, only one conceded- and both victories coming away from home, too! Both of these wins were on our shortlist, but we’ve plumped for their win against the Baggies, particularly because of the incredible first half that saw them go in four goals up. 

Badshot Lea played some lovely football last season, and we expected a strong start, but they couldn’t live with Town. Owen Dean put the visitors ahead on fourteen minutes, and four minutes later the same player made it two. It was three on the half hour, Darryl Sanders with that one, and just four minutes later Joseph Jackson added the fourth, ensuring there was no way back for the hosts. The Baggies did get a goal back five minutes from time, but that just spurred Town into scoring another, Duarte Martins with the fifth. 

By the way, Isthmian scholars might take issue with our statement that this is Town’s first campaign. They were, in fact, members of our Division Three for the 1992-93 season, but resigned before a ball was kicked after being unable to afford the required ground improvements. It appears they are determined to make up for lost time! 

Pitching In Isthmian South East Division

It’s fair to say that 2023-24 was something of an annus horribilis for Beckenham Town, which is perhaps why their start to the 24-25 campaign has been so remarkable. As we write they sit top of the table, unbeaten, having won three out of four matches, and already have a Golden Gloves Award- and now they have a Performance of the Month Award to go with it! 

On Saturday Becks travelled to Sevenoaks Town. We expected a close match, but as it turned out, Becks were far too good for Oaks, hitting them for five.

Jamarie Brissett set them on their way on sixteen minutes, and whilst that was the only goal of the first half, the second was a disaster for the hosts. Mudiaga Wanogho added a second five minutes after the restart, Louie Theophanous made it three ten minutes later, and on seventy three minutes Freddie Nyhus added a fourth. Still the visitors weren’t finished, and Henry Griffin added a fifth eleven minutes from time, completing their biggest ever Isthmian victory. 

Congratulations to all at the club. 

Many thanks to our sponsors, Shepherd Neame, the oldest brewers in Britain. With pubs and hotels across the country, Shepherd Neame should be your first choice for accomodation after a long away trip, or just for a refreshing drink or a nice meal before or after the game. You can find out more about what they have to offer by heading to their website- here.