Phoenix Sports overcame a goalless first half and a sending-off to edge Erith & Belvedere 3-2 in front of 190 fans at the Acclaim Handling Community Stadium in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division. Khayrie Harris struck twice inside three second-half minutes to put Jake Goodman's side in control, only for Damilola Olusesi's dismissal to hand the initiative back to the hosts, who levelled through Freddie Fletcher and Jack Sammoutis. Harris settled it with six minutes remaining, completing his hat-trick and stretching Phoenix's unbeaten run to four games. The win followed a 3-0 victory over Rusthall at the Christopher Russell Stadium, where Jamarie Brissett and Harris scored in the first half before Harry Barnes added a third in stoppage time, Bobby Hassell making his debut on loan from Bromley.
For Erith & Belvedere, the derby defeat compounded an already difficult week that had begun with a 1-3 home loss to Fisher in front of 195 supporters, a result that leaves the Deres searching for consistency after what their own preview had called an improved weekend performance.
Fisher built on their victory at Erith by thrashing Petts Wood & Holmesdale 6-3 courtesy of a Festos Kamara hat-trick, setting up a clash with fourth-placed Bearsted. Bearsted themselves drew 2-2 at home with Snodland Town, Ryan Sawyer and Dieko Falade scoring, having beaten Corinthian 4-1 the previous weekend with Matt Day named man of the match in front of 77 spectators. Corinthian then drew 3-3 away at Tunbridge Wells, Jake Williams and Asanti Amoah on target, while Tunbridge Wells had earlier beaten Beckenham Town 1-0.
In knockout competition, league sides endured contrasting results. AFC Greenwich Borough lost 3-2 at Step 3 side Chertsey Town in the FA Cup second qualifying round, Abel Vendrells hitting the post and Stefan Payne denied late on, before falling 2-0 to Chislehurst Glebe in a league derby under the lights at Foxbury. Snodland Town exited the FA Cup at the same stage, losing 0-1 at home to Sheppey United in front of an attendance of 621 that the club described as historic for the fixture. Faversham Strike Force progressed in the Kent Senior Trophy, beating Sheppey Sports 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, but then lost 1-2 to Hollands & Blair in the league, Kane Taylor's equaliser undone by a stoppage-time winner. Hollands & Blair also beat Sutton Athletic 1-0 during the week, while Kennington won 2-1 against Chislehurst Glebe.