Kennington maintained their one hundred percent record at the top of the SCEFL First Division with a two-nil win over Croydon that was comfortable without being totally convincing.

Dan Scorer saw his side score in the opening half courtesy of Gary Lockyer and Craig Calvert, but despite Croydon sub Jahquan Springer bouncing a corner off the top of the home crossbar.

It was visiting keeper Lee Allen who was the busier of the two making great second half saves from Calvert and home sub Ryan Philpott as the home side made it six wins from six to keep pace with and stay ahead of Sporting Club Thamesmead on goal difference.

In a first half when both sides struggled with the conditions, the visitors almost surprised the hosts in the game’s first attack straight from kick off after John Prince Rylah fired over from Richard White’s pass.

The home side took the lead on 18 minutes when Lockyer drilled his tenth goal of the season past a despairing Allen after a great exchange of passes with Tom Scorer. Calvert doubled the lead just before the break as a Kennington free kick wasn’t cleared and the home sides number ten’s shot through the crowd found its way into the corner.

Croydon enjoyed good periods of play in the opening forty-five minutes, but their final ball was consistently frustrating for visiting supporters in the 140 crowd.

Martin Smith was introduced by Croydon at the break and almost made an immediate impact only to be denied at the very edge of the box by home keeper Joe Mant. At the other end, Allen made a great save from Calvert before home skipper Gary Clarke tried an audacious wind assisted effort from halfway that didn’t miss by much.

Andy Somo missed a chance for Croydon – shooting wide – before Springer’s corner so nearly embarrassed Mant as the kick bounced off the top of the bar.

As the half wore on, the half became increasingly stretched and ironically of the remaining highlights was the felling of the match official as he got in the way of Reiss Crimmen’s attempted through ball as the ball smacked him in the face – it has to be said that he did go down very well!

Lockyer could have doubled his own tally in stoppage time but that would have been harsh on the visitors who on another day could have argued that they possibly deserved something out of the game – this though was Kennington’s day!

KENNINGTON – Mant, Stow, Crimmen, Phillips, Sedenu, Clarke, Dolan, Scorer, Lockyer, Calvert, Peck

Subs – Hughes, Lavender, Fisher, Owen, Philpott

CROYDON – Allen, Akoto, Shango, Wilson, Rufus, Coleman, Rylah, White, Somo, Howe, Sims

Subs – Smith, Willis, Belhat-Fahsi, Springer, Dias