Two first half Lewisham Borough goals were sufficient to win the Southern Counties East Football League Division One match at Sporting Club Thamesmead.

Coming into the game, the visitors were in sixth place in the league but it was the Acre who were higher in the form guide having recently beaten Lewisham at the Ladywell Arena. However, in the return match, the play off hopefuls were worthy winners.

Bryan Zepo had the first meaningful effort for the visitors with a free kick that flew over before Sean Adams hit an optimistic effort high above the bar from distance for Thamesmead.

Zepo did well to bring a difficult long pass down and when it came back to him off a defender, his first time effort flashed just wide. Zac Ajose then burst clear down the right wing and got beyond goalkeeper Justin Lee however Mark Adofo made a great recovery run and a brilliant tackle to stop the exciting winger from rolling it home.

In the twenty-sixth minute, Lewisham went ahead. The Acre defenders were probably a little guilty of backing off but that shouldn’t detract from the fantastic strike by Adekunle Adeyinka that gave Lee no chance.

Seven minutes later, Borough doubled their lead. A crunching foul on Ajose presented them with a free kick on the right. Khayrie Harris delivered to the near post and Zepo got their first to head home.

Ajose found himself clear on goal but his shot was beaten out by Lee before he fired over after excellent skills by Michael Amponsah got him to the bye-line to pull it back.

It was not all one way, though, and Dayo Santana was thwarted by a stunning point blank save by Khiani Shombe to keep out his header.

Adams again tried his luck with a first time lob from forty yards that was off target then Noah Hamelberg also shot well wide from long range. 

As half time approached Lewisham had one last chance when Georgi Steed sent Harris away, and he cut in but shot too straight and his shot was saved comfortably by Lee.

After the break Ajose threaded a pass to Amponsah inside the area and he finished well but to no avail as he was deemed offside then Ajose sent Harris away but he over-ran it and couldn’t get a shot off. 

Substitute Reece Antione volleyed over for Thamesmead from Max Juniper’s cross before Ajose fired over at the other end having received Steed’s pass and cutting in.

Centre-back Paul Lee was sent forward as an additional central striker by Thamesmead and his header from Santana’s cross was deflected wide before Ben Lockett delivered the corner and Tom Borders nodded wide of the near post.

Adams hit a long range skimmer that Shombe saved easily in the closing minutes but Lewisham had the last effort of the match when Edward Asiamah shot beyond the far post.

Victory for the Borough put them back on course for the play-offs whilst Thamesmead are still not assured of finishing in the bottom three. 

SC Thamesmead: J. Lee, McKenzie, Adofo, Ogunbiyi (Borders 54), P. Lee, Kitt, Hamelberg (Lockett 69), Juniper, Adams, Loveridge (Antoine 61), Santana.

Subs not used: Eels, Porter.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Adofo

Lewisham Borough: Shombe, Thomas, Adeyinka, Williams (Barrance 64), Harvey, Burton, Harris, Steeds (Bilogo 86), Zepo (|Kuffor 84), Amponsah (Bequiri 69), Ajose (Asiamah 78) .

Goalscorers: Adeyinka (26), Zepo (33)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Robert Hayes-Scott 

Assistants: Mitchell Bush and Michael Dye

Attendance: 58