Southern Counties East League

First-half strikes by Seb Rowland, Rob Lawrence and Josh Strouts helped Canterbury City mark the end of an era with a win on Saturday.

With City playing their final fixture at Faversham Town’s Salters Lane, Chandler Kasai gave Punjab United the lead before Rowland responded inside the first 10 minutes. A Lawrence penalty gave Keith Bird’s side the lead before Strouts added a third. Joe Jarvis replied to make it 3-2 before the break but City held on to win.

City finished their Premier Division campaign 16th and will start the 2022/23 season with a new groundshare at Sittingbourne. In Division 1, Faversham Strike Force rounded off a creditable first season at that level with a 2-1 victory over play-off chasing Bridon Ropes.

The three points secured 13th place after a muchimproved second half of the campaign eased any relegation concerns. Captain Tom Axford’s calmly converted penalty handed Faversham the lead. Soon after the interval, it was two when Mohammad Ali and Tim Marapara cut open the Bridon rearguard, allowing Dan Sparks to tap home his first goal of the season. That goal proved to be the winner as the visitors’ consolation goal was too little, too late. Faversham Strike Force will share with Faversham Town from next season.

“It was a fantastic team performance and overall a very good season,” Faversham Strike Force manager Gary Axford said. “Strike Force will be playing their football back in Faversham next season and I’d like to thank Rochester United for allowing us to ground-share this year.”