Ground #405 - Gay Dawn Farm

Date: 6th October 2024
Location: Fawkham, Kent
Ground: Gay Dawn Farm

My fifth new ground of 2024 was on Sunday 6th October at Gay Dawn Farm in Fawkham, Kent. The game was Corinthian vs. Erith & Belvedere in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

The ground is located in a rural area between towns. It counts Fawkham Valley Golf Course as its neighbour to the north, while there are a couple of houses behind the north-western end of the pitch and additional pitches as well as business premises to the south-east end. It is 1.5 miles south of Longfield railway station and has been home to the club since they were founded in 1972.

The entrance is on the south-east corner of the ground. Across the car park is a building with an indoor pitch and a bar which overlooks the ground. This end of the ground has a covered 75-seat stand to the east of the goal with uncovered standing for the rest of this end which winds its way towards the southern corner. In this corner is a cricket pavilion type stand with a lower deck of seating underneath the top floor overhanging balcony. The lower deck seating is split by the players tunnel in the middle with the dressing rooms located in the pavilion building.

The south-west side beyond the pavilion is not accessible for spectators, though the two dugouts are positioned on this side. The north-western end behind the goal is viewable from but is just uncovered standing. The north-east side has hard standing for its whole length, a couple of bus shelter style covered areas either side of the halfway line and an elevated metal all-seater stand in between them. This is elevated above the old brick dugouts that were abandoned in favour of the newer ones of the other side of the field.

The game was a midtable clash of 11th vs. 8th. Erith had the first meaningful chance in the 7th minute when Ronnie McClean's cross from the right was headed just over by Tunde Aderonmu. Corinthian's first proper foray forward was productive as they opened the scoring in the 10th minute - a through ball broke for Henry Arnold on the left of the area and as all of the Erith players stopped waiting for an offside call that never came, Arnold slotted home. Three minutes later the hosts doubled their lead when Tom Fitzgerald nipped in front of the keeper to nod in a Ryan Fowler free-kick. There was not too much else of note in the first half though Corinthian remained the better side. In the second half Erith had a good attack seven minute after the break with Tunde Aderonmu picking up the ball close to goal only to see his shot smothered by Nathan Boaman. In the 65th minute Corinthian's Khayrie Harris advanced into the area and stung the palms of Charlie Cottrell while at the other end Tommy Whitnell got in behind the defence and Corinthian had to rely on Boaman to get down to block the shot with his leg. There was nothing Boaman could do a few minutes later though when an excellent curling shot from outside the box by Ladic Melconian found the top corner to reduce the deficit. Erith were in the ascendancy for the final portion of the game but could not find an equaliser with the game finishing 2-1.

Result: Corinthian 2-1 Erith & Belvedere

Division: Southern Counties East League Premier Division

Attendance: 247