3/9/2002 Beaverwood 2 D.A.F.C. 1
The Pre-season campaign concluded with a dire performance against Third Division opponents. Following fine results against S Club 11 and Johnson & Phillips this was a game we should have won with ease. Going into the break with a 1 goal lead we let it all slip in the second half with a display that was bordering on criminal. This not a good way to get ready for what will be a hard fought season.
21/9/2002 Croydon Strikers 1 D.A.F.C. 1
Croydon scrambled an equaliser in the last five minutes to deny Drummond a winning start to the new season. Drummond had started the game brightly and took a deserved first half lead with a fine goal from Tony Northover. Although Drummond continued to pile on the pressure they were unable to add to the score. The second half swung Croydon's way and their continued pressure finally brought an equaliser late in the game. All in all the draw was a fair result.
5/10/2002 D.A.F.C. 1 R.A.S.R.A. 4
Drummond failed to capitalise on a good first half display as RASRA came back strongly to emerge victorious in the first round of the Kent Junior Cup.
12/10/2002 D.A.F.C. 0 Blackheath Wanderers 0
The Drummond defence held strong in a game that they should have one by a mile. If only they had put their chances away.
19/10/2002 Brockley 1 D.A.F.C. 2
Two classic own goals and a stunner from 30 yards livened up a dull game. Drummond took the lead halfway through the first half when a Brockley defender blasted the ball into his own net from 8 yards when under pressure from Steve Simpson. They then drew level when Gary 'Seaman' Galligan misread a corner and punched the ball into his own net! In spite of all the comical moments Drummond won the game with a goal of real quality. The ball was fed through to John Pullen who pushed the ball passed the defender, teed it up onto his left foot and let fly from 30 yards. Despite a late flourish from Brockley Drummond held strong to win through to the next round of the Queen Mary Cup. Special Mention to Neil Mulford who had a fine game.
26/10/2002 D.A.F.C. 2 C.U.M. 1
Drummond continued their unbeaten start to the league campaign with a laboured victory over C.U.M. A well taken penalty from Dave Braddick put Drummond in control and the lead was doubled with a header from Jamie Walker . C.U.M. managed to pull a goal back to halve the deficit but Drummond held on for a deserved victory. However, Drummond will need to improve on this performance if they are to get anything from next weeks game as they entertain high flying Penhill Standard who ran out 7-1 victors over CWS Reserves - the Man of the Match was Goalkeeper Gary Galligan!
2/11/2002 D.A.F.C. 2 Penhill Standard 2
Drummond maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a fine team performance against high flying Penhill Standard. With confidence high after the recent run of games Drummond took control of the game and went ahead when Rab Anderson converted his second goal of the season. Two defensive mistakes let Penhill back into the game as they turned the score line on its head and took 2-1 lead. In times of trouble you need a hero and up stepped Paul Braddick, capping a man of the match performance with well taken diving header with only five minutes on the clock. The Manger said after the game "I'm pleased with the team performance, the draw was a fair result against a good young side".
23/11/2002 Catford Wanderers 'A' 2 D.A.F.C. 3
Drummond continued their unbeaten run with a pulsating and eventful game against second place Catford. After surviving the recent bad weather the game was nearly not played when the allocated referee failed to appear. After a number of frantic calls, a replacement was dispatched by the league and the game eventually got underway more than 30 minutes late. Catford started lively and after a couple of close shaves took the lead midway through the first half. Drummond began to find their feet and within 10 minutes had levelled the scores with a strike from Paul Braddick - his second goal in as many games. Although Drummond had further chances the half ended with the scores level. Drummond took control in the second half and struck two further two goals through Rab Anderson and John Pullen - the second an exquisite lob over the approaching keeper. In the final quarter of the game Catford had a player dismissed for a late and clumsy challenge on second half substitute Kevin Neville and although Drummond never looked like losing the game, Catford hit a late consolation goal after they were awarded a last minute penalty. The Manager, Peter Neville, said after the game "That was a great team performance, I can't fault anyone. Some of the passing was a joy to watch."
30/11/2002 Brockley 4 D.A.F.C. 3
Drummond fell to their first league defeat of the season with a below par performance away to Brockley. Despite a double from John Pullen Drummond never looked like repeating the earlier victory over the home side.
7/12/2002 D.A.F.C. 2 Old Colfeians 1
Drummond got back to winning ways with a solid performance against lowly Colfeians. Without the services of their 1st or 2nd choice keepers, Kevin Neville volunteered to step into the breach and despite conceding a soft goal he recovered to give a man of the match display. Two goals from in form striker John Pullen ensured that Drummond never looked like losing the game.
14/12/2002 Bickley Town 3 D.A.F.C. 1
Drummond battled hard against Premier outfit Bickley Town but were unable to come away with what would have been a deserved victory. The final score flattered Bickley as Drummond proved more than equal to their loftier opponents. Despite Missing 4 regular 1st teamers Drummond took the game to Bickley and scored arguably the best goal of the game when the impressive John Pullen let fly from 25 yards to score his sixth goal in four games. Dave Braddick was Man of the Match.
Drummond rescued a point with a late goal from Paul Wells in a lack lustre display against top of the table Bexley. Drummond looked like a side that hadn't played for four weeks, when they fell behind early in the first half. Despite the poor display they managed to level the scores before the half-time interval with a goal from Steve Simpson - his first of the season. Following a half time tongue lashing from the manager, Drummond began to get back into the game and were unlucky to go behind midway through the second period. With the game slipping away the manager made changes and it was one of them, Dean Purcell, who laid on a fine ball that led to the equaliser, Paul Wells with his first of the season. Although a point from this game looks good on paper, Bexley were there for the taking and I'm sure Drummond will look back on this as two points dropped!
25/1/2003 D.A.F.C. 2 Brockley 0
Drummond got revenge for their only league defeat of the season when they comprehensively beat Brockley with a fine brace from leading scorer John Pullen.
1/2/2003 C.W.S. Res 2 D.A.F.C. 3
Drummond continued their fine league run with a less than convincing win against bottom of the table C.W.S. Goals from Rab Anderson, Mark Grigg and a debut goal from joint record signing Dean Graham, gave Drummond all three points. A late penalty from CWS Res made the game look closer than it actually was.
8/2/2003 D.A.F.C. 1 Croydon Strikers 0
A tenth minute penalty from leading scorer John Pullen (10 goals for the season) was just enough to see off stubborn Croydon in a tough game for Drummond. Although they started brightly and got the early breakthrough Drummond were unable to make the dominance pay and were left clinging to the slender lead in the closing stages of the game.
15/2/2003 D.A.F.C. 6 Catford Wanderers 1
Drummond stormed to the top of the table with a blistering performance against early pace setters Catford Wanderers. Apart from a 10 minute spell in the second half Drummond were in total control and at times the football was breathtaking. Goals from John Pullen(2), Mark Grigg and Rab Anderson as well as firsts of the season for Sean Joyce and Tony Arthurs completed the 'double' over Catford.
1/3/2003 Metrogas Res 1 D.A.F.C. 2
Drummond's impressive run continued when they notched their sixth straight win with a hard fought victory over well organised Metrogas Reserves. Goalless at half time Drummond took control with 20 minutes left on the clock when Paul Wells let fly with an impressive long range shot. The lead was doubled less than five minutes later when a cross by Rab Anderson was turned into the net by a Metrogas player. The home team managed a consolation goal in time added on. The victory was marred by the 80th minute dismissal of Dean Graham who reacted angrily to a punch from one of the Metrogas defenders. The defender and the Metrogas goalkeeper were also dismissed for their part in the incident. The win put Drummond six points clear at the top of the table.
8/3/2003 D.A.F.C. 2 C.W.S. Res. 3
Drummond's winning run came to an abrupt end with a dire performance against bottom of the table CWS. Trailing 2-0 at the break Drummond conceded a sloppy third early in the second half and despite constant pressure and two late goals from Mark Grigg and John Pullen it was a bad day at the office!
15/3/2003 Penhill Standard 0 D.A.F.C. 1
Drummond got back to winning ways with a fine hard fought victory over third placed Penhill, settled by a brilliant goal from John Pullen, his 15th of the campaign. Drummond were obviously hurt by the defeat to CWS the week before and looked like a team low in confidence throughout the first half. They lifted their game after the break and looked every inch the champions in waiting. The game was settled by a single goal, good enough to win any game. Some good link up play down the left between Rab Anderson and Dean Graham saw the latter send an inch perfect cross to the far post where John Pullen rose majestically to head the ball powerfully into the opposite corner. Drummond continued to push forward throughout the game and were unlucky not to extend their lead.
A scintillating display by Drummond saw rip Bexley apart in this one sided game. Bexley were no match as goals from Lawrence Mills, John Pullen, Paul Braddick, debutant Sean Hunt and star man Paul Wells completed the rout.
A dreadful 1st half display saw Drummond 3-0 down inside 20 minutes of this game. Despite pulling a goal back through Dean Graham and a much better 2nd half display where they hit the woodwork twice, Drummond were unable to rescue anything from the match. Results from other game saw Drummond's lead slip to just two points.
5/4/2003 D.A.F.C. 0 Metrogas Res 0
A ding dong top of the table clash remained goalless with the the best chances falling to Drummond. Despite only managing a draw other results meant Drummond extended their lead to 3 points with two games remaining.
A superb display saw Drummond clinch promotion with a magnificent demolition of RASRA. Five goals could easily have been 10 as Drummond tore their opponents apart.
Goals from Rab Anderson, John Pullen, Dean Purcell and Sean Hunt (2) saw Drummond promoted to the Premier Division after a two year absence.
Drummond completed the season in style with a fiercely fought 2-1 victory over fellow title contenders RASRA. Drummond took the lead 5 minutes before the break when a 'Beckhamesque' Sean Joyce hit a 25 yard free kick over the wall and into the bottom corner. RASRA hit back early in the second half but Drummond sealed the win, and the double over RASRA, with a finely taken header from Rab Anderson. The victory was marred by the needless sending off of the ever present skipper Steve Simpson for two yellow cards. The pressure is now firmly back on RASRA who must win all four of their remaining games to snatch the title from Drummond.