A bottom end bonanza

By Ian Townsend

We know our play off candidates, if not their final position, but the jeopardy in the Pitching In Isthmian South East is all at the wrong end.


A bottom end bonanza

Hastings United are still clearing up confetti from their trophy presentation, and second place Ashford Town know they are guaranteed home advantage in the play offs, but only one point separates Herne Bay in second place and Cray Valley PM in fifth- so any of the three could take home advantage in midweek.

The Nuts and Bolts welcome Whitehawk, safe from the third bottom spot unless Phoenix Sports or Lancing can deliver a mathematically extraordinary result this afternoon. Herne Bay will want to hold on to third place, but they have a trip to face Sports, who will themselves be desperate for victory.

Haywards Heath Town are behind Bay only on goal difference, and will hope to overtake them as they welcome VCD Athletic, whilst Cray Valley PM welcome a Faversham Town side who have been in fine form of late. The Millers need a win for third, and to hope that neither Bay nor Heath take more than a point.

At the other end, Whitstable Town v Lancing is the match we’re all looking at. The Oysters are bottom and three points behind the Lancers, but will go ahead of them with victory- but that would just mean they both go down, unless that victory for the Oysters is rather significant. Whitstable and Lancing will hope that Phoenix Sports get hammered by Herne Bay, as Sports have a better goal difference than either of the sides below them. The Lancers need to win and hope that Sports pick up no more than one point.

Third bottom might deliver a reprieve, and it might deliver a relegation play off, but it’s the best that each of the bottom three can hope for this afternoon.

Elsewhere, Chichester City welcome Ramsgate, Hastings bring Sevenoaks Town to Pilot Field for a match which might be rather close given Oaks recent form, Hythe Town and East Grinstead Town celebrate survival by playing each other, Sittingbourne welcome Corinthian, and Three Bridges host a Sussex derby with Burgess Hill Town.

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Where next?

Relief for Wands, misery for Tanners, Rocks and Moatsiders We now have the play offs to look forward to, but for Leatherhead, East Thurrock and Merstham the season ends on a sad note- whilst Worthing get to lift their trophy
Play Off intrigue Bedfont and Chertsey will have home advantage- but who will finish second? And it’s either Basingstoke or Uxbridge in the battle for fifth. Here’s our Pitching In Isthmian South Central preview.

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