A good day for the top five

Leaders Ramsgate had a four point lead at the top, and were favourites to at least maintain that as they headed to face bottom side Corinthian. Within sixteen minutes it seemed three points were as good as confirmed for the Rams, Rowan Liburd scoring on nine and sixteen minutes, but the Hoops soon halved the arrears, Ahmed Salim Futa with the goal. Right at the end Liburd sealed his hat trick, but there was still time for Oscar Housego to convert a penalty for the hosts. That was that, the Rams doing the double and holding onto their four point lead.

Third place Chatham Town were on the road to Sussex for a second time this week, and whilst the Sussex part of that statement won’t have worried them much, the ‘on the road’ part just might have done. The Chats have been magnificent at home this season, and remain undefeated, but had lost seven times on their travels. Chichester City were the hosts, and the Chats went ahead on twenty six minutes, Danny Kedwell with his first Chats goal. They doubled the advantage just before the break, Che Krabbendam making it two, but were made to sweat a little when Ethan Pritchard got one back eight minutes into the second half. The sweating stopped when Jack Evans made it three from the spot just four minutes later, and although Ryan Davidson got another back for the hosts the Chats immediately added a fourth, Ashley Nzala making sure of three points. A missed penalty for the visitors at the end made no difference.

Beckenham Town were also in Sussex, travelling to Three Bridges. Bridges got their first away victory of the season in midweek, but have had no such problems at home; whilst Becks had struggled a little on the road, losing seven times. Our promotion chasers defeated Bridges three-nil at Eden Park in October, and went ahead in this one, Louie Theophanous opening the scoring midway through the first half- but Becks then made their own lives difficult, Ibrahim Jalloh seeing red. Bridges capitalised, levelling on sixty nine minutes through Joe Tennent, but within four minutes the ten men were once more ahead, Rob Carter restoring their lead. This time they held on, and climbed to third place.

Cray Valley PM made it five out of five of our leading clubs away from home this weekend- four of them in Sussex. The Millers headed to relegation-threatened Haywards Heath Town, Heath four points from safety and without a win since January 14th, and that terrible record looked like continuing as Adam Coombes put the Millers ahead on twenty seven minutes. The hosts equalised four minutes after the restart, Alex Laing with the leveller, but the next goal went to the visitors, and it went to Sonny Black, fourteen minutes from time. Black added a third five minutes later, and the Millers stay fifth, whilst Heath stay deep in trouble.

Sixth place Sevenoaks Town were the highest place side to be at home this weekend, and welcomed Sheppey United, both sides with strong play off aspirations. The Ites broke the deadlock midway through the second half, Josh Wisson with the goal- and they doubled it ten minutes from time via Danny Leonard. A third from Jake Embery ensured three crucial points went the way of the visitors, who go above their hosts into seventh. Image from Paul Richards- more here.

We’d seventh v eighth as Ashford United welcomed Hythe Town. The Nuts and Bolts looked back to their best as they set off to Cray Valley last weekend, then crawled home after losing five-one, but they went ahead in this one with only fourteen minutes remaining, Gary Lockyer’s eighteenth of the campaign giving them the advantage. That was the only goal, United up to sixth.

Littlehampton Town welcomed Sittingbourne to the south coast. With only two wins from ten matches the Golds promotion hopes had faded, whilst their visitors were six games unbeaten and climbing away from the bottom four- and the Brickies went ahead on fifty seven minutes through Chaynie Burgin. They weren’t ahead for long, Josh Short levelling for the hosts, and a draw was the outcome- the Brickies two points clear of danger.

VCD Athletic, having fallen from the top five to the bottom four over their last seventeen matches, were without a win since December 10th – but they went ahead against Lancing just before the half hour, Soul Kader with his ninth of the campaign. That turned out to be the only goal of the game, and it lifts Vickers to within a point of safety- and to within two points of their visitors.

Finally, Faversham Town- minus The Beast for this one- welcomed Burgess Hill Town to Kent. The Lilywhites started the day fourteen points from safety, but were soon ahead, Shola Ayoola opening the scoring on seventeen minutes. It was two-nil with twenty four minutes remaining, Oliver Gray with that one, and although an own goal gave the Hillians hope just before the end the hosts held on for the points. Eleven points is the gap- and Hill are currently the side the Lilywhites are trying to catch.

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