A massive night at both ends of the table

Beckenham Town and Cray Valley PM slipped out of the play off places on Saturday, but both climbed back into the top five by winning their games in hand last night. It was quite comfortable for Becks, a goal in each half from Louie Theophanous defeating relegated Faversham Town and lifting them to fourth, but it needed a late, late goal to deliver three points for the Millers. Daniel Bennett’s twentieth of the campaign gave the Millers the lead over relegation-threatened VCD Athletic on twenty six minutes, but Vickers levelled from the spot just after the restart, Muraino Banjoko holding his nerve. A point wouldn’t have been quite enough to lift the visitors out of the bottom four, and it wouldn’t have been enough to send the Millers back into the play off places, but right at the end Bennett popped up to deliver three points to the hosts, and send them fifth.

It gives us an intriguing last day of the season in the battle for the play off places- and, at the other end, to avoid the play off places. Fourth place Beckenham need just one point to confirm a top four finish, but they travel to Burgess Hill Town, who may need a victory to avoid dropping into the relegation play off places. Fifth place Cray Valley are only one point ahead of Sheppey Town and Hythe Town, but have to play the Ites, who know that victory is likely to send them through to the end of season lottery. The seventh place Cannons need to win and hope that the sides above them drop points, but they welcome Haywards Heath Town, who must win to have any chance of escaping the relegation play off places.

Burgess Hill Town’s predicament was made worse as they fell victim to a thrashing at the hands of Sittingbourne. Correy Davidson opened the scoring for the Brickies on fifteen minutes, with Chaynie Burgin making it two only two minutes later. Shortly after half time the match was as good as over, Dwade James making it three, and just before the hour mark it was four-nil, Mitchell May rounding off a fine victory. That’s five wins in a row for the Brickies, and twelve matches unbeaten.

East Grinstead Town are safe despite defeat at Chichester City. Joe Clarke opened the scoring for the hosts on thirteen minutes, Lloyd Rowlatt making sure of the points twenty minutes from time. Finally, Sevenoaks Town won in Sussex for the second game in a row, Freddie Parker with the only goal of the game just one minute from time.

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