A three-way fight for top spot

We’ve a Sussex derby in the FA Trophy as Hastings United welcome back Burgess Hill Town. United have six wins from eight- a run during which they kept six clean sheets- and will hope to quickly get back to wining ways after losing to Potters Bar Town in midweek, but they’ll undoubtedly remember that the last time the Hillians arrived at Pilot Field last season they left with a victory. Town are in their best form of the season so far, and travel on the back of a five match unbeaten run during which they’ve won four.

Into Pitching In Isthmian South East, and leaders Ramsgate welcome a Sevenoaks Town side who are still trying to transfer their cup form to the league- although Oaks did get back to winning ways at Sheppey United last weekend. Based on their form at the end of last season we expected Oaks to be challenging the Rams at the top end of the table, but there are sixteen points and seventeen places between the two- although away fans would undoubtedly point to their three games in hand. The Rams are three points clear at the top and tend to be able to dig out victories even when they aren’t on top form. They have only one league defeat all season, and have every reason to be confident- particularly as they did the double over today’s opponents last season.

Ashford United, three points behind the Rams with a game in hand, will be ready to pounce if Sevenoaks do them a favour. The Nuts and Bolts are on the road, travelling to face a Sittingbourne side who have dropped to seventh but could still find their way back into the top five this afternoon. Ashford haven’t lost a league match since August Bank Holiday Monday, which seems an incredibly long time- three prime ministers- ago, whilst the Brickies come into this match on the back of two narrow defeats against sides from Sussex.

Chatham Town, level on points with Ashford United and also with a game in hand over the leaders, welcome midtable Hythe Town. The Chats last league defeat was on the opening day, whilst the Cannons will hope to take something from another of the high flyers after taking four points from Beckehman Town and Ashford United in their last two matches.

VCD Athletic, in fourth place, welcome Chichester City. Vickers have lost their last two after a five match unbeaten run propelled them to the upper reaches, whilst City, four points behind but having played two matches fewer, saw a six match unbeaten run in league and cup come to an end at Chatham last weekend. Last season saw each side defeat the other away from home.

Whitehawk are our only unbeaten side, and the only reason they start the day no further up the table than fifth is that they’ve drawn half their matches. Seven points behind the leaders but with two games in hand, the Hawks welcome a much changed Faversham Town, the Lilywhites with a number of new signings this week and the hope that they will soon escape the bottom four.

Beckenham Town will hope that they’ve put their blip behind them as they travel to face Haywards Heath Town. Sixth place Becks got back to wining ways against a Sussex side last Saturday and indeed have defeated every Sussex side they’ve faced this season, so will hope to bring that record to an end. The Hanbury Park faithful haven’t yet been given much to cheer this season, and have seen their side go four matches in League and Velocity Cup without a victory, so will hope they can inspire a change in fortunes this afternoon.

We’ve a Sussex derby as East Grinstead Town welcome Littlehampton Town. Neither side has yet found any consistency this season, but to be fair to the Wasps their last two league defeats have been against sides in the top five, Whitehawk and Ramsgate. The Golds got back to winning ways last time out, winning in Sittingbourne.

Cray Valley PM will hope to use last weekend’s five-nil walloping of Haywards Heath as inspiration as they welcome Three Bridges. That victory ended a run of four league matches without one, and Bridges have lost their last two- but they would point out that both defeats were against sides fighting for a place in the top five.

Finally, Lancing welcome bottom side Corinthian to Culver Road. The Lancers will be buoyant after winning their last two; whilst Corinthian have looked much improved, too, defeating Sevenoaks Town before a narrow defeat against the leaders. Last season’s encounters saw the Kent side take six points- three more today might lift them off the bottom, whilst a Lancers win could take them as high as seventh.

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