A three-way fight for top spot

Ramsgate start the day with a two point lead at the top- but they have played a game more than both of their closest challengers. The Rams are on the road to another seaside destination, that of Littlehampton Town. The mid table Golds have only one defeat in their least five league matches, and drew at Cray Valley last time out; whilst the Rams seem to have come through their sticky patch, winning their last two in the league- both, incidentally, against Sussex opposition- and knocking Herne Bay out of the County Cup in midweek.

Chatham Town are also in Sussex, but have a little less distance to travel and a distinct lack of sea air. The Chats are at Three Bridges, who have fallen into the bottom four with four defeats and only one win from their last five. That win was at home, however, whilst all the defeats were away, so they’ll be pleased to be back at Jubilee Field. The Chats have lost only one league match all season, and that was way back on the opening day, August 13th.

Whitehawk remain undefeated in the League, but have what looks to be a tough task as they travel to sixth place Beckenham Town. Becks seem to have just about rediscovered their early season form, with only one defeat from their last four, and should pose a stern test to the Hawks- not that the visitors will be worried, as they are in fine form, winning their last two whilst scoring six goals and conceding none.

Ashford United have slipped back to fourth and are without a win in three, each of those matches coming against a promotion rival. That said, they did draw two of them, and will hope to get back to winning ways as Haywards Heath Town travel to Homelands. Heath are in the bottom three and have had a torrid season by their expected standards- and have only one win from their last six matches.

We’ve an all-green battle at the More Than Tyres Stadium, as Burgess Hill Town welcome VCD Athletic. The Hillians have lost only one of their last eight league matches- and that against the current leaders- so are on an upwardly mobile trajectory, whilst Vickers ended a five match losing streak last time out with a five-nil thumping of Faversham Town.

We’ve another all-green battle in theatreland (there are two of them right next door to the ground) as Chichester City welcome Cray Valley PM. City have lost only one of their last eight league matches, whilst the fifth place Millers are five unbeaten and scored five in their last match, one of a number of clubs to hammer Faversham Town lately.

Sevenoaks Town saw their five match unbeaten run come to an end at East Grinstead last weekend, but Oaks are back at home once more and welcome Sittingbourne. The Brickies have hit a bit of a slump, with only one point to show from their last five matches.

East Grinstead will be buoyed by that victory over Oaks, and our eleventh place side are on the road to second bottom Corinthian. That win followed four consecutive defeats, but so tight is the table at present that the Wasps find themselves four points away from the top five and three points clear of the bottom four. The Hoops have two wins and three defeats from their last five, but look to be in much better form than they were earlier in the season.

Another side whose form has improved markedly is Sheppey United, and the Ites have a relatively short trip to Faversham Town. They may face the Lilywhites newly-signed goal machine Zak Ansah, and goodness the Lilywhites need goals- although having conceded twenty three in their last six league matches there are issues at the other end, too. United have taken seven points from their last nine and are steadily climbing the table.

Hythe Town, outside the bottom four only on goal difference, play host to Lancing- one place and two points ahead of them. The Cannons have only one win from their last seven league matches, but their last five have all been against sides in the top six so that statistic might be a little misleading. The Lancers saw a three match winning run come to an end with defeat in their last two, but they did get back to winning ways in the County Cup in midweek.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.