A titanic top-two tussle!

Ashford United closed to within four points of leaders Hastings United in midweek, and know that they can narrow that gap to only one if they can win at Pilot Field. The Nuts and Bolts, who strengthened their squad this week, have been in fine form with eight wins from their last ten- whilst suddenly the Hastings juggernaut has hit a collection of speed bumps, with the leaders drawing three of their last four. The Pilot Field faithful have seen only one defeat this season- on the road against Ashford United. Revenge this weekend would see them go seven points clear- and it’s a revenge they’d dearly love, particularly given the tension that has arisen amongst the supporters on social media following the transfer of Jerald Aboagye.

A further three points back, third place Whitehawk twice took the lead against Hastings in midweek but had to settle for a point. The Hawks welcome Sittingbourne to East Brighton unbeaten in five matches, whilst the Brickies have gone five without a victory and yesterday lost forward Tommie Fagg to Ashford.

Cray Valley PM have got back to their early-season form in recent weeks, and host Phoenix Sports, who have slipped to ninth place. The Millers have won their last four matches, scoring sixteen goals in the process, whilst Sports have won two and lost three of their last five and need to get back to winning ways if they still entertain any playoff pretentions, having slipped seven points off the top five.

Herne Bay, in fifth place, have only one defeat in ten and walloped Ramsgate in midweek. That form has allowed them to open up a five point gap between themselves and sixth place Whyteleafe, and they will hope to extend it still further this weekend. They travel to Haywards Heath Town, their hosts picking up a point in Guernsey in midweek after three straight defeats. Heath have slipped to fifteenth, well clear of relegation but well off the playoffs too- although with three matches or more in hand over the sides above them they won’t quite have given up on replicating last season’s fifth place just yet.

Whyteleafe travel to Sevenoaks Town, both sides having fallen into the doldrums of late. Oaks have only two wins- and five draws- from ten, whilst Leafe have three wins and three draws from the same period, having lost their last two.

Guernsey entertain Chichester City for the very first time. The Green Lions seem to have found form once more with ten points from their last twelve, whilst City have been in similarly fine fettle, with only one defeat from their last six.

Whitstable Town, who saw their five match unbeaten run fall to late defeat in a seven goal thriller at Cray Valley in midweek, look to start another run as they host Kentish rivals Ramsgate. The Rams have only one win in ten and only three all season, but are eight points clear of the bottom spot due to East Grinstead Town’s inability to win so much as an argument.

The Wasps will once more try to find their sting as they travel to Three Bridges, their Sussex rivals eleven points ahead of them at kick off. Bridges have only won two of their last ten, taking seven points from thirty, but their visitors would love such a record, as they took only two points during that period.

Thirteenth hosts twelfth as VCD Athletic take on Hythe Town. Vickers got back to winning ways last time out after four consecutive defeats, whilst Hythe have been at the other end of the form spectrum, with only one defeat in ten.

Finally, Faversham Town host Burgess Hill Tow- seventeenth v sixteenth. The Lilywhites have only one win from their last ten matches and none from their last five, whilst the Hillians saw a decent run come to an end with two consecutive defeats and will hope to get back to winning ways.