Crows slay a giant!

Crowborough Athletic’s hoped for more FA Cup heroics as they welcomed National League South side Hampton and Richmond Borough following Saturday’s three-three draw. Rushaar Samuel-Smikle struck first, putting the Crows ahead on twenty seven minutes, but the Beavers were quickly level. On sixty three minutes the hosts were ahead once more, Elliott Duncan making it two-one, and the same player made it three-one five minutes later to seal a fantastic victory and slay a giant!

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Hastings United headed to Sittingbourne hoping to extend their lead at the top, and they went ahead on twelve minutes, Max Walsh with his sixth league goal of the season- in only his seventh match. The Brickies were level just before the half hour mark, Joe Boachie with the equaliser, but the first blow of the second half was also delivered by United, Kesna Clarke restoring their lead on fifty two minutes. It looked as if the points were off to Sussex, but deep in added time Jordan Greenidge levelled for the hosts, however United weren’t finished, and Walsh finished what he started with a winning goal a minute later. Hastings remain three points clear at the top. 

A trip to Faversham Town looked difficult for Whitstable Town, but the Oysterboys were soon ahead, Mason Hunter scoring on two minutes. The hosts drew level eight minutes before half time, Tommy Fagg with his third in four matches, but just before the break Sempastian Amatai restored the visitors advantage. Robbie Rees added a third for Whitstable with twenty three minutes left, and although Harry Hudson got a late second for the Lilywhites the visitors held on to take all of the points. Eight hundred and four watched on- we suspect most of them left miserable. Whitstable climb to seventeenth. 

Croydon Athletic were at home to Erith Town, and Dockers skipper Harry Taylor continued his fabulous form in front of goal by scoring his sixth goal in six matches to put his side ahead on nineteen minutes. Four minutes later Town had another, Jefferson Aibangbee making it two, but the Rams were back in the match seven minutes before the break, Kadell Daniel giving the home fans hope. That hope was quickly realised, Brandon Pierrick levelling in first half added time, but a red card for Ronnie Vint soon afterwards made their lives rather more difficult. Eight minutes from time the ten men struck to make it three-two and complete their comeback, Josh Williams the scorer, the Rams in second, three points behind the leaders. Erith slip to eighth. 

South Park Reigate welcomed Cray Valley PM, but the first half didn’t welcome a goal. The second half did, however, and first blood went to the Sparks, Finlay Johnson with the opener just before the hour. A red card for Marc-Anthony Okoye made the Millers task even more difficult, and so it proved, Hayden Gale adding a second thirteen minutes from time. The Sparks climb to third.

Deal Town struck early against visitors Ashford United, Jamie Kennedy putting them ahead on five minutes - and indeed scoring for the third successive match. The previous two were both victories, but United quickly hit back in this one, Jamie Mascoll taking five minutes to level, and the Nuts and Bolts went ahead six minutes before the break, Gary Lockyer doing what he does best. Town drew level early in the second half, Jacob Strouts scoring the equaliser, and they go tenth, a point ahead of their visitors. 

Peacehaven & Telscombe were boosted by victory at high-flying Sittingbourne at the weekend, and they were quickly ahead in their Sussex derby against Steyning Town, Cal Edwards scoring on nine minutes. The visitors were level nine minutes before half time, Jesse Sentamu keeping his nerve from the spot, and early in the second half it was advantage Barrowmen, Alex Brewer putting the visitors ahead. Steyning held on for the points and climbed out of the bottom four as a consequence. 

Herne Bay and Margate met in a seaside derby, and it was the hosts who struck first, Romel Aarons Royal opening the scoring on twenty four minutes, heading home a corner. Emmanuel Robe ensured three points for Bay with a second right at the end. Bay are seventh- six points behind the leaders with two games in hand. 

Punjab United were rather desperate for a win as Sheppey United made the trip, but the Ites went ahead in first half added time, D’Jean Spencer with the opening goal. Danny Leonard made it two just before the hour, and the same player made quite sure of the points by adding a third six minutes from time. A red card for Joseph Chidyausika for the visitors made little difference to the outcome, and the Ites climb to fifteenth, whilst United are rock bottom.