Late Brickies hit the summit

The first goal of our South East evening arrived after only two minutes, and it arrived to title-favourites Croydon Athletic, who were the hosts for Sevenoaks Town. David Bremang was the scorer, and the although the first half passed off with no addition to the scoreline the Rams quickly added another early in the second half, too, Greg Cundle doubling their advantage, as they looked to finally get some points on the board. Oaks hit back late on, Tamas Amgbaduba halving the arrears, but it was too late to significantly change the outcome- Athletic finally picking up a victory and climbing to eleventh. 

Faversham Town were quickly behind as they hosted Deal Town, Rory Smith with a fifth minute opener for the visitors, but they shook off the disappointment of conceding rather quickly, and entirely convincingly. Kane Haysman got an equaliser on nineteen minutes and within five minutes had made it two-one; and by the break Jack Evans had added a third and a fourth to make it four-one at half time. Deal got a goal back from the spot ten minutes from time, Ashley Miller making no mistake, but that was as good as it was going to get for the visitors, as Faversham picked up their first win of the campaign and climbed to fourth. 

Whitstable Town and Sittingbourne met at the seaside, and the two sides traded early goals, Harvey Smith putting the Brickies ahead on eight minutes before Alex Wall levelled for the Oysterboys. That looked to be that, but to the delight of the travelling fans, it wasn’t- Smith struck again in added time at the end of the match and in so doing sent his side to the top of the table. 

The Sussex seaside derby between Eastbourne Town and Hastings United looked to be heading into the break goalless, but Kesna Clarke had other ideas, putting the visitors ahead, rolling the ball home via the post. Eleven minutes from time Ronnie Dolan scored a beauty from distance to make it two-nil, and that was that- Hastings third, with two wins from two. 

Image from David Bauckham. 

Sheppey United welcomed Margate. The match was crying out for a goal when it finally got one, thirteen minutes from time, a cross headed in by Albie O’Mara-Knapp for the visitors. Gate held out, and are second. 

Cray Valley PM went ahead against Punjab United on seventeen minutes, Ade Shokunbi opening the scoring, but the visitors drew level at the start of the second half through Wayne Bushell and looked to have taken a point only for Chris Dickson to seemingly break their hearts three minutes into added time. We say ‘seemingly’ because that added time was ten minutes long, and that was enough time for Bushell to deliver an equaliser for the visitors. Three matches and three draws for the Millers, who are ninth, two and two draws for United. 

Crowborough Athletic went ahead against Steyning Town midway through the first half, Elliott Duncan opening the scoring- and their chance of holding on to that lead improved when Leo Ginger was dismissed for the visitors with a quarter of an hour remaining. There were to be no more goals, and the Crows climb to tenth. 

Broadbridge Heath went ahead against South Park Reigate just before the half hour, Mason Doughty with the opener- and the Bears soon had a second through Ben Royall, but that was the cue for the Sparks to finally get going. Bradley Wilson got a goal back two minutes into the second half, JJ O’Sullivan levelled twenty one minutes from time, and in the end both sides had to settle for a point. 

Erith Town were awarded two penalties in the first twenty minutes of their match against Horley Town, and James Miles kept his cool to put both of them away to give the hosts a two-nil lead. Four minutes from time the Dockers saw Bethel Gboda dismissed, but they saw out the remaining few minutes comfortably to take the points. 

Merstham take on Peacehaven & Telscombe- at Sevenoaks Town- this evening.

In the FA Cup, Herne Bay had to travel to Broadfields United to once more play a match that they thought they’d won, comfortably, before a substitute mix up was discovered. This time Bay weren’t able to leave with victory, falling to a two-one defeat after extra time.