Oysterboys fail to score- but go top nonetheless!

Leaders Hastings United welcomed Sevenoaks Town. United were aware that the three sides directly behind them in the table, Whitstable Town, South Park Reigate and Faversham Town, were also in action and ready to pounce on any slip-up and take over at the summit- but they went behind four minutes before half time, Nathan Jeche opening the scoring. On sixty five minutes Jeche struck again, and things were to get worse for the hosts, a red card for Mitchell Chapman seeing them down to ten men with twenty minutes left. Still the pain didn’t stop, as in added time Jeche completed his hat trick- three- nil to Oaks, who have now won the last four meetings between the sides. Credit to James Jeffrey, too, as he came off the bench to assist the second and third goals. 

Oaks are eighth, Hastings slip to second. 

Second place Whitstable Town saw a nine match wining run come to an end when they drew with Sevenoaks at the weekend, and faced the increasingly tough challenge of Punjab United at the Belmont. United had put a poor start to the campaign firmly behind them and climbed to twelfth on the back of a run which had brought one defeat from nine- and they travelled looking for a sixth unbeaten match in a row, having won four of their previous five. 

The Oysterboys had won the previous four meetings between the sides, and they went top of the table despite not managing to make that five- or, indeed, to score, as a goalless draw turned out to be enough. 

United are eleventh. 

South Park Reigate, two points behind the leading duo as we kicked off, travelled to Ashford United. The Sparks had only one defeat from ten, but had seen their progress slowed by a couple of draws and were determined to return to winning ways. The Nuts and Bolts were in decent form, however, winning three of their last four- each of them by two goals to nil- a run which had seen them climb to sixth; so we expected this one to be tight.

The Sparks went ahead on sixteen minutes, Alex Body with the opener- his fifth of the campaign, but the hosts drew level fifteen minutes from time, Louis Collins scoring his third of the campaign. That was that- Sparks down to fourth, United in sixth. 

Fourth place Faversham Town headed to the Sussex seaside as they travelled to take on bottom side Eastbourne Town. Eastbourne were on a terrible run, ten without a win having lost the previous seven of those- indeed their last win had been a seven-nil thrashing of Horley Town on September 19th, and those seven goals were more than the sum total they’d scored since. They started the evening seven points from safety.

In contrast, the Lilywhites defeat against Merstham at the weekend had ended a seven match unbeaten run- and indeed a four match winning streak. They’d announced the signing of Ashford United legend Gary Lockyer before the match, and he opened the scoring eleven minutes before half time- and it was two-nil with eighteen minutes to go, Jack Steventon doubling the visitors advantage. The hosts then hit back, Nathan Hover halving the deficit, but that was as good as it got for the home supporters- Faversham up to third, only a point away from the summit.

Fifth place Erith Town were at home to tenth place Sheppey United. The last seven matches for the Dockers had brought five wins and two defeats, whilst the Ites had won four from six and were looking for a third win in succession, so we thought this one might be close- but within twenty three minutes the hosts were two goals ahead, George Goodwin and Tahjae Anderson scoring them. Four minutes into the second half the match looked as good as won, Deven Reid-Solanki making it three-nil, but it most certainly wasn’t! Michael Salako got a goal back with twenty seven minutes left, and nine minutes from time the same player pulled it back to three-two. Could they? They could! New arrival Yuvi Mann made it three-three just a minute later- but there was still time for a seventh goal of the evening, and it went to the Dockers, Elliott Wenham making it four-three. This time, they held onto it, for a third win in a row against the Ites, and are only three points behind the leaders. 

Crowborough Athletic were at home to Cray Valley PM, nineteenth v twentieth. A point for the Crows would have lifted them out of the bottom four, whilst the Millers were two points from safety so needed a victory- and they had a rather positive start, Freddie Parker putting them ahead after only six minutes. Five minutes later they were two up, Denzel Gayle doubling their lead, and although Steve Smith got one back Parker immediately followed up with the visitors third, three-one to the Millers after only nineteen minutes. 

Eleven minutes before half time the visitors added a fourth, new arrival Rodney Eruotor getting that one, and six minutes into the second half Parker struck again, claiming the match ball and making it five-one. Still they weren’t finished, Jack Kirby quickly making it six, and Harry Brooke adding a seventh one minute from time. Finlay Nwanosike got a very late goal for the hosts to bring it back to two-seven, but it wasn’t really much of a consolation. 

Cray climb to seventeenth, their hosts now in twentieth. 

The Velocity Cup saw Merstham host Broadbridge Heath.

Merstham took the lead on twenty one minutes, the Bears scoring through their own net, and that looked to be that- but eight minutes into added time Zach Young levelled and the match went to a shootout, which the Moatsiders won four-three.