Oysterboys lead the pack

In Pitching In Isthmian South East Horley Town and Whitstable Town kicked off fifteen minutes earlier than our other matches, and by the time the rest of the fixtures got underway fans at The New Defence had already seen four goals, three of them for the Oysterboys. Whitstable- who were looking for a ninth win in succession- went ahead after only two minutes courtesy of Kane Rowland, and on eleven minutes Billie Clark made it two. Henry Swann immediately halved the deficit, but by the fourteenth minute out was three-one to the visitors, Robbie Rees re-establishing a two goal lead. Horley had lost six in a row coming into this match and it wasn’t looking good as they tried to avoid extending that miserable run, but they did pull it back to two-three midway through the first half, Isaac Olaniyan giving the home fans some joy.

Three minutes before half time Clark struck again for the Oysterboys to make it four-two, and the second half failed to live up to the first, but the visiting fans didn’t care. Whitstable go top- and two points clear. 

Merstham hosted Eastbourne Town in a bottom four battle. The Moatsiders returned home for the first time this season at the weekend but were unable to pick up a point, but they were ahead on twenty five minutes on this occasion, Olu Lawal opening the scoring- and soon it was two, Vinnie Tume doubling the lead. Town hit back just before the hour, Alfie Rogers scoring from the spot, but Tume quickly restored the hosts two goal advantage, and eight minutes from time Sinnkaye Christie made it four-one. Still the Moatsiders weren’t finished, Tommy Bradford adding a fifth right at the end. 

Merstham climb to seventeenth, Town are bottom- and seven points from safety. 

Leaders Hastings United were hoping to hold onto their top spot as they welcomed Deal Town, but with the match seemingly heading towards a goalless draw it was the visitors who struck first, Tom Chapman scoring five minutes from time. As it turns out, that was the only goal- and it saw deal climb to sixteenth, whilst Hastings drop to fourth. 

Herne Bay hosted Sevenoaks Town, both sides focused on a victory which might lift them into the top seven. The hosts made a very early breakthrough, Ade Azeez scoring for the fifth match in succession- a phenomenal start to his Bay career- and they went two up midway through the first half, Codey Cosgrave doubling their lead. Azeez struck again on the half hour, and if the outcome was still in the balance doubt was entirely removed when Emmanuel Robe made it four with twenty three minutes remaining. 

Azeez claimed the match ball twenty minutes from time, scoring Bay’s fifth goal, and finally the Oaks had some relief, the scoring ending there. Bay are ninth- the last of four sides tied on twenty three points. 

Broadbridge Heath had a chance of climbing back into a play off place, but they would need to defeat visitors Crowborough Athletic to do so- and they fell behind on twenty four minutes, Harry Forster scoring his tenth League goal of the campaign for the Crows. The equaliser arrived on sixty four minutes, Charlie Connell with it- and four minutes later the Bears roared once more, Sam Hards making it two-one. That was that- Heath in eighth, only outside the Play Off places on goal difference. 

Steyning Town looked to continue their improved form as they hosted AFC Croydon Athletic, the Rams hoping to shake off their recent doldrums. The visitors went ahead six minutes before half time, Jadan Raymond- on loan from Dulwich Hamlet- putting them ahead, and the same player doubled the Rams lead three minutes later. Just after the hour Max Blencowe got a goal back for the Barrowmen, and seven minutes later parity returned, Alex Brewer delivering an equaliser. If it was to be next goal wins that next goal went to the visitors, Josh Williams making it two-three twelve minutes from time, and they did indeed win because of it, climbing above their hosts into fourteenth. 

In the Velocity Cup Faversham Town hosted Littlehampton Town. The Lilywhites took the lead on twenty six minutes, Matt Newman with the opener, and Henry Sinai made it two just after the break. Tommie Fagg made it three-nil with twenty three minutes remaining to seal victory. Still they weren’t finished, and Littlehampton, who have been conceding goals by the bucketload of late, went four and five down in the closing stages, Josh Strouts with both of them. That was that, faversham comfortably through to the next round. 

Sheppey United were at home to top flight Ramsgate, and the Ites were ahead on thirty four minutes courtesy of Oghosa Williams, before doubling their lead nine minutes later, new signing Ollie Sotoyinbo making it two. Freddie Godden made it three-nil eleven minutes from time, and the scoring stopped there.