Rams clinch the title in style!

Leaders Ramsgate travelled to face already-relegated Hythe Town knowing that victory would win them the title- and they delivered three points in the style that has characterised all of their season. If there were any nerves amongst the travelling faithful then Tijan Jadama ended those after just two minutes, putting his side ahead, and four minutes into the second half the party was able to start in earnest, as Jay Leader made it two. Eleven minutes from time it was three-nil, Alfie Paxman chipping in, and a Ramsgate victory was never going to be complete without a Joe Taylor goal- his forty eighth of an incredible season- which made it four-nil just before the end. As it turned out, with Sittingbourne held even a draw would have been enough, but the Rams never do things by halves, and this victory took them to an incredible one hundred and eight points- and one hundred and twenty three goals. We look forward to seeing them in the Premier Division next season- and we’re sure they’ll enjoy reminding Margate of their success on Monday, as well as Sittingbourne next Saturday!

Second place Sittingbourne had a tricky match, with third place Burgess Hill Town making the trip. The Brickies were hoping for a sixth win in a row, a fifth consecutive clean sheet, and a Ramsgate slip up- but as it turned out they were to end up with none of those. Hill went ahead just before half time, Brannon O’Neill with the opening goal, but the hosts levelled twelve minutes into the second half courtesy of Ade Azeez, and, no matter how much encouragement they were given by the inhabitants of Blakey’s Shed, that was as good as it got. 

Sittingbourne are up to ninety nine points and have scored one hundred and fourteen goals- but they’ll have a play off campaign to look forward to, and perhaps another meeting with the Hillians in the Final if they can both get there. 

Fourth place Margate were assured a play off place, but wanted to prepare for the end of season party by continuing their unbeaten run, which stood at six matches. Gate welcomed sixth place Beckenham Town, Becks three points behind fifth place Merstham and looking to go level on points with the Moatsiders- but the visitors ended up on the wrong end of a hiding, mainly due to a Max Walsh masterclass. The Gate number four came into the match with nine goals under his belt, and added three more within the first twenty five minutes, scoring on three, thirteen and twenty five to give his side a commanding lead. Four minutes after the third goal player-boss Ben Greenhalgh added a fourth, and it was five-nil just after the hour, Louie Atkins with that one. 

At that point Becks roused themselves, and Louie Theophanous scored his thirty fifth and thirty sixth goals of the season to pull it back to five-two, but Gate had the last word, with Louie Atkins adding a sixth in added time. 

Margate are fourth, and it appears will travel to Burgess Hill Town in the Play Off Semi-Final, given they are six points behind the Hillians with two matches remaining. Becks stay sixth, but if Merstham can win in Erith Town tomorrow then Becks hopes of fifth place will be as good as over. 

Littlehampton Town have opened up an eight point advantage over Phoenix Sports in the race to avoid relegation, and with a much better goal difference could have secured their Step Four status had they defeated Ashford United- but the Nuts and Bolts, and particularly striker Gary Lockyer, had other ideas. Lockyer put the visitors ahead on twenty minutes, and added a second eight minutes later. Although Josh Short pulled a goal back for the hosts seven minutes into the second half the last word went to United’s Louis Collins, who made it three-one six minutes from time. 

Steyning Town, fresh from scoring six in Ashford last weekend, were back on their own patch hoping for more of the same. The home fans did get to see five goals, but sadly from their point of view three of them were at the wrong end. Sheppey United taking all of the points. 

Perhaps the match turned on a red card. Rocco Gamblin entered the fray for the hosts five minutes before half time, celebrated as Alex Brewer put his side ahead four minutes later, and then saw red nine minutes into the second half. Within two minutes of his departure Sheppey were level, Rhys Wyborn with the equaliser, but twenty minutes from time the hosts were ahead again, Ollie Rawlins restoring their lead. The ten men couldn’t hold on, however, and Aaron Archibald levelled seven minutes from time- and in added time the points headed to Kent, Gil Carvalho scoring a winner. 

Saturday’s fixtures are previewed here.