Sparks and Bears take top billing
With the top two in Trophy action South Park, Broadbridge Heath, Sittingbourne and Herne Bay all have an eye on second place. Here’s our Pitching In Isthmian South East preview
Hastings United and Croydon Athletic are otherwise engaged, so our focus turns to the Sparks, Bears, Brickies and Bay.
South Park Reigate start the weekend in third, a point clear of fourth place Broadbridge Heath, and the sides meet for the third time this season- rather remarkably given it’s only September. The Sparks have had the best of their first two meetings, with a Trophy win, their league meeting- they met twice in three days- ending as a two-two draw. South Park have taken ten points from their last four matches, Heath had won four in a row prior to defeat in Herne Bay ten days ago.
Sixth place Sittingbourne hit the road to Horley Town. The Brickies need to find their feet once more after losing their last two league matches, whilst their hosts saw some good form evaporate in a seven-nil loss at Eastbourne Town last weekend (but they did have their keeper sent off midway through the first half).
Herne Bay may be six points away from the summit, but they have two games in hand, and after only one defeat from five will hope to climb closer to the leaders by winning at Cray Valley PM. Those five matches haven’t just brought only one defeat, they’ve brought four wins, whilst their hosts have won only one of eight so far this season- with four draws and three defeats making up the rest of their results.
Margate are two points away from the top seven after seeing their good start to the season crash to an end. Gate have lost three in a row and will hope to begin a recovery as winless Punjab United head to Hartsdown Park looking to avoid a sixth defeat in succession.
Merstham find themselves third from bottom after six matches, but that’s one place better than visitors Crowborough Athletic. The Moatsiders have lost three in a row, whilst Athletic have done exactly the same in the League but have been magnificent in knockout competitions. Tuesday night saw them knock Step Two side Hampton and Richmond Borough out of the FA Cup, their fourth knockout win this season and their second giant killing.
Sheppey United are at home to Peacehaven & Telscombe. The Ites got back to winning ways in midweek at Punjab United, whilst their visitors lost to Steyning and have been having a rather inconsistent time; indeed their form guide looks rather like a Margherita pizza with two slices of green pepper. The visitors are two points clear of their hosts, but have played two games more.