Sparks and Lilywhites keep up the pressure at the top
South Park and Faversham win on the road to reduce the gap on Hastings, Bears return to winning ways, whilst Steyning and Crows administer home hammerings. It’s our Pitching In Isthmian South East round up
Sheppey United welcomed high-flying South Park Reigate, the visitors trying to reduce the margin between them and Pitching In Isthmian South East leaders Hastings United.
The home fans also welcomed a goal after nine minutes, Oghosa Williams putting the Ites in front, but they’ll have been rather less happy when Finlay Johnson levelled for the Sparks four minutes from half time, and rather downhearted when Alex Body put the visitors in front for the first time twenty minutes into the second half. The Sparks held on, and are only a point behind the leaders in second place.
Margate and Faversham Town couldn’t manage a goal between them in the first half at Hartsdown Park, but the Lilywhites, who were looking for a sixth consecutive unbeaten match and a third win in a row, finally made the breakthrough just after the hour, Henry Sinai with the opening goal. For opening, read only, as the Lilywhites go third, three points behind the leaders.
Harry Forster has made a fine start to life at Crowborough Athletic, and his ninth Crows League goal of the campaign gave them the lead over Horley Town after only four minutes. Connor Pring made it two on twenty five minutes, and early in the second half Steve Smith scored number three for the hosts. That was that- Athletic climbing to seventeenth.
Herne Bay hosted Sittingbourne, and they also hosted the first goal just after the half hour mark, Josh Ajayi with his third goal in four matches- but the Brickies were behind only four minutes before Jay Beckford delivered an equaliser, and two minutes later they were ahead, Bagasan Graham making it two-one. Ajayi delivered an equaliser five minutes after the break, and the hosts were back in front with twenty three minutes left, Ade Azeez making it three goals in three matches since his arrival. That appeared to be that, but deep in added time Dexter Peter was the Brickies hero, delivering a last-gasp leveller. Sittingbourne are seventh, Bay a point behind in ninth.
Ashford United were the hosts for the Bears of Broadbridge Heath, and the away side roared after only five minutes, Sam Hards giving them the lead. They were roaring once more seventeen minutes from time, Chris Connell adding a second as their seven match winless run seemed certain to come to an end, and although Oli Bate got a late consolation for the Nuts and Bolts the visitors took the points- and climbed to tenth.
Steyning Town (pictured, courtesy of the club), fourth from bottom, had the chance to climb out of the drop zone as they welcomed the side directly above them, Deal Town- and they were ahead on the quarter hour, Jared Rance opening the scoring. Alex Brewer doubled their advantage just after the half hour, and they added a third with fourteen minutes left, Henry Yorke-Johnson getting that one. If the destination of the points seemed almost certain by this point, it was confirmed six minutes from time when Elliott Hanslow added a fourth, four-nil the final score. Steyning climb to sixteenth, Deal fall to third from bottom.
In the Velocity Cup Second Round Erith Town hosted Windsor & Eton, and the Dockers progressed by two goals to one. All of the goals arrived in the first half, Tahjae Anderson scoring a fourth minute opener, Morgan Elliott levelling just before the half hour, and Bethel Gboda scoring what proved to be the winner seven minutes from half time.