Sparks strike again to go two points clear- and the Jockeys win on the road

South Park Reigate continued their fine start to the Pitching In Isthmian South East season as they travelled to Eastbourne Town last night- and their three goals after the break meant that they went two points clear at the top. The Sparks made it sixteen points from eighteen, sweeping away their hosts in a one-sided second half, with Alex Body on fifty five minutes, Bradley Wilson thirteen minutes later and Finlay Johnson nine minutes from time ensuring a comfortable victory.

Town are nineteenth.

Hastings United are second, but they could only draw at fourth place Margate. Hassan Nalbant gave Gate a second minute lead, but Mitchell Chapman drew United level six minutes before half time and midway through the second half Tom Chalmers put the visitors ahead. They weren’t ahead for long, Will Thomas finding an equaliser twenty minutes from time, and that was that.

Erith Town are up to third after victory in Crowborough. The Dockers made it three wins in a row. Harry Taylor put them ahead on twenty five minutes only for Rushaar Samuel-Smikle to level, but the second half was generally one way traffic. James Dyer and Jack Holland made it three-one to the visitors, and although Samuel-Smikle made things interesting by pulling it back to two-three from the spot, nine minutes from time Dyer got his second of the night and Town’s fourth to make quite sure of the points. 

Ashford Town climb to tenth after victory over Herne Bay. The only goal of the evening arrived seven minutes into the second half, Sam Hasler scoring it, and a few minutes later the visitors saw their chances of a comeback hampered by the loss of Frankie Smith, who received a red card. The Nuts and Bolts held on for three points and extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

Faversham Town travelled to Cray Valley PM, and both sides had to be content with a point- a fifth draw in eleven for the Millers. Troy Howard put the Lilywhites ahead twelve minutes before half time, Marvel Ekpiteta levelled for the hosts five minutes into the second half, and the scoring stopped there.

Broadbridge Heath slipped to seventh after a fifth match without a win, but the Bears did take a point in Sheppey. The Ites went ahead just before the break, Danny Leonard opening the scoring, but the visitors quickly hit back through Pemi Yakubu- and that was that. Image from Marc Richards. 

Peacehaven and Telscombe are up to eleventh after triumphing in an eight goal thriller at Horley Town. The visitors started very well indeed, Cameron Wiltshire and Lewis Beebee putting them two up within twenty minutes, but in the last ten minutes of the first half Abdulahi Abdulazeez and Adam Allen drew the hosts level- before disaster. In added time Town had Adam Green dismissed, and the Magpies took advantage, BeeBee putting them three-two up just after the restart. Isaac Olaniyan drew the ten men level on sixty four minutes, but eventually the extra numbers began to matter, with Connor Tighe adding a fourth for the visitors sixteen minutes from time and Curt Ford a fifth five minutes later.

Horley are eighteenth, a point clear of the bottom four. 

In the Velocity Cup Littlehampton Town were big winners, scoring five goals in the first half against a youthful Sittingbourne side. Harry Heath got two, with Josh Short, Lewis Olajide and Tom Cadman getting the others- and the scoring stopped there.

Steyning Town hammered Whitstable Town four-one, Billie Clark with two, Adam Adam and Alex Brewer the others, with Dean Grant getting a late consolation for the Oysterboys. 

We also had one match in Pitching In Isthmian North, and it would have been our featured match had the Central Line not fallen over! Buckhurst Hill Town welcomed Newmarket Town, and the hosts also welcomed an early goal, Arthur Massingham scoring after six minutes. The Jockeys have been in superb form, and they made it sixteen points from eighteen courtesy of Ben Nolan, who equalised eight minutes before half time and then got what proved to be the winner in first half added time.

Newmarket remain fourth- but close to within three points of the leaders. Buckhurst Hill sit sixteenth, four points clear of the bottom four.