Three down on thirteen minutes? No problem, say Hastings!

AFC Croydon Athletic started the season with a couple of defeats, but the Rams have since found their mojo and made it four wins in a row as they defeated Cray Valley PM. The Millers started their League campaign with three successive draws, but were behind in this one after only two minutes- Kadell Daniel with the hosts opener- and even a red card for Rams keeper Amadou Tangara on the half hour didn’t help the visitors, Josh Williams sealing victory eleven minutes from time. Croydon climb to eighth. 

Ashford United took a trip to Sittingbourne, and took an early lead, Oli Bate scoring on two minutes. The Brickies levelled just after the half hour, Jordan Greengage the scorer, but again the Nuts and Bolts forged ahead almost immediately through Zach Whitelock. Another Sittingbourne equaliser arrived just before the hour, this one courtesy of Harvey Smith, and fifteen minutes from time the hosts went ahead for the first time, Bagasan Graham getting the winner. 

Broadbridge Heath were back in League action, hosting a Sussex derby, Peacehaven and Telscombe heading inland and hoping to quickly banish the memories of their hammering at the hands of Eastbourne Town last Tuesday. The Bears were unbeaten in the League- and remain so, after a not entirely comfortable yet convincing three-nil win. All of the goals arrived after the break, Zach Young with the opener win fifty one minutes, Charlie Connell with the second just a minute later, and Mason Doughty making quite sure eight minutes from time. The Bears end the long weekend in fifth. 

Crowborough Athletic had a fabulous record against Hastings United last season, defeating them three times in League and Velocity Cup, so Hastings were looking for revenge as the Crows travelled to take on our leaders- but it certainly didn’t look like revenge was on the cards as the visitors charged into a three-nil lead, an own goal and goals from Lloyd Francis and Harry Forster putting them three up within thirteen minutes! 

If any of the Pilot Field faithful were downhearted, they were cheered when Max Walsh got one back just before the break- and then sent into a delirious haze in the second half, Sam Pidgeon pulling it back to two-three, Tom Chalmers levelling a minute later, and Ayo Olasimbo scoring a winner eighteen minutes from time. One thousand, two hundred and twenty watched on, and most will have left feeling rather stunned by the outcome, and probably in a good way. Hastings are two points clear and hold onto their one hundred percent League record. 

Deal Town hosted Herne Bay in a Kentish seaside special, Bay having finally got to play a League match in midweek- a three-nil win in Sheppey. Deal had emerged victorious from the previous three meetings between the sides, but they couldn’t make that four. Bay went down to ten men early in the second half with Ben Gorham dismissed, but despite that Joe Taylor put them ahead on sixty six minutes, and Emmanuel Robe quickly made it two. Owen Wilkinson got one back from the spot but Robe finished things off with a third in added time, Bay up to seventh whilst their hosts are at the bottom. 

Eastbourne Town welcomed a Steyning Town side who had lost every League match so far- but who had looked rather better than their results had suggested and were hoping for a little luck and some points to arrive shortly. The visitors went ahead after only three minutes courtesy of Jared ‘Jazz’ Rance, and then they held on, despite a late red card for Tadley Bromage, to pick up those desired three points. 

Erith Town came into their match with Punjab United in magnificent form;  indeed they’ve had as perfect a start to the campaign as they could ever have hoped for, The only blot on their copybook had been a Kent Cup shootout defeat against their visitors, and if revenge was in the air at kick off you’d have been able to smell it for miles at full time, the Dockers running out five-one winners. 

Deven Reid-Solanki opened the scoring on nine minutes only for Harry Ottaway to quickly equalise- but that as to be as good as it would get for United. Harry Taylor restored home advantage just before the break, and in the second half Bethel Gboda, Reid-Solanki and Tahjae Anderson added three more for five-one. The Dockers are our joint top scorers, having scored eleven goals from their three opening League matches, and hold a one hundred percent record alongside a goal difference of +10. They also hold fourth place, three points behind the leaders with a game in hand. 

Faversham Town, unbeaten in all competitions, were back at home, Sheppey United making the trip. The Ites weren’t particularly successful against Town last season, losing both home and away, and the Lilywhites made it three wins from three against these opponents- but they were made to work hard for the points. Kane Haysman put the hosts ahead midway through the first half only for Michael Salako to quickly level, although Josh Strouts took only six minutes to restore Town’s lead. It was three-one eight minutes into the second half, Ibrahim Olutade with that one, but Josh Chambers pulled it back to three-two with fourteen minutes left to set up a tense finish.

Eight hundred and three watched on, and Faversham are sixth.

Horley Town didn’t had the start to the season they might have hoped for- a Cup defeat was followed by three League defeats- but they picked up a win against Punjab United in the Trophy on Saturday, and followed that with a first Step Four victory at South Park Reigate on Monday. It didn’t look good for the visitors when Ross Stepney struck after three minutes for Sparks, but the visitors levelled on twenty six minutes through Isaac Olaniyan and, deep in added time, secured three points as Kavalli Heywood delivered a knock out blow. 

Margate bounced back from Trophy defeat with a comfortable win in a seaside derby against Whitstable Town. They started at top speed, Ronald Sithole and Connor Wilkins making it two-nil within five minutes, added a third ten minutes into the second half courtesy of Javaun Splatt, and Splatt was that, three nil the final score. Gate are second and remain unbeaten. 

Sevenoaks Town hosted their temporary tenants, Merstham making the, er, trip. It looked as if Tommy Bradford’s fifty fifth minute goal would give the Moatsiders all three points, but just before the end Kevin Diomande arrived to deliver an Oaks equaliser, and a point.