Bridges are best!

Beckenham Town welcomed Three Bridges, the hosts looking for their first points of the campaign, the visitors aware that three points would send them to the top of the table. Town won both matches between the sides last season, and they were quickly ahead in this one, Emmanuel Oloyede opening the scoring after just five minutes, but Bridges hit back six minutes before the break through Camron Lawson, and the same player then hit a winner midway through the second half. Congrats to Bridges, who are looking down on the rest.

Merstham hoped to pick up a first league point- or points- of the season as Hythe Town came to call, but a goal in each half gave the points to the Cannons and sent them second. Liam Smith opened the scoring on thirteen minutes, and with four minutes left the hosts endeavours were ensured of no reward as Bradley Schafer’s third goal in three ensured all the points were heading back to the Kent coast.

Sheppey United welcomed Phoenix Sports. The Ites drew their opening league match at Broadbridge Heath but followed that with a three-nil cup win last weekend, and they went one better, hitting their visitors for four and going fourth. Dan Bradshaw’s fourth in three matches put them ahead, and soon after the restart it was two, Jacob Lambert giving the hosts a cushion. The last ten minutes of the match saw the Ites add two more, Alexander Willis and Maliq Morris with those, and Sports end the day in seventeenth. Image from Marc Richards- more here.

Chichester City welcomed Lancing in an A27 derby. Lancing had a fine start to the season, three matches and three wins, but goals just before and just after the break saw them undone at Bognor’s MKM Arena, Steve Hutchings giving the ‘hosts’ a half time lead and Emmett Dunn quickly doubling it. Twenty one minutes from time Josh Clack made it three, and that was that- City up to fifth.

Cray Valley PM’s positive start to life under Steve McKimm looked set to continue as Kyrell Lisbie, who has started the campaign like a goal machine, got his third in three after only four minutes against Broadbridge Heath- but they had to be happy with a point. Heath have already shown much determination this season, and they levelled on the half hour through Jake Lindsey. Just after half time Jensen Grant restored home advantage, but a red card for Kiki Oshilaja saw them reduced to ten men and Ryan Brackpool took advantage, earning his side a point from the spot with eight minutes remaining. The Millers are sixth.

East Grinstead Town had hit a Hythe shaped roadblock over the last couple of weeks, losing to the Cannons in League and Cup, but were quickly in front as Herne Bay arrived in Sussex, Ben Aubrey scoring after only three minutes. They were ahead for less than sixty seconds, however, Gil Carvalho levelling with his third goal of the season, and Bay got the winner with twenty two minutes left, Kane Rowland lifting them to seventh.

Ramsgate followed a surprise opening day defeat with four goals in the cup last weekend, and did it again, walloping Littlehampton Town. Joe Taylor started the show from the spot on twenty minutes, and it was three-nil by the half hour, Lee Martin and another from Taylor ensuring the points were as good as confirmed with an hour to go. Eight minutes from time Jack Parter made it four, and the Rams are eighth.

Horndean played host to Sittingbourne, the Brickies looking for a first point, the hosts looking to add to the point they picked up on opening day. Horndean had a confident start to the season, two three-nil cup wins sandwiching a two-two draw at Three Bridges, but they weren’t at the races on this occasion. Josh Osude put the visitors ahead on twenty two minutes, and the lead was quickly doubled through D’Sean Theobalds. Six minutes after the restart Bagusan Graham made it three, and the Brickies saw the game out and took three valuable points.

Burgess Hill Town welcomed Erith & Belvedere to Mid Sussex, the second Erith to arrive in two Saturdays and Hill’s third match against an Erith in a row, after they finally disposed of Erith Town in a cup replay midweek. The Deres narrowly lost their opening league match but had since won two cup ties and were in a positive frame of mind, going ahead on twenty eight minutes through James Taylor and quickly adding a second through Chris Dickson. That turned out to be that, the Deres up to eleventh.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.