Bridges look to slow the Hastings title charge

Hastings United, ten points clear at the top with seven matches remaining, can take a step closer to the title if they can defeat Three Bridges at Pilot Field today. United have hit top form at exactly the right time, winning seven in a row and nine of their last ten, but their visitors have been no slouches recently either. Six matches unbeaten have seen Bridges climb to twelfth, and have included victories over United’s promotion rivals Cray Valley PM, Haywards Heath Town and Ashford United. They certainly won’t be travelling to the seaside nursing an inferiority complex.

Ashford, in second place, are on the road to Sittingbourne. Whilst the Nuts and Bolts haven’t yet given up on the title a more realistic aim would be second place and home Play Off advantage, but they face a tough match today. The Brickies are nine points behind the coveted fifth place but are three games unbeaten, whilst United came to the end of their most recent unbeaten run with shock defeat against relegation-threatened Phoenix Sports last weekend.

There are only three points between third and fifth, five points between third and sixth- and Herne Bay, who take up that sixth place, have a game in hand. Bay are on the road to Lancing today, the Lancers not yet free of relegation worries and in mixed form, with fifteen points from their last thirty. Bay have taken a point less that the Lancers from their last ten outings, and if they want to grab that top five spot need to find some consistency- but they have only lost one of their last four. The last time they met, Bay ran out narrow victors, winning two-one.

Third place Ramsgate suffered a surprise defeat in midweek, Corinthian turning them over at Southwood. The Rams are on the road to Whitehawk, their hosts getting back to winning ways last weekend at VCD Athletic after a winless run which had left them in relegation trouble. Another win today would go a long way towards seeing them safe, but the Rams also need the points. When they met in Kent, the Rams triumphed, three-one.

Our match of the day sees fourth entertain fifth, as Cray Valley PM travel to Haywards Heath Town. Both sides have lost three of their last ten, but for the Millers it’s the last three, and they’ll need to end their worst run of the season if they are to move above their hosts and- at the very least- maintain their gap over Herne Bay, who could go above them if the results go their way.

Burgess Hill Town have slipped to eight points off a play off place, and need a win at East Grinstead Town today if they want to keep their promotion hopes alive. The Wasps need the points for entirely different reasons, as they could be in the bottom three by tea time if they lose again. They’ve lost the last five and gone seven without a win, whilst the Hillians have won only two of their last seven, which doesn’t resemble promotion form.

VCD Athletic, in ninth, welcome Sevenoaks Town. The visitors remain third from bottom, but have looked much improved in recent weeks, whilst Vickers have lost their last two and are seeing any remaining play off hopes fast disappear over the horizon.

Corinthian will try to follow up that fine win at Ramsgate with another victory on the road, as they head to Faversham Town, the Lilywhites wearing their blue and yellow away kit in support of Ukraine. Town have taken only seven points from their last thirty and aren’t entirely free of relegation worries, so will be looking to do the double over their green and white opponents.

Phoenix Sports, buoyed by that win at Ashford United and having only lost two of their last seven, will hope to continue their great escape as they welcome Chichester City. Chi are firmly in mid table and unlikely to trouble either end, but did Sports a favour by defeating Sevenoaks last weekend. They won’t want to help them out for a second weekend in a row.

Finally, bottom placed Whitstable Town welcome the side four places and seven points above them, Hythe Town. The Oysters have gone nine games without a win and have lost seven of them, and if they don’t begin to win soon will be kissing a long goodbye to their Isthmian status. The Cannons are hardly free from anxiety either, and have only one win from seven.

Image: Ray Turner at Haywards Heath Town.

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