Can Hastings be conquered?

Hastings United, four points clear at the top, are secure in the knowledge that no matter what happens against Haywards Heath Town they will still lead the Division. But if there is any danger of complacency amongst his squad, manager Chris Agutter will only need to remind his players that, firstly, they failed to defeat Heath when they travelled to Hanbury Park in October, and secondly that they were firm favourites when Shaun Saunders men arrived at Pilot Field last season, yet lost.

The hosts not only have an unbeaten home record to protect, but a perfect home record, having played nine matches and won the lot, scoring twenty six goals whilst conceding only four- and that ‘for’ total doesn’t include the twelve they got against east Grinstead Town, as that was a Velocity Trophy match. Heath are difficult to defeat away from home, only losing two of their eight away matches this season, and will be no pushovers- but will they become the first side to take something from a visit to the Pilot Field. We’ll know by 5PM on Saturday.

Second place Ashford United host a Kentish derby against Sevenoaks Town. United are in fabulous form, winning their previous five matches whilst scoring fifteen goals and conceding only one, but their visitors got back to winning ways last weekend after two defeats and three draws and could climb to fourth with victory.

Whitehawk are our form team over the last ten matches, during which they’ve taken twenty six points and remained unbeaten. They travel to Whyteleafe, who were in great form themselves up until their last two matches, both of which they lost. The Hawks are seven points behind Hastings with a game in hand, and won at Guernsey last Sunday.

Cray Valley PM, who start the day in fourth place, have been on a downward spiral of late, with three defeats and a draw from their last four matches. The Millers travel to Faversham Town, who have won only one of their last seven and lost to Ashford United last time out. Town are sixteenth, and even with victory are likely to stay there due to a goal difference which is far inferior to fifteenth place Chichester City.

Seventh place Herne Bay were six matches unbeaten when Burgess Hill Town arrived last weekend, but now need to start that run all over again after falling to defeat by the game’s only goal. They’ll be boarding an early plane to the Channel Islands as they face Guernsey, the Green Lions on their worst run of the season without a win in six matches.

VCD Athletic were impressive in defeating Whyteleafe last weekend, and strengthened this week with the signing of Cray Wanderers promotion-winning keeper Nick Blue. They travel to Chichester City, who have drawn six of their last ten matches but defeated their visitors three-nil on 7th January. Will this be a City double or the Vickers revenge?

Phoenix Sports saw a three match winning streak come to an end last weekend, when Sevenoaks Town defeated them by the only goal of the match. They will hope to get back to winning ways once more as they host Three Bridges, who have only four points from their last thirty and have only won three matches all season. That said, two of the three were away from home, so Sports shouldn’t relax.

Sittingbourne, in tenth place, have been in fabulous form of late with three consecutive victories, ten goals scored and only one conceded. The Brickies travel to face the Cannons of Hythe Town, who will be worthy opponents as they have won four of their last five. A win could see Hythe capture Sittingbourne’s tenth place.

Whitstable Town and East Grinstead Town meet at the Belmont. The Oysterboys have gone five games without a win- although they did draw three of them; but that's a record that the Wasps would sell their grandmothers for, given they have only three points- and no wins- from their last thirty. They have looked more impressive since Leigh Dynan took over and began to revamp their squad, but impressive alone won't get them off the bottom of the table. Whitstable could climb as high as tenth with victory, so tightly packed is the middle of the table.

Finally, Ramsgate host Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians travelled to the Kent coast last weekend and came home with three points, so will hope for more of the same- and must be favourites given the Rams have only three points from their last thirty and last won a league match on October 26th.