Can the Cannons conquer Chorley?

FA Trophy

Hythe Town hope to become giant killers once more, but they have a rather significant giant to slay, National League North promotion chasers Chorley the visitors to Reachfields. The Cannons have already knocked out two higher division sides, National League South side Tonbridge Angels and our very own Whitehawk, and won’t be afraid to tackle a third- whilst their visitors, who lost at Alfreton Town last weekend, will be making by far their longest trip of the season so won’t have much of their usual vociferous support in tow. They’ve only won five of fourteen away matches in the league this season- whilst the Cannons have lost only once at home.

South East

Leaders Ramsgate quickly got over their defeat at Lancing last weekend, hammering East Grinstead Town in midweek to establish an eleven point lead at the top of the table. The Rams face yet more Sussex opposition as Burgess Hill Town make the trip to the Kentish seaside, the visitors in their best form of the campaign after winning their last three matches. The Rams have won their last three meetings with the Hillians, but this young Hill side has been impressive of late. The travelling fans- and the rest of the promotion chasers- will hope for another Rams slip up.

Second place Cray Valley PM remain the only unbeaten side in the entire league, and it seems strange to note that seven wins and three draws from their last ten still sees them eleven points away from the leaders- albeit with three games in hand. The Millers welcome sixth place Sheppey United, the Ites looking to quickly recover from last weekend’s defeat against Chichester City. The Millers took four points from their two clashes with the Ites last season, the two-two draw on the final day seeing both sides miss out on the playoffs.

Sittingbourne make the trip to Sussex to take on an improving Broadbridge Heath side. The travelling Brickies are having a fine season and looked good when walloping bottom side Beckenham Town four-nil last weekend, but the Bears have won two in a row without conceding a goal and will hope to deliver an upset.

Fourth place Lancing have been magnificent in recent weeks, and travel to Erith & Belvedere on Sunday on the back of a run of only one defeat from their last ten- and having taken four points from the top two over the last week. The Deres have been in freefall, and have just put a new management team in place after a run of seven defeats from their last eight.

Chichester City have closed to within four points of the top five after winning four of their last five matches, an impressive win at Sheppey last weekend the latest of those. City are back on their own new 3G, Horndean making the trip along the A27. The Deans have also turned in some decent recent performances, winning three and losing two of their last five, and have opened up a six point gap between themselves and the bottom two.

Not too far away from Chichester, Littlehampton Town are back at home as Ashford United make a second trip to Sussex this week. The first trip ended in defeat at Broadbridge Heath, and the Nuts and Bolts continue to blow hot and cold, that result ending a three match unbeaten run which followed four consecutive defeats. The Golds are also struggling for consistency, but have won two of their last three.

Herne Bay welcome Merstham to the seaside. Bay ended a three match winless run with victory at Sevenoaks last weekend, whilst the travelling Moatsiders got back to winning ways against Erith and Belvedere in midweek. There are ten points between the sides, who occupy ninth and fifteenth place respectively.

Sevenoaks Town have slipped to tenth place after a run which has brought them only two wins from ten- their last three matches ending in defeat. The Oaks head to Beckenham Town, who sit firmly at the bottom after taking only five points from the last thirty available to them, and start the weekend nine points from safety.

East Grinstead Town and Phoenix Sports hope to bounce back after heavy defeats, the Wasps against the leaders, Sports against Broadbridge Heath. The Wasps have lost five of their last six, Sports have lost two of their last three, and there is only a point between them in the table- despite their being four places apart.

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