Celebrations are costly

By Peter Butcher

THERE was a controversial end to proceedings at Leatherhead yesterday (Saturday) when a collapsed wall brought an early halt to the match between Tanners, third in the Ryman South table, and second-placed Dulwich.

The visitors looked set to bank three valuable points when
Danny Carr gave them a 2-0 lead with his second goal of the game in the 76th minute. But as he celebrated with the travelling fans a stretch of the pitch perimeter wall fell down. No-one was hurt and the debris was cleared, but the referee decided that it would be unsafe to finish the game.

That allowed Maidstone to move three points clear at the top with their 2-0 home win over Merstham, watched by another massive crowd of 1,853.

Stuart King put them ahead midway through the first half, his third goal since his move from Folkestone, and Tom Mills added another just before the break. Merstham had Peter Wedgeworth sent off in the 67th minute to end their recovery hopes.

Fourth-placed Sittingbourne looked to be in trouble at Corinthian-Casuals when James Cottee put the home side ahead with only ten minutes left. But Joe Taylor quickly made it 1-1, after which both sides missed chances to take all three points.

Crawley Down stayed fifth depite a 2-1 defeat at Folkestone, whose manager Neil Cugley was taking charge for the 650th time and, perhaps, the last. He is being strongly linked with the vacancy at Margate.

It was 1-1 by the seventh minute, with Dane Luchford’s first goal in Folkestone colours bringing a swift response from Luke Blewden. Darren Smith’s through ball set up the 34th-minute winner for Richard Atkins.

Faversham now trail the Anvils only on goal difference, thanks largely to keeper Simon Overland who pulled off a succession of excellent saves to ensure that Wayne Wilson’s sixth-minute penalty was enough for a 1-0 win at bottom club Three Bridges.

Whitstable fans worked hard to clear their pitch (pictured on Friday night) so their game against Worthing could take place, and they were richly rewarded with a 4-0 victory over a club with one of the best away records in the league.

They had a bit of good fortune when Worthing’s Tom Stilwell deflected the ball into his own net after four minutes. But there was no luck involved in a cracking volley by skipper James Morrish which doubled the score moments before the interval.

Buster Smissen added the third midway though the second half and Sean Raggett, who earlier had been denied by the bar, completed the rout near the end.

Ramsgate moved to within striking distance of the play-off places with a comfortable 3-1 win at Tooting. The outstanding Ian Pulman set up the 16th-minute opener for James Sherman and scored third himself in the 79th minute, shortly after Tom Chapman had made it 2-0. Ryan Adams managed a late reply for the Terrors.

Eastbourne trailed for most of their game at Walton & Hersham but ended up frustrated to have dropped points in a 2-2 draw.

Graeme Purdy gave the Swans a seventh-minute lead and, despite the dismissal of Matt Holliday, they stayed ahead until the 73rd minute, when Ross Treleaven equalised. Danny Curd’s 88th-minute strike seemed to have completed the comeback but Connor French made it 2-2 in the fifth minute of added time.

Herne Bay gained three welcome points, their first victory since November 10, with a lone 16th-minute goal by Byron Walker at Horsham. Both sides later hit the woodwork.

Where next?

Cleaver axes Maldon lead TWO goals by Jacob Cleaver stunned Ryman North leaders Maldon yesterday (Saturday) as struggling visitors Redbridge overcame a two-goal deficit, and a 48-point gap, to pick up a precious point in a 2-2 draw.
Keeper is Margate caretaker MARGATE have appointed goalkeeper Craig Holloway as caretaker manager after Chris Kinnear's move to Dover.

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