Chats close the gap as Rams and Becks held

Leaders Ramsgate had to come from behind at Lancing, and in the end had to settle for a point. The Lancers went ahead on fifteen minutes, Ashley Mutongerwa with the opener, the leaders levelling just before the break through Jack Paxman. Neither side could find a winner, the Rams ending the day two points clear, the Lancers in fourteenth- two points ahead of the bottom four.

Chatham Town closed the gap on the Rams to two points- with a game in hand- and deepened the misery for hosts VCD Athletic, whose terrible run has seen them drop into the bottom four. The Chats went ahead after just four minutes, Jack Evans with the goal, and although the hosts equalised fifteen minutes later through Jordan Greaves parity lasted only five minutes before Callum Peck restored the visitors advantage. Ten minutes after the break Dan Bradshaw made it three, and that was that. Vickers have taken only four points from the last thirty available- all draws- and are without a win since December 10th.

Beckenham Town stay third, but could only manage a goalless draw against Hythe Town, who drop to tenth- but are only five points away from the top five with a game in hand. The Cannons have only one defeat in ten, and have conceded only three goals in their last seven matches. Becks have only one win from seven.

Whitehawk are fourth after victory at Burgess Hill Town. The game had only one goal, and it went to Kris Oti ten minutes after the break- a win which takes the Hawks a point clear of fifth place Sevenoaks Town. Oaks were held to a goalless draw at Corinthian in a hard-fought local derby.

Image of a Hawks celebration from Andy Schofield.

Ashford United are a point outside the top five after a goal in each half earned victory at Three Bridges. Johan Ter Horst opened the scoring on twenty one minutes, and Gary Lockyer made sure of the points with nine minutes left. The closing stages saw both sides reduced to ten men, Curtis Gayler departing early for the hosts, Cameron Brodie for the visitors.

Cray Valley PM couldn’t manage a goal at Sittingbourne, but the Brickies couldn’t manage one either. Sittingbourne have only one defeat from their last seven, and are outside the bottom four on goal difference. The Millers are seventh, four points short of the play off places.

Faversham Town climbed to within ten points of safety with victory over Chichester City, ending City’s nine match unbeaten run in the process. Michael Ademiluyi scored the only goal of the game on twenty minutes, as the Lilywhites improvement continued.

Sheppey United ended their four match winless run with a comprehensive win over East Grinstead Town. Warren Mfula opened the scoring from the spot just before half time, only for Sam Williams to equalise for the Wasps just after the restart. Mamadou Diallo restored home advantage on fifty six minutes, and in the closing stages a Brad Schafer double made quite sure of three points for the hosts, who are ninth, five points behind fifth place Sevenoaks. The Wasps are thirteenth, three points above the bottom four.

Littlehampton Town came from behind to claim three points in a five goal thriller against Haywards Heath Town. Heath went ahead after just three minutes, Tom Collins opening the scoring, and although Scott Faber equalised from the spot eleven minutes before the break the visitors were ahead again by half time, Luca Valentine giving the travelling fans something to love. With sixteen minutes remaining the hosts found an equaliser, Lucas Pattenden with that, and then eight minutes from time Devon Fender delivered a first win in eight for the Golds.

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