Chats take the title!

Chatham Town’s win over closest challengers Ramsgate on Monday meant that one more win would hand them the title and promotion, and they delivered it in front of a crowd of two thousand, three hundred and twenty nine despite a nail-biting few minutes right at the end. A Jack Evans penalty opened the scoring for the hosts nine minutes before the break, and when Matt Bodkins made it two-nil with ten minutes to go, relaxation set in- but not for long, as three minutes later Ade Adeyemo pulled a goal back for the Millers. The visitors couldn’t find an equaliser, however, and the Chats are deserved champions. The Millers slip to seventh, although can lift themselves back into the top five if they win against VCD Athletic on Tuesday night.

Image from Max English.

Second place Ramsgate have Whitehawk breathing down their necks, one point behind with a better goal difference- and the battle for second place continues after the two delivered a one-one draw on the Kent coast. Thomas Carlse gave the Rams the lead just before the break, only for Rob O’Toole to level midway through the second half. Eleven hundred spectators watched on, but that’s five without a win for the Rams.

Beckenham Town welcomed East Grinstead Town to Eden Park, but could only take a point despite playing against ten men for nearly half an hour. The Wasps went ahead eight minutes after the restart, Ryan Green the scorer, but then saw Lewis Unwin dismissed and were unable to hold on for three points, Louis Theophanous levelling from the spot fifteen minutes from time. The result sees Becks slip to sixth, but a win over relegated Faversham Town on Tuesday night would send them back into the top five. The Wasps could also be marked safe from danger on Tuesday night, if they can win at Chichester City or VCD Athletic fail to defeat Cray Valley PM.

Sheppey United welcomed another side involved in that battle to stay out of a relegation play off spot, Lancing- and a home win saw the Ites up to fourth. The goals arrived very late indeed, the first, from Brad Schafer, with two minutes to go- and there was still time for Warren Mfula to add a second. The Lancers will also hope for a Vickers defeat on Tuesday, as they are only three points ahead of our fourth bottom side.

Hythe Town have had a fine season, and victory at VCD Athletic propelled them into the top five. The Cannons had won five of their last six, whilst Vickers had only two wins from ten, but it was the strugglers who went ahead early on, Andrew Allassani opening the scoring after just nine minutes. Jason Fregene then got into the action, levelling for the visitors just before the break before scoring what turned out to be the winner on the hour. Vickers are a point from safety with two games remaining, whilst the Cannons will be hoping that their opponents bounce back in style as they face Cray Valley PM.

Chichester City were without a win in seven matches, but they got back to winning ways, a Kaleem Haitham goal ten minutes into the second half earning them all three points against Ashford United.

Haywards Heath Town welcomed Sevenoaks Town in a match critical to the hopes of the hosts, who started the match in eighteenth place, two points away from safety and faced with the prospect of a relegation play off. Heath had only one win from ten, and now it is one from eleven after the Oaks hit five at Hanbury Park. Dami Olorunnisomo opened the scoring for the visitors after just two minutes, and an own goal quickly doubled their advantage. On sixty five minutes Heath had a lifeline, Byron Napper halving the arrears, but nine minutes from time Freddie Parker restored the visitors two goal advantage. Napper pulled it back to three-two with three minutes remaining, but Parker went right back up the other end and scored again, before Josh Ogunleye made it five right at the end. Heath are two points from safety with one match left to play, with the side two points ahead of them, local rivals Burgess Hill Town, having a game in hand.

Three Bridges are almost safe from relegation after a two-nil win over Littlehampton Town. Bridges opened the scoring three minutes into the second half, substitute Cameron Lawson easing their nerves- and they made sure of three points right at the end, Kieron Pamment making it two. They are five points ahead of fourth-bottom VCD Athletic, but Vickers have two games to play.

Finally, relegated Corinthian and Faversham Town faced each other, with only the avoidance of the wooden spoon to play for. A goal in each half saw the Lilywhites move off the bottom, Darren Phillips with the opener on the half hour, Ronald Sithole making sure of three points nine minutes after half time.

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