Vickers to face their toughest test?

By Ian Townsend

VCD Athletic travel to Hastings United, and our two other one hundred percent-ers, East Grinstead and Whyteleafe, put their records on the line. It's our preview of Saturday's action.

VCD Athletic have had the perfect start to the season, winning each of their four matches, scoring fourteen goals- six more than anyone else in the Pitching In South East Division- and going four points clear at the summit. On that basis we know they’ll still be top on Saturday evening, but they’ve perhaps got the biggest test that could be sent their way, as they travel to Hastings United. The hosts were struggling to score until Tuesday night, but they made up for that by hammering five past Haywards Heath Town and came agonisingly close to defeating National League South side Ebbsfleet United in the cup last weekend before departing on penalties.

Third hosts second as Faversham Town take on Sevenoaks Town. The duo might not have been tipped to have a great start to the campaign but both are unbeaten, Oaks with two wins and two draws from their four matches, the Lilywhites with two wins and a draw from three. Oaks drew with Hythe Town in midweek, whilst their hosts were defeating Cray Valley PM at the Artic Stadium and will feel they have nothing to fear from anyone after that result.

East Grinstead Town have only played two league matches but have won them both, and will hope to make it three from three at Ashford United. The rejuvenated Wasps side have managed to score four goals in both of their League matches so far, and striker Louis Theophanous already has seven for the season; whilst the Nuts and Bolts haven’t really hit top form as yet, but do have a win and a draw from their last two matches.

Whyteleafe are the third- and final- side to still maintain a 100% league record, and they also have a one hundred percent cup record, so have won each of their six fixtures so far this season. Leafe host Cray Valley PM, surprisingly defeated in midweek, but prior to that defeat the visitors had won four and drawn one of their five competitive matches, scoring sixteen goals and conceding only three. This one looks to be a cracker!

Herne Bay started their campaign with defeat against Leafe, but have bounced back strongly, scoring three goals in each of their last two matches, winning both. They travel to Hythe Town, who have had moments where they have been very good indeed and moments where the opposite has been true, so will be looking for some consistency as they welcome their Kentish rivals to Reachfields.

Phoenix Sports have also been a little hit and miss, recording impressive victories over Ashford United and Hythe Town but losing to Burgess Hill Town last time out. Sports in seventh, host a Whitehawk side who haven’t had the start to the season we perhaps expected, and who are still looking for their first league win- and indeed their first win full stop.

Whitstable Town, who have won two and lost two of their four matches so far, play host to Burgess Hill Town, who are two points behind them in the table after that win over Hythe in midweek.

Two sides who spent much of last season changing places at the wrong end of the table face off at the Southwood Stadium. Ramsgate started the campaign strongly, with victory at Chichester City, and would argue that their defeats against Ashford United and East Grinstead Town came against sides who will be vying for promotion come the end of the campaign. Visitors Three Bridges have three defeats from three, but will still be trying to work out how they turned a two-one victory with eighty nine minutes on the clock against Whitstable Town on Tuesday night into a three-two defeat.

Finally Chichester City, who are still looking for their first point of the campaign, host Haywards Heath Town, who are still looking for their first win and who will be desperate to bounce back after that mauling at the hands of Hastings.

Where next?

An Invicta addition Bromley striker Tanner makers the trip to the seaside
Can the Abbotts bring Terror to the Terrors We have some fascinating matches in prospect in the Pitching In South Central Division this weekend. Any one of seven sides could be top on Saturday evening- who will it be? Here's our preview.

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