Hastings go six clear after winning the battle of the big two

Ashford United and Hastings United met in our match of the day, second hosting first with only four points between them and the Nuts and Bolts with a game in hand. Could Ashford give themselves an advantage? Sadly for themselves and the rest of the chasing pack, the answer was no! The visitors took the lead on twelve minutes, Tom Chalmers with the goal, and although Luke Burden equalised for the hosts on the stroke of half time the winner, ten minutes after the break, went to Ryan Worrall for Hastings. One thousand, one hundred and thirty four watched on, and those travelling home through the Romney marshes would have been delighted with the outcome.
Ramsgate replace the Nuts and Bolts in second place, courtesy of a hard-fought derby win over Herne Bay. Both goals came after the break, Lee Prescott opening the scoring just before the hour before Joshua Ajayi made quite sure of the points with his twentieth goal of the season four minutes from time. A rather incredible one thousand, six hundred and twenty five watched that one.

Haywards Heath Town, under new management, moved up to fourth with the only goal of the game at Chichester City. It came just after half time, and it went to Davigildo Cravid, a fourth of the campaign for the Heath number eleven.

A second goalless draw in two matches saw Cray Valley PM slip to fifth. This one was against bottom side Phoenix Sports, who will be delighted with the point- the Millers, not so much.

Burgess Hill Town are up to seventh place, only three points behind the top five. The Hillians have been in fine form of late, and their one-nil win over Whitehawk was their fifth in a row; although their current run has but one defeat in nine. Martin Box scored the goal- and he’s now scored the winner in three consecutive matches.

Whitehawk fans at Burgess Hill captured by Chris Neal.

Sittingbourne are a point behind the Hillians after getting back to winning ways at Whitstable Town. After a goalless first half Kane Rowland gave the Brickies the lead just after the hour, and thirteen minutes later Toby Bancroft gave them a cushion and confirmed that the three points would be heading back to Woodstock. We have no news on whether the Brickies have asked for their music to removed from Spotify in solidarity with that other Woodstock favourite, Neil Young- but we hope not, as their song about Chatham Town is rather popular in the Sittingbourne area!

Corinthian recorded a fine three-nil win over previously in form VCD Athletic. Jamie Miller got our first South East goal of the afternoon after just five minutes, Frankie Morgan added a second right on the cusp of half time, and Ryan Sawyer put paid to any thoughts of a Vickers comeback just before the end.

East Grinstead Town were on top form as they hosted Sevenoaks Town, and the Wasps made it eight games unbeaten with another victory. Miles Cornwell gave the hosts the lead on eighteen minutes, and although Louis Collins thirteenth of the season drew Oaks level just before the hour the last word went to Andrew Briggs, who gave Grinstead the points with twenty two minutes remaining. His side are up to twelfth.

A Kentish derby saw Hythe Town defeat Faversham Town two-one. Riley Alford was at the double for the Cannons, two in six minutes soon after the start of the second half, and although Marcus Elliott scored a late goal for the Lilywhites there was no time for an equaliser.

Last but must definitely not least, Lancing continued to boost their survival hopes- this time by winning a seven goal thriller against Three Bridges. In a topsy turvey match the Lancers managed to be two goals up, three-two down, and come back to win four-three despite ending the game with ten men! Matt Daniel and James Rhodes gave them that two-nil lead, before Ryan Brackpool halved it seven minutes before the break. Brannon O’Neill drew Bridges level midway through the second half, and then Brackpool completed the turnaround soon afterwards- but that sparked the hosts into life once more. Daniel’s second of the game thirteen minutes from time drew them level, and then Lorenzo Lewis grabbed a winner for the hosts two minutes from time- but still had time to get himself sent off!

Lancing remain second bottom, but now three are only three points between them and Faversham Town in fourteenth.

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