Hastings have one hand on the title, whilst Ashford, Cray Valley and Heath take a step nearer the play offs

Hastings United are fourteen points ahead at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division with only fifteen left to play for, after they walloped East Grinstead Town whilst nearest rivals Ashford United were held.

Hastings were three up on the Wasps after just twenty minutes, with Sam Adams, Danny Parish and Sam Hasler getting the goals. They then coasted until Parish added a fourth twenty minutes from time, and could win the title against Haywards Heath Town on Saturday- although Heath will be no pushovers!

The second place Nuts and Bolts were two up and coasting at the break as they welcomed Chichester City, and then conceded two late goals as the visitors roared back to take a point. Gary Lockyer and Thomas Fagg were the architects of Ashford’s first half superiority, but they couldn’t finish off their opponents and were made to sweat when Ethan Pritchard got one back with twenty minutes left. Right at the end Emmett Dunn grabbed an equaliser- and a point- for City.

Cray Valley PM travelled to Herne Bay in a play off battle, knowing that defeat could have seen them drop out of the top five. Instead the Millers are up to third, first half goals from Marcel Barrington and Ian Gayle putting them in the driving seat despite the face they’d been down to ten men since the thirteenth minute, when Connor Dymond was dismissed. Bay saw Mobalaji Dawodu get one back with twelve minutes left, but they couldn’t find an equaliser and remain in sixth place, two points behind the top five.

Image courtesy of Brownie Photography and Media- you'll see his moving images in our highlights round up on Tuesday.

Haywards Heath Town are fourth, deepening the Whitstable Town relegation woes with a two-nil win at Hanbury Park. Davigildo Cravid gave them the lead just after the hour, and although Sinn Christie saw red the ten men then got a second, Harry Lafflin scoring on his debut just before the end, to open up a four point gap over Herne Bay in sixth. The Oysters have an entirely different problem, nine points from safety.

Ramsgate have hit a wobbly spell at just the wrong time, and made it three defeats in a row in front of a crowd of eight hundred and thirty five as Sittingbourne came to call. The only goal of the game came eight minutes from time, and it went to Daniel Taylor for the Brickies, who are seventh. The Rams slip to fifth, two points clear of local rivals Herne Bay.

Burgess Hill Town got back to winning ways at Corinthian, Charlie Kelly getting the only goal of the game ten minutes before the break. The Hillians are eight points behind the top five, their hosts three points further back.

VCD Athletic, in tenth, travelled to Lancing. After a goalless first half Kevin Lisbie, now aged forty three but still having no problem remembering where the goal is, put Vickers ahead- but Matt Daniel hit back twelve minutes from time to earn a valuable point for the hosts, who are fourth from bottom.

Faversham Town eased any relegation worries by winning for the second time this week, this time recording a three-one win over a Three Bridges, who ended the match with ten men. Marcus Elliott opened the scoring for the Lilywhites after twenty six minutes, and three minutes later it was two-nil, Charlie Dickens meeting the great expectations of the home support. Noel Leighton got one back for Bridges four minutes before the break, but Harry Harding made sure of three points with goal number three for Town just after the hour. Dan Perry saw red late on for the visitors.

Sevenoaks Town dragged themselves out of the bottom three with their third win in four matches. They didn’t do Whitehawk’s survival chances any favourites when scoring the only goal of the game at The Enclosed Ground, Yahaya Bamba scoring his third goal from four games twelve minutes after the break. Six hundred and thirteen watched on. The Hawks are now only one point above their visitors.

Finally, Phoenix Sports and Hythe Town couldn’t manage a goal, a point which leaves Sports five points from safety and the Cannons two points above the relegation play off place.

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