Hastings hit the heights

We knew that a point at Faversham Town would hand Hastings United the title, but perhaps the nerves were affecting them when Marcus Elliott put the Lilywhites ahead on twenty two minutes. They drew level just before the break, however, Sam Hasler with the equaliser, soon after Ben Pope had come close, hitting the post. The second half saw no addition to the scoreline, and United can now celebrate that well-deserved promotion. Had the pandemic not happened we suspect they’d have been there two years ago, and it’ll be delightful to see them in the top flight.

Image courtesy of Hastings United.

Second place Ashford United knew that they could mathematically still catch Hastings, although it would need a collapse of the highest order from our top placed side. The Nuts and Bolts were on the road to relegation scrappers lancing, and went ahead twelve minutes before the break, Jack Richards opening the scoring. They doubled their advantage before half time, Luke Burdon getting the second, but the Lancers made things interesting when Bradley Francis-Campbell got one back seventeen minutes from time. Ashford held on for victory, however, and guaranteed themselves a play off place in the process.

Cray Valley PM, starting the day in third, were on the road to face a much improved but still relegation candidates Sevenoaks Town. Oaks, who had moved to three points above the danger zone, went ahead on eighteen minutes through Yahaya Bamba, and the same player made it two-nil just before the half time whistle blew. Bamba wrapped up the points and a hat trick eight minutes after the break, although the Millers stay third. Oaks are up to fourteenth, have opened up a six point gap on the bottom three, and Harry Hudson will undoubtedly be given the freedom of the town and as much venison as he can eat at the end of the season!

We had a massive match between fifth and fourth as Ramsgate hosted Haywards Heath Town in front of a bumper crowd of eight hundred and sixty three- let in for free. The majority of them would have been stunned when Sinn Christie gave Heath the lead five minutes before half time, and similarly stunned at the end, as Heath opened up a six point gap over their hosts.

Herne Bay knew that if the Rams lost and they would they would replace their rivals in the top five, but they left it very, very late to take advantage, Aaron Milbank sending the home crowd into raptures with a last minute winner over Chichester City. Bay are, then, up to fifth, two points ahead of the Rams.

Burgess Hill Town welcomed Sittingbourne, with both not quite able to make the play off’s unless a mathematical miracle occurs! The Hillians weren’t very welcoming, Tom Chalaye putting them ahead after just two minutes, but the Brickies drew level twenty three minutes later, Harry Stannard with the equaliser. It was advantage Hillians once more when Hayden Skerry put the hosts ahead just before the break, and the hosts made it three goals and three points when Lewis Finney scored with eighteen minutes remaining. Chalaye added a fourth just before the end.

Corinthian, who have had a fine season, hosted Whitstable Town, the Oysters desperate for points as they looked up at everyone else. Josh James have the home side a sixth minute lead, but the equaliser arrived almost immediately, George Monger drawing Town level. That was that, and Whitstable still have hope.

Whitehawk, under new management, welcomed Hythe Town in a relegation scrap, and the Cannons fired first, Tom Walmsley giving them the lead after twenty three minutes. They fired second, too, Jacob Gilbert doubling his sides tally for the afternoon with twenty two minutes left, and the Hawks will be delighted only that three other sides around them didn’t win either.

East Grinstead Town have been desperately short of points of late, but they went ahead against fellow strugglers Phoenix Sports only fifteen minutes from time, Max Welsh opening the scoring. The Wasps held on for the points, and climbed to sixteenth, three points above the play off position and six from automatic relegation.

Two goals in two minutes as we approached half time gave VCD Athletic a comfortable advantage against Three Bridges, Kevin Lisbie, aged forty three, with the opener and Youseff Bamba with the second, age unknown! Callum Chesworth got one back for the visitors eleven minutes from time, but Anthony Adesite made sure of three points with a third goal for Vickers, right at the end.

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