Have Hastings wheels fallen off? it seems unlikely!

With two consecutive draws for Hastings United, have the wheels fallen off, as someone suggested on social media on Tuesday evening? It seems rather unlikely, and it also seemed that the poster in question was joking, as well they might- as United actually increased their lead at the top of the table to six points and have still only lost one league game all season. They host VCD Athletic this weekend, the Vickers arriving at Pilot Field on the back of three consecutive defeats and with only two wins from their last ten matches- form which has seen them slide down the table to thirteenth place. That said, they are only eight points away from the playoffs, so they’ll want to avoid Hastings doing any more damage to their hopes. The last time they met the match ended in a goalless draw- another one of those for United and it really will start to look like a slight wobble!

Second place Ashford United will look to take advantage of any Hastings slip up, and must be favourites to do so as they host bottom side East Grinstead Town. The Wasps have yet to pick up a victory this season, and they must start picking up points soon if they are to have any chance of getting out of the mire as they are already eight points adrift- which is two more points than they have actually earned from their first twenty one games. A six game winning run came to an end for the Nuts and Bolts last time out with defeat against Cray Valley PM, so the hosts will think this is an ideal chance to start another one.

Whitehawk got back to winning ways against Whyteleafe in midweek, and travel to face Phoenix Sports a point behind Ashford. Sports have won their last two and currently sit in seventh place, so will be no pushovers.

Fourth travels to sixth as Whyteleafe host Cray Valley PM. The Millers seem to have put their period of uncertain form firmly behind them, their defeat of Ashford United being followed by a five-nil thumping over VCD Athletic; whilst that defeat for Leafe and the Hawks- a match they ended with eight men- saw a promising run come to an end for them. The two will be meeting again on February 11th, and also met in the FA Cup this season, a match which Leafe won by two goals to nil.

Fifth place Herne Bay earned a useful point at Hastings in midweek, and travel for a clash of two form sides as they head to Hythe Town. Bay have only one defeat from their last ten matches, but the Cannons have won six of their last seven and aren’t likely to be overawed.

Our early kick off sees Guernsey host Sittingbourne at 2PM. The visiting Brickies will be boosted by the permanent signing of former Gillingham striker Roman Campbell, and will hope to pick up some points after taking only one from their last nine; whilst the Green Lions brought a poor run of their own to an end by winning their last two.

Sevenoaks Town, who start the day in ninth, travel to Faversham Town. The two have both taken ten points from their last ten matches, and both have only two wins from that period, whilst Oaks will take heart from how close they came to defeating Hastings last weekend whilst the Lilywhites will be boosted by their draws with Cray Valley PM and Whitehawk.

Whitstable Town welcome Burgess Hill Town to Belmont. The Hillians have just strengthened their squad with two new signings, and had two recent victories on trips to the Kent coast, defeating Herne Bay and Ramsgate, but were beaten three-nil by Phoenix Sports last weekend. Whitstable have won their last two and are unbeaten in four, so are unlikely to be overawed.

We have a Sussex derby, as Chichester City host Haywards Heath Town. It isn’t long since these two were rivals in the Southern Combination Football League, and haven’t they both done well since promotion- but both will want to get back to winning ways after defeats. The need is greater for Heath, as they’ve lost their last three, whilst Chi were unbeaten in four before losing to Herne Bay last time out.

Finally, nineteenth hosts eighteenth as Three Bridges travel to Ramsgate. The Rams came from behind to beat relegation rivals East Grinstead Town last weekend, picking up their first three points in a long time after five successive defeats. Bridges have lost five of their last six, and are ahead of their hosts only on goal difference. The last time they met the match ended goalless, so here’s hoping this one brings us more entertainment!