It’s a South East Boxing Derby Day!

South East leaders Ramsgate head into the festive season with a three point lead at the top of the table- but are still looking over their shoulders as second place Chatham Town have a game in hand. The only way the Rams can guarantee their place at the summit is to keep winning, and they have the obstacle of Hythe Town in front of them this weekend. Sixteen points and twelve places separate the two, and the Rams seem to be over a minor blip with only one defeat from their last six; however the Cannons seem to be finding their feet of late, with only one defeat from their last four and Johan Caney-Bryan having scored in six of their last nine matches. The Rams have already beaten the Cannons in league and Velocity Cup this season- will they make it three in a row? Kick off at 2PM.

The second place Chats have a tough task in prospect as they welcome Sevenoaks Town. Nine points and seven places separate the sides at kick off, but both sides have taken exactly the same number of points- twenty- from their last ten matches, and Oaks looked very good in defeating Haywards Heath Town and Whitehawk in their last two. The last time they met, on August Bank Holiday Monday, we were presented with a five goal thriller- the Chats coming from behind to win three-two.

Fourth place Whitehawk have hit a bit of a blip, losing three of their last four. The Hawks are on the road to Sussex rivals Three Bridges, and the home club are collecting food donations for the local community- so please take something along with you to donate, if you can afford it. Bridges have been brilliant at home this season, winning every match but one, and are in the bottom four entirely due to their away form, which is as dire as their home form is exceptional! The Hawks have drawn fifty per cent of their matches on the road, but will climb up to third if they can win this one- whilst so tight is it at the bottom that a home win could send Bridges soaring up to mid table. Kick off is at 1PM.

Ashford United have also encountered a rather large bump in the road. The Nuts and Bolts have only one win from their last eight matches, a run which has seen them drop out of the top five. Their opponents, Faversham Town, have only one win from their last ten- but two changes of manager of late and so many new players (57 so far this season) that they look as if they’ve been taking advantage of buy one get one free offers has perhaps hampered their progress. We expect new boss Sammy Moore to have them on the up in the very near future. Will the revival start on Boxing Day? Those in green will sincerely hope not! The Lilywhites are bidding to do the double over their hosts. Kick off is at 1PM.

Littlehampton Town, in eighth, welcome the side three places and four points behind them, Burgess Hill Town. The Golds have only one defeat from their last five, whilst the Hillians have a pretty green and red pattern of late that they will want to change immediately, L-W-L-W-L-W meaning that they are due another notch in the L column at the Sportsfield. The Golds won two-nil at the More than Tyres Stadium back in August. Kick off is at 1230.

Haywards Heath Town, seemingly revitalised under new management, welcome East Grinstead Town to Hanbury Park. Heath are a point above the bottom four and will want to stretch that margin- and have now won two of their last three; whilst the Wasps still search for consistency, and are just a point ahead of their hosts. A three match unbeaten run came to an end against Beckenham Town last time out.

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