Last gasp Chats hit the top

Our big match saw second welcome third, and although we knew that an away win could see the two swap places, we expected that would be rather difficult. Hosts Chatham Town were unbeaten at home, and although they lost to visitors Whitehawk at the Enclosed Ground just over a fortnight ago were an entirely different prospect on their own patch and went ahead on eighteen minutes, Jack Evans with the goal. The Hawks have been in fine form, with seven wins from eight, and they drew level just before the break, Kris Oti with the equaliser- silencing most of the ONE THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY WATCHING ON. Deep in added time at the end of the match, a penalty for the hosts- and Evans kept his cool to send his side to the summit.

Cray Valley PM saw a positive run end in defeat at Whitehawk last weekend, and with only one point between themselves and sixth place Sheppey United at kick off wanted to get back to winning ways quickly. They had a good start against relegation-threatened Burgess Hill Town, an own goal putting them ahead after just five minutes, and they doubled their advantage on the approach to half time, Ade Adeyemo making it two. Dan Perry made a match of it when halving the deficit with twenty minutes to go, but thirteen minutes from time the Millers restored their two goal cushion, Dan Bennett with his seventeenth of the season. That was how it ended, with Hill outside the bottom four only on goal difference after five defeats from their last six- two of them at the hands of Cray Valley. Image courtesy of the Millers.

Sheppey United were on the road to third bottom Haywards Heath Town, their hosts three points from safety- and perhaps still disappointed that they couldn’t defeat the leaders last time out, having come within seconds of doing so. Heath took only four minutes to go ahead, Conrad Honore opening the scoring, but a penalty converted by Richard Hamill on the half hour brought the Ites level. Heath got their noses in front once more on the hour, Dean Gunnar with what could have been a crucial goal- and indeed that’s how it turned out. Heath are now inside the bottom four only on goal difference, and the Ites slip to seventh.

Ashford United started the weekend only two points shy of the top five, and welcomed Lancing to Homelands. The Nuts and Bolts had lost only one of their last ten; whilst the Lancers, despite having difficulties at the other end of the table, had lost only one of their previous four, a run which had allowed them to put five points between themselves and the danger zone. After a goalless first half we had a further goalless thirty five minutes, and then the hosts broke the deadlock, Gary Lockyer the man with the finish. That turned out to be that- the Nuts and Bolts up to sixth.

Hythe Town still have play off pretentions, and went ahead against East Grinstead Town on eighteen minutes, Jack Evans with the opening goal. The Cannons doubled their advantage just before the break, Jason Fregene making it two, and it was game over twenty three minutes from time when Frannie Collin made it three. Ethan Smith added a fourth a few minutes later, and Hythe are eighth- four points behind the top five.

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