Maidstone keep up the pace

By Peter Butcher

WHO can stop Maidstone in Ryman South? The leaders faced a potentially difficult Kent derby at fourth-placed Faversham yesterday (Saturday) and made light of their task with four unanswered goals in front of 615, the division’s best crowd of the season an

Nicky Humphrey headed home Alex Flisher’s free-kick in the 16th minute and Ian Draycott continued his scoring form with two in the second half before Sam Bewick wrapped it up in added time.

Hythe look to have done themselves no harm by signing long-serving Folkestone striker James Everitt this week. Ratty, as he was known during his nine years at Folkestone, marked his debut by scoring both goals in the 2-0 home win over Whitstable which lifted his new side into second place.

Everitt opened the scoring with a deflected shot moments before the interval and headed his second after 70 minutes.

It was certainly a tight game, as witnessed by the tangle pictured by Les Biggs which features at least 10 players.

Dulwich won by the same score at bottom club Walton Casuals to take over third place.Another new signing played his part here: 18-year-old substitute Daniel Carr, who broke the deadlock early in the second half. Lewis Gonsalves added the second on the hour.

Early pacemakers Crawley Down dropped to fourth as their slump continued with a 4-1 pasting at Ramsgate, who moved into the top half of the table. The first half finished all square, with Fraser Logan replying to Tom Chapman’s early strike for the hosts. The game was effectively settled in three minutes around the hour mark, when Ian Pulman restored Ramsgate’s lead and Warren Schulz made it 3-1 from the spot. Pulman was on target again ten minutes later.

Herne Bay’s promotion push, in their debut season, was derailed by lowly Worthing who, like a number of teams at the wrong end of the table, are picking up the vast majority of their points away from home – 12 out of 15 in their case. It could hardly have started better for the hosts, who took the lead inside 30 seconds through Joe Turner. Scott Kirkwood turned things round, converting a 19th-minute penalty and scoring again three minutes later. Jamie Brotherton’s intended cross found the net to stretch the lead on 64 minutes and Chris O’Flaherty completed a 4-1 scoreline eight minutes later.

Tooting, who had claimed 12 of their 13 points on the road, at last found their home form with a 3-0 win over Corinthian-Casuals. They were given a fltying start by Taurean Roberts, who scored twice in the first nine minutes. Casuals had a chance to get back in the game after 20 minutes but Darren Behcet saved Jordan Cheadle’s penalty. Jordan Wilson made sure with a solo goal seven minutes from time.

Horsham are unusual among the struggling sides by saving their best performances for their home fans and they maintained that with a 2-1 victory over Folkestone. Gary Charman, with a header, and Billy Medlock, with a free-kick, netted goals in the 13th minute of each half. Stuart King replied with a penalty in the 63rd minute, becoming the division’s undisputed top scorer with his 11th league goal (and, for seven minutes, the joint-top scorer in the league).

Three Bridges, kept off the bottom of the table only by goal difference, were given a boost when Joe White saved a 19th-minute penalty by Fabio Saraiva for visiting Merstham. But two goals in the last five minutes of the half, from Jack Macleod and Mark Nwokoji, put Merstham in charge. Marcus Elliott pulled one back with 20 minutes left but a late Nwokeji effort made it 3-1 and ended the home side’s hopes.

Burgess Hill led for most of their home game with Leatherhead after Pat Harding’s third-minute goal but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. With 12 minutes left Hillians keeper Mark Zawadski was sent off for bringing down Tommy Hutchings and Greg Andrews made no mistake with the penalty.

Chipstead fought back from 2-0 down to draw with Walton & Hersham, who also took a third-minute lead through Phil Williams. Harold Odemetey doubled it after 25 minutes but Jason Goodchild gave the home side some encouragement by pulling one back in the 40th minute. Again the equaliser came from the spot, James McShane scoring after 82 minutes to punish a foul on Rob Haworth.

Where next?

Marketmen lift Charity Shield THE new holders of the Isthmian Charity Shield are Ryman North club Needham Market, who won on penalties at Bury Town tonight (Tuesday) after a 0-0 draw.
Ray inspires Hastings comeback AFTER going six years without winning a game in the FA Cup, Hastings United have certainly made up for lost time.

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe