Millers one point from the title- whilst Wasps secure their survival

Cray Valley PM travelled to play their game in hand over leaders Ramsgate at Hythe Town last night, the Millers aware that victory would give them a three point lead at the top- with only one match left to play. You might have expected some nerves from the visitors, but what they delivered was a comprehensive victory that puts them only one point from the title.

On paper, at least, with Hythe having lost their previous ten matches, a Cray Valley victory looked a certainty- but at this stage of the season little is certain, so the travelling faithful would have been both delighted and relived when Adam Coombes broke the deadlock on fourteen minutes, putting the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give his side the lead. Coombes struck again six minutes before half time, assisted for the second time by Julien Anau, and the victory was as good as confirmed when Kyrell Lisbie’s twenty ninth of the season made it three-nil just after the break, and with sixteen minutes to go Anau went from provider to scorer to make it four.

The Millers travel to Horndean on Saturday needing one point to clinch the title, and promotion to our top flight. Ramsgate look to have a much tougher match in prospect, fourth place Three Bridges their visitors- but the title is out of their hands now, and they’ll need to hope for a Hampshire miracle.

As for our play offs, we know that either the Millers or the Rams will be hosts on Tuesday night, along with Sittingbourne, and we also know that Chichester City and Three Bridges will be heading to Kent, but as the last two could yet change order we won’t know who is playing who until Saturday evening.

At the other end of the table, third bottom East Grinstead Town welcomed twelfth place Horndean, the Wasps aware that victory would see them safe from relegation- and confirm a downward departure for Beckenham Town. The Wasps started the day two points clear of Becks with a game in hand over their relegation rivals, and they made that game in hand count, sweeping away the Deans with a four-nil win. Matt Daniel’s fourth goal of the season eased the nerves nine minutes before the break, and those nerves had departed altogether before an hour had passed, as a double from Omar Folkes turned a one-nil lead into a comfortable three goal cushion. On sixty two minutes Henry Sinai added a fourth, and the home celebrations could begin, whilst at Eden Park Avenue there was much sorrow. Goodbye to Beckenham Town, who have brought much joy to the division during their two season stay- we hope to see them again soon.

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