Millers reignite the title chase

By Ian Townsend

Cray Valley defeat the leaders, Chatham close the gap, Whitehawk, Ashford, Becks and Ites all triumph. It's our Pitching In Isthmian South East round up

Ramsgate had opened up a six point lead at the top of Pitching In Isthmian South East, but it was cut to three yesterday as they fell to defeat against one of the chasing pack- third place Cray Valley PM. The Millers are our form team, undefeated since October 15th, and that continued against the leaders, two second half goals doing the damage. Ali Tumkaya opened the scoring on fifty two minutes, and seven minutes later Barney Williams made sure with a second. The Millers have lost only one of their five meetings with the Rams since promotion to our ranks. Image courtesy of the Millers.

Chatham Town got back to winning ways against East Grinstead Town and moved to within three points of Ramsgate with a game in hand. The margin of victory was narrow- Seidou Sanogo with the only goal of the game- but we suspect the Chats faithful won’t care! Six hundred and eighty two watched on.

Whitehawk were on the road to Sittingbourne, who announced a new manager after the match. The Brickies are in freefall, dropping into the bottom three after a run of ten matches without a win, and that’s up to eleven after two second half goals saw the Hawks triumph. Will Miles opened the scoring just after the restart, and an own goal four minutes later effectively ended the contest.

Ashford United seemed to have lost their way a little, with only two wins from ten coming into their match with Burgess Hill Town- but they got back to winning ways, coming from behind to take the points. Lewis Finney put the Hillians ahead midway through the first half only for Danny Parish to quickly equalise- his fourth in four matches- but Dan Perry restored the visitors lead almost immediately after the break. The equaliser arrived only ten minutes from time, Gary Lockyer with it- and right at the end Gil Carvalho delivered a winner for the hosts.

Beckenham Town welcomed a Lancing side who had looked rejuvenated under Dean Cox, but that particular honeymoon ended with a thumping at Eden Park. Three first half goals did most of the damage, Rob Carter, Steve Townsend and Mudiaga Wanogho with those- the last two on forty three and forty five minutes. Nine minutes after the restart Carter got his second of the afternoon, and that was that. Becks are outside the top five only on goal difference.

Sheppey United had quietly moved up to eighth place by winning three of their last five, and climbed to seventh with a comfortable win at Chichester City. Warren Mfula’s twenty first of the season started things off after ten minutes, Jake Embery quickly added a second, and that was that. City have won only two of their last eleven.

Haywards Heath Town welcomed VCD Athletic to a rather damp Mid Sussex, and the two played out a one-one draw. Heath took the lead through Alex Laing on sixty six minutes, but the visitors equalised eleven minutes later- although we don’t yet know who the scorer was. Jack Bath took a slightly early bath for the visitors, seeing red just before the end.

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Where next?

Maxwell for the Brickies Former Braintree boss is new manager- and Director of Football- at Sittingbourne
Woods bounce back- whilst the Swans win our big match Northwood stay three points clear, Walton defeat Marlow, whilst we've comfortable wins for Basingstoke and Chertsey. Chipstead go nine unbeaten with a win at Sutton Common Rovers. It's our Pitching In Isthmian South East round up.

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