One win from the title

Chatham Town’s win over closest challengers Ramsgate means that one more win will hand them the title and promotion- but fifth place Cray Valley PM will be determined to spoil the Chats party. The hosts remain unbeaten on their own patch prior to their final home match, and having won their last five are our form side; but just behind them in our ten match form table are the Millers, who have won five of their last six. Cray Valley have only a one point lead over Sheppey United and Hythe Town in sixth and seventh, albeit with a game in hand over those two sides- but following their trip to Chatham have two difficult matches against relegation-fighters VCD athletic and nearest challengers Sheppey United. They’ll want to confirm their top five place before welcoming the Ites on the last day.

Second place Ramsgate have Whitehawk breathing down their necks, one point behind with a better goal difference- and, of course, it is the Hawks who travel to the Kent coast. When the two met in Sussex the Rams triumphed three-one, which will give the Hawks extra motivation to take revenge- but in truth the best motivation will be home advantage in the play offs, perhaps all the way to the final. The Rams have gone four matches without a win, the Hawks seem to have recovered from their blip by winning their last two.

Beckenham Town welcome East Grinstead Town to Eden Park. Becks have only a two point advantage over the two sides in sixth and seventh, albeit with a game in hand, and have lost only one of their last six after snatching victory at Sevenoaks Town on Monday, winning comfortably despite being two down at half time. Goals from Nicholas Curran and Louie Theophanous gave becks victory at College Lane the last time they met the Wasps, but with their visitors only four points clear of the bottom four in the race to avoid a relegation play off they’ll be motivated to add to their tally.

Sheppey United welcome another side involved in that battle to stay out of a relegation play off spot, Lancing. The Lancers have a three point advantage over the bottom four, although VCD Athletic, who occupy seventeenth place, have a game in hand. The Ites are in fine form, winning six of their last seven, whilst their visitors have only one win from five- and lost against these opponents in December, a last gasp Tom Hanfrey goal sending the points from Sussex to Sheppey. Victory could take the Ites into the top five should Beckenham or Cray Valley fail to win- and you can watch for half price as the club have reduced admission prices.

Hythe Town have had a fine season, and know that victory at VCD Athletic could take them into the top five. The Cannons have won five of their last six, whilst Vickers have only two wins from ten, but showed real purpose in defeating Ashford United last time out and know that victory over another play off chaser could lift them out of the bottom four. A goalless draw was the outcome when the two sides met in December- a repeat of that may not be much good for either side.

Ashford United have fallen five points away from the top five with two matches remaining, so will find it very difficult to crash the end of season party. They head to Sussex to face Chichester City, their hosts comfortable in mid table although without a win in seven matches- six of which they lost.

Haywards Heath Town welcome Sevenoaks Town in a match critical to the hopes of the hosts, who are in eighteenth place, two points away from safety and faced with the prospect of a relegation play off. Heath have only one win from ten, and are desperate for three points which might lift them out of the bottom four; whilst Oaks promotion hopes have vanished with five consecutive defeats.

Sittingbourne are in superb form and are looking to climb to ninth place- unthinkable a few months ago- with victory over Burgess Hill Town. That victory, should it arrive, could be incredibly damaging for the Hillians, who need the points much more, given they sit outside the relegation play off positions by only one point. The Brickies are unbeaten in eleven matches and come into this one on the back of four consecutive victories, whilst the Hillians have three wins and seven defeats from their last ten but narrowly defeated the Brickies the last time they met.

Three Bridges find themselves only two points above the relegation play off places, and welcome Littlehampton Town (all ticket, 1PM kick off) hoping to recapture their home form from earlier in the season. Bridges have lost their last five matches and really can’t afford to lose another; whilst the Golds are four unbeaten and secure in mid table, although they have drawn three of those four matches.

Finally, relegated Corinthian and Faversham Town face each other, with only the avoidance of the wooden spoon to play for. The Hoops have made admission ‘pay what you want.’

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