Rams and Chats continue their top two tussle

Our leaders, Ramsgate, yesterday brought in Gil Carvahlo from Ashford United but lost Josh Ajayi to Dover Athletic. They head to Three Bridges, first v seventeenth- but those positions in the table don’t tell the whole story. If this match was on the Kent coast then the Rams, who are a point clear of Chatham Town at the top, would be firm favourites- but at Jubilee Field Bridges are an entirely different proposition, with only one defeat all season. Bridges have lost only one of their last five- but they haven’t played since January 2nd.

Second place Chatham Town only have a point to make up on the Rams- and they have a game in hand. The Chats are on the road to Ashford United, the Nuts and Bolts having slipped to seventh place after a run of only three wins from ten. The Chats are on a run which has seen them take five wins from six, and have already defeated United twice this season, in the Kent Cup and the league.

Third place Beckenham Town welcome a much improved Sittingbourne to Eden Park. The Brickies know that victory could see them climb out of the bottom four, and they’ve taken four points from their last two matches- a victory over VCD Athletic and a draw with leaders Ramsgate. Becks have lost three of their last ten- but they have won the other seven, and were impressive in becoming the latest side to defeat Faversham Town with a three-nil win on Tuesday night. Becks are five points behind the leaders- but perhaps more importantly have a six point advantage over sixth place Whitehawk, and they’ll want to keep it that way.

Cray Valley PM are our form side, the team in fourth place undefeated since mid October. The Millers, who lost Connor Dymond to Herne Bay yesterday, are on the road to the Sussex coast as they face eighth place Littlehampton Town. Cray have a came in hand over beckenham Town and Chatham Town, two in hand over leaders Ramsgate, but there is a seven point gap between themselves and top spot, courtesy of more drawn matches than anyone else in the top ten. The Golds have been in good form, with only three defeats from ten, but were hit for seven by Sheppey United last time out.

The Ites have been in sparkling form, five consecutive wins seeing them climb to fifth place. They are on the road to take on second bottom Corinthian, the Hoops seven points from safety but confident after scoring four at VCD Athletic last time out. Sheppey won their first meeting of the season by the only goal.

Whitehawk make the long trip to Hythe Town and will hope to get back into the top five. The Hawks have lost four of their last six, including defeat in a stormy match- in every way you can imagine- last time out against Littlehampton Town, whilst Hythe are only a point above the bottom four and have lost three of their last four. That said, with only a point between thirteenth and seventeenth, there are a four sides who are only a point above the bottom four! The Hawks defeated the Cannons two-nil in October.

Sevenoaks Town welcome East Grinstead Town. There have been some superb moments for Oaks this season, but a lack of consistency sees them start the weekend six points away from fifth place. The Wasps are one of those sides a point above the bottom four, and have lost three of their last four.

Haywards Heath Town, who have put five points between themselves and the bottom four in recent weeks, are on the road along the A27, where they will get stuck in traffic in Lancing, Worthing and Arundel on the way to Chichester City. They will get stuck, it’s the law in these parts.

Heath have lost only one of their last six, whilst City are five without a victory and could end up in the bottom four if they lose again.

Lancing, suffering from altitude sickness in twelfth place, take on the side directly behind them as they travel to Burgess Hill Town. Three wins from five under boss Dean Cox have transformed the Lancers fortunes, whilst a fire and a flood in Burgess Hill’s clubhouse has kept them away from home since early December so they’ll be glad to be back there after four unavoidable away games. Hill have only one win from six, and are the first of those clubs who are just a point above the bottom four.

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