Rams, Chats and Becks compete for top spot

We’ve two points between the top three so Ramsgate, Chatham Town or Beckenham Town could be top of the pile on Saturday night.

The Rams have what appears a tricky trip as they head to eighth place Sevenoaks Town. Oaks have delivered some fine moments this season but have struggled for consistency- but with only one defeat from six and a rather positive home record they won’t be afraid of their visitors- and with only two points between them and fourth place Cray Valley PM know that victory could see them break into the top five. Our leaders, unbeaten under new management (to be fair, that is only two matches!) were hit for four by the Oaks in October, although they did take six points from last season’s encounters and will be motivated by the fact that anything less than victory could see them knocked off the top.

Second place Chatham Town are away from home, which will be something of a concern to travelling fans as whilst their side has been unstoppable at home they have lost five of their eleven matches on the road. Hythe Town will hope to take advantage of that record, and the Cannons are in their best form of the season, with three wins from their last four. The hosts will also be desperate for some revenge- the Chats hit them for six in October.

Beckenham Town’s charge towards the top has slowed just a little, Becks taking only one point from their last two matches after defeat to Whitehawk and a draw with the Rams. Despite that, however, they welcome struggling Haywards Heath Town with the knowledge that victory could send them to the top of the table- and with only one defeat at home all season they will be firm favourites for three points. Heath, who have lost eight of their twelve away matches, are only a point above the bottom four and have taken only one point from their last nine. They did defeat Becks at Hanbury Park, however.

Cray Valley PM remain fourth despite hitting the skids of late, but they’ve fallen nine points behind third place Beckenham and eleven points behind the leaders. Three consecutive one-nil defeats have been their downfall, and they’ll look to put that right as they travel to Three Bridges- particularly as another failure could see them fall as far as eighth. Bridges have lost only twice at home, and have lost only one of their last six matches, but they are without a win in three. The Millers won the last encounter between the sides by the odd goal in five.

Fifth place Whitehawk head to Kent to take on bottom side Faversham Town. The Hawks have been on an inconsistent run, with five defeats from their last ten, but have looked closer to their best of late; whilst the Lilywhites, despite almost an entirely new squad under Sammy Moore, have still only won one of their last ten matches and are fourteen points from safety. The last time the two met, the Hawks scored six!

Ashford United, in sixth, welcome an improving Sittingbourne side. The Brickies remain five points from safety but have only one defeat from their last four. Mind you, they only have one win, too! The Nuts and Bolts seem to have ended a poor run and are two matches unbeaten, and defeated the Brickies three-one at the end of October.

Sheppey United, who are only a point behind Cray Valley and Whitehawk, will look to climb back into the top five as they travel to Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians have hung out the ‘under new ownership’ signs but a run of seven winless games has seen them fall into the bottom four. They did defeat the Ites four-two away from home in November, however.

We’ve a Sussex derby as Littlehampton Town welcome East Grinstead Town. The Golds have hit a bit of a slump, with three defeats from their last four; whilst the Wasps have taken two one-nil victories from their last two matches and consequently moved away from the bottom four- although with only three points between themselves in thirteenth and Burgess Hill Town in seventeenth they certainly won’t consider themselves safe. A Devon Fender goal settled their previous encounter in favour of the Golds.

Chichester City have suddenly found form, and welcome VCD Athletic after taking ten points from their last twelve- results which have lifted them to tenth place. Vickers, two places and three points behind, have only one win from their last nine matches- although perhaps two draws from their last two demonstrate that they are returning to an even keel.

Finally, second bottom Corinthian welcome Lancing. The Lancers have improved markedly under Dean Cox, with thirteen points from their last eight matches, but still remain only three points above the drop zone. The Hoops are twelve points behind, and ten points from safety, and with only two wins from ten surely have to find form shortly if they are to stand any chance of a great escape. The Lancers won their earlier encounter at Culver Road, Thomas Butler with the only goal of the game.

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