Rams, Chats and Millers all win- and Ites hit seven!

Half of our Pitching In Isthmian South East fixtures were called off. Frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, but as four of our top five were in action so the world was at least partially sunny!

Our top match saw second host third, as Chatham Town welcomed former SCEFL rivals Beckenham Town. Becks were in good form, with four wins from their last five, however the Chats have been imperious at home, winning every match, and were quickly ahead, Dan Bradshaw- a past scourge of today’s visitors- opening the scoring on ten minutes. Seidou Sanogo doubled the home advantage just after the half hour, and the Chats made sure on the hour when Emmanuel Oloyede made sure of victory. One thousand and seventy two watched on.

Leaders Ramsgate had the tough challenge of Burgess Hill Town on the Kent coast, and fell behind midway through the first half, Dan Hitman Perry- we’re assured that’s his actual middle name- scoring his eighteenth of the season. The Hillians lead lasted just one minute, however, Tijan Jadama drawing his side level- and three minutes before the break the same player ensured that the home fans amongst the five hundred and two in attendance would be happy whilst queuing for their half time burger, making it two-one. The visitors did their best to get back into the game, but five minutes from time Jadama made sure of the points with his hat trick, and right at the end Ashley Miller added insult to injury with a fourth.

Cray Valley, three months unbeaten, welcomed Hythe Town- the first half goalless. The second half had more excitement, Dan Bennett and Denzel Gayle giving the Millers a two-nil victory and taking them up to third. Image from Suman Burta.

Sheppey United had the chance to break into the top five if they could defeat Littlehampton Town, and they took to the task with gusto. Jack Midson opened the scoring on ten minutes and Brad Schafer doubled their lead on twenty six, and although George Gaskin got one back for the visitors six minutes before the break Jake Embery then scored two in two minutes to put the hosts four-one up, albeit the two goals separated by the half time break. Embery completed his hat trick with seventeen minutes left, and then, right at the end, we had a bit of a goal frenzy. Devon Fender pulled the score back to five-two by scoring for the Golds, Bradley Schafer made it six-two, Josh Wisson added a seventh for the Ites whilst their fans pinched themselves in disbelief, and there was still time for Lucas Pattenden to score the tenth goal of the match and bring the final score to seven-three. By the way, the Ites also missed a penalty- not that they'll care!

Sevenoaks Town were quickly ahead at Lancing, Solomon Baugh opening the scoring after just five minutes, and they held that lead until the break before losing it almost immediately after the restart, Tyrone Madhani with his fifth of the season. The Lancers then completed the turnaround, Marcel Powell making it two-one, and the points were secured when Mo Jammeh got a third. Lancing climb to twelfth.

Friday night was a big night for Corinthian, as our second bottom side give a hiding to VCD Athletic. Big credit to Vickers ground staff for getting the match on given the conditions, but it was the visitors who profited. Oscar Housego opened the scoring for the super Hoops in the eighth minute, and Brandon Davey made it two six minutes before the break. Any hopes of a comeback ended when Sam Bewick made it three on fifty two minutes, and Oliver Box got a fourth four minutes later. An own goal right at the end wasn’t much of a consolation for the hosts, and Corinthian are seven points from safety- but only two from a relegation play off position.

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