Rams hit the summit

By Ian Townsend

Ramsgate defeated promotion rivals, favourites Ashford recorded a narrow win, and we had wins for new boys Littlehampton and Beckenham. It’s our Pitching In Isthmian South East Round up.


Title favourites Ashford United travelled to Burgess Hill Town, just as they did at the start of last season. They won that first match of the previous campaign, and they won this one, too, although the margin of victory was halved. The only goal of the game came just before the break, and it went to Liam Friend- and that was enough to send all three points back home(lands) with the Nuts and Bolts faithful.

Our contender for match of the day came from Ramsgate, who welcomed Cray Valley PM. Both sides are reckoned to be amongst the promotion contenders, but the Rams had taken only one point from their last four meetings with the Millers so we expected they’d have to fight for three points. As it was, the fight was less tough than anyone might have expected, The Rams hitting three goals without reply. Jordan Chiedozie got the opener from the spot on three minutes, and after the break Joshua Ajayi added two more. Barney Williams got a red cars for the Millers, but the game was as good as over by then.

Corinthian welcomed Hythe Town. The hoops had a fabulous first Isthmian season, finishing in eighth place- only the top five lost fewer matches- but they didn’t start this campaign quite so well, as the Cannons left with three points, a clean sheet and two goals. Shad Ngandu got them both, in the first half.

Beckenham Town won a five-goal thriller at Lancing, and it was our match of the day, so you can read all about it here. Winning goalscorer Alfie Broomfield looks at the camera, above.

Another newly-promoted side, Littlehampton Town, also won a five-goal thriller, at Faversham Town. Nathan Wood gave the Lilywhites the lead on eighteen minutes, but that sparked the Golds into life, Jordan Layton equalising from the spot, Aaron Capon putting them ahead four minutes before the break, and Marshall Ball giving them a two goal cushion just after the hour. A Bradley Schafer penalty for Faversham three minutes from time didn’t alter the outcome.

VCD Athletic welcomed another of our promotion favourites, Haywards Heath Town, and won by the odd goal in three. Anthony Adesite gave Vickers the lead just before the break, and although Ibrahim Jalloh equalised for Heath shortly after the restart Dan Phillips got what proved to be the winner for the hosts with twenty two minutes remaining.

Whitehawk had a good start to the campaign, helped by Sittingbourne’s Ben Gorman, who was sent off after seven minutes. Joe Shelley converted the spot kick, Javaun Splatt doubled the Hawks advantage just before the break, and although Frank Puemo got one back for the Brickies just before the end, they didn’t have time to build on it.

East Grinstead Town saw a goal from Tahjae Anderson give them all three points just before the break against Chatham Town, whilst Sevenoaks Town defeated Three Bridges by the same scoreline despite ending the match with ten men. Ryan Gondoh got the goal, after just twelve minutes, and in a game which also had eight bookings, Karn Miller-Neave saw red with twenty two minutes left.

Sheppey United broke the deadlock against Chichester City just before the break, Jefferson Aibangbee with the goal- but Chi levelled seven minutes later through Callum Overton, and a point each was the result.

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Where next?

Two new Gulls Luca Albon and Rhys Byrne debut for Canvey Island
Goals galore in the South Central Four goal hauls for Chertsey, Westfield, Marlow and Rovers- and a big shock for Leatherhead. It’s our Pitching In Isthmian South Central round up

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