Rams undo the Nuts and Bolts

Our leaders, Ramsgate, faced the tough challenge of the visit of second place Ashford United- who did the double over them last season. Any double this season, however, will have to be delivered by the Rams, who came behind to win this encounter by three goals to two. Omar Lawson opened the scoring for United after just seven minutes, a lead they held until nine minutes before the break when Kane Rowland drew the hosts level. Rowland then pounced once more just before half time, but the visitors were level once more just after the restart, Toby Ajaya with the equaliser. The winner came eighteen minutes from time, and it came from Jack Paxman- the Rams holding on despite the late dismissal of Joshua Ajayi. Eight hundred and forty five watched on, and the Rams are two points clear.

Chatham Town welcomed the Rams conquerors last weekend, Littlehampton Town. The match only had one goal, and we had to wait until eleven minutes from time for that to arrive. It came to the hosts, and Dan Bradshaw gave them all three points in front of a crowd of six hundred and forty eight- three points which see them two behind Ramsgate with a game in hand.

Whitehawk are a point further back courtesy of a two-nil win over Corinthian. The Hawks had a goal in each half to show for their hard work, Jerson Dos Santos with the opener on twenty four minutes, Rob O’Toole’s sixth of the season making sure twelve minutes from time.

Cray Valley PM were on the road to Sheppey United. The Millers had gone six matches unbeaten- seven, if you count their Kent Cup win over Bromley in midweek; whilst the Ites were also on a good run until losing their way a little in defeat to Burgess Hill Town in midweek. The hosts went ahead on twenty minutes, Danny Leonard doing the damage, but that woke up the visitors and particularly Dan Bennett, who scored two to give his side a half time lead. The next goal was crucial, and it went to the visitors, Ade Adeyemo ensuring that they stay fifth- ahead of Beckenham Town on goal difference.

Burgess Hill Town travelled to Beckenham Town with only two defeats from ten, their hosts in the midst of an inconsistent run- but it was Becks who picked up the three points. We had a flurry of early goals, Jamarie Brissett putting the hosts ahead on two minutes and Ashley Elson replying immediately for the visitors- and it seemed both sides would have to settle for a draw. Danny Waldren, however, thought otherwise, and got the winner right at the end.

Image from Chris Neal- more here.

VCD Athletic ended a poor run with wins over Faversham Town and Burgess Hill, but will hope not to have started a new one as the Wasps irritated their hosts, coming from two down to win four-three. It seemed plain sailing for Vickers when Jack bath and Soul Kader put them two-nil up at the break, but East Grinstead Town were back into the game almost immediately after the restart, Sam Williams levelling, and former Crawley Town defender Glenn Wilson equalised on fifty seven minutes. The visitors then went ahead, Max Walsh scoring their third with fourteen minutes left, and they effectively clinched the match when Omar Folkes scored from the spot three minutes from time. Anthony Adesite then saw red for the hosts, who still managed a late goal from Kader, but it was too little, too late.

Chichester City welcome Sevenoaks Town in a mid table battle, and City got their first win in four with the only goal of the game. Josh Clack got it, eight minutes before the break, and City are ninth.

Sittingbourne played host to Lancing. The Brickies have slipped down the table, and were eight matches without a win if we include Kent and Velocity Cups- a run that now increases to nine, but they did get a point against the Lancers. Youssouf Bamba opened the scoring for the Brickies after just four minutes, but Kane Louis equalised before the break, and that was that.

Haywards Heath Town certainly haven’t had the season we might have expected, and came into their match with Hythe Town third from bottom, and with only one win in their last nine across all competitions. The Cannons, three points better off at start of play, got back to winning ways with victory over Lancing last time out, and couldn’t have had a better start, Johan Caney-Bryan giving them a third minute lead. After the break Tom Collins won it for Heath, scoring from the spot to equalise and then grabbing what proved to be the winner just after the hour. Heath remain third from bottom, but are now in the bottom four only on goal difference.

Finally, Three Bridges- impressive victors over Chatham Town last time out- welcomed bottom side Faversham Town. The Lilywhites have brought in so many new players of late that you’d need an abacus to keep track, but it hasn’t yet helped their form much, and they’d lost their last four- and indeed have only two league victories all season. That losing run is now up to five, as Bridges ran out comfortable winners in the end. Dan Ferreria gave them the lead just before the half hour, but the visitors were level by the break, Zak Ansah with the reply. Into the last fifteen minutes we went, and suddenly the hosts went ahead, Kieron Pamment giving them the advantage. Right at the end Curtis Gayler made sure with a third, sending his side up to thirteenth.

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