Ten clear for Hastings, whilst Bridges shock the Millers

Our leaders Hastings, having won their last five and the Manager of the Month award for boss Gary Elphick, were nine points clear as they kicked off against Corinthian. The last time the two met it was our Isthmian new boys who triumphed, so the majority of the one thousand, three hundred and twenty nine present were looking for revenge, and they got it, courtesy of Ben Pope. The United number eight got a hat trick, two in the first half and the third from the spot late on, making it twenty for the season- and a lead increased to ten points.

Second place Cray Valley PM welcomed Three Bridges, the visitors having been in fine form of late and having picked up the Performance of the Month Award for their walloping of the Millers promotion rivals Ashford United. Bridges managed to defeat another of the promotion chasers when a late Dan Perry goal earned them victory. Connor Dymond scored at both ends before Hitman Perry hit for the nineteenth time this season.

The Nuts and Bolts were on the road to Hythe Town, having won all three matches since that Bridges thrashing, whilst their hosts had taken only eight points from their last thirty. The Cannons didn’t get any more today, either, Ashford running out two-one winners. Frannie Collin opened the scoring for the visitors on twenty one minutes, Luke Burdon (pictured courtesy of the club) made it two eight minutes before the break, and although Riley Alford got a late goal for Town, that was that. United climb to second place.

Ramsgate boss Matt Longhurst welcomed his former club, East Grinstead Town, to the seaside. The Rams, having won two and lost two of their last four, were nonetheless on a much better run that their visitors, who had only one point from the same period- and Longhurst’s side weren’t all that welcoming, scoring three goals after the break. Josh Ajayi’s twenty first of the season opened the scoring, and own goal doubled the advantage, and Jamie Coyle got the third just before the end. Ramsgate climb to third.

Haywards Heath Town welcomed a Faversham Town side who have become rather parsimonious at the back of late, picking up our Golden Gloves award for February. The Lilywhites only conceded one in this match, but it was rather important as it was the only goal of the game. Davigildo Craig got it after twenty two minutes, and it sent Heath back into the top five.

Herne Bay, starting the day in fifth, were on the road to relegation-threatened but much changed Sevenoaks Town. New Oaks boss Harry Hudson has reshaped his squad, and to great effect, as they got two late goals to defeat their high flying visitors. Ryan Palmer gave Oaks an early lead, but the visitors drew level twelve minutes after the break through Rory Smith. Then eight minutes from time the hosts went ahead, Yahaya Bamba restoring their advantage, before Freddie Parker, on loan from Lewes, made sure five minutes from time.

Lancing defeated Burgess Hill Town in a Sussex derby. Isiah Corrie gave the Lancers the lead after five minutes, but Lewis Taylor levelled from the spot four minutes after the break. The winner also came from the spot, Mahamadou Juwara converting five minutes from time.

Sittingbourne went level on points with hosts VCD Athletic after victory at Oakwood. There was only one goal, and it came from the spot, Johan Caney-Bryan converting on sixty six minutes. It was one-one on red cards, Chris Edwards for Vickers and Harrison Pont for the Brickies departing early, albeit within six minutes of each other midway through the second half.

Whitehawk and Phoenix Sports couldn’t manage a goal between them. They did have a challenge that will, we predict, be the talk of social media this morning, however.

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