The Rams and Millers battle for top spot- again

Leaders Ramsgate make their longest trip of the season as they head to Horndean this season, knowing that they may need to continue their winning run if they are to hold onto top spot. The Rams have looked confident when winning their last four matches and start the day with a two point lead at the top, whilst Horndean have lost three of their last four but perhaps shouldn’t be judged only by that, as they’ve delivered some fine performances this season- a four-nil hammering of Hythe Town ten days ago one of a number of those. The Rams will be favourites, but they may need to be wary! The first meeting between the sides this season ended in a two-nil Ramsgate victory.

Cray Valley PM have a relatively short journey ahead of them, as they travel to take on bottom side Beckenham Town. The Millers still have only one defeat this season, and have won four of their last five- each of them rather comfortably- whilst Becks, who start the day nine points from safety with two games in hand, have only one win from ten, three wins from twenty eight, and no wins from their last seven. They were, however, within seconds of a point the last time the sides met, a last-gasp goal from Marcel Barrington giving the Millers a two-one win- and they took four points from the Millers last season. Last season, however, if you’re a Becks fan, must feel almost a lifetime ago.

Third place Sittingbourne have been better on the road than on their own patch this season, and after Saturday’s defeat against Broadbridge Heath will be happy to be on the road again, although perhaps wishing they didn’t have to travel quite so far! Littlehampton Town are the hosts for our third place side. The Brickies have eight wins from ten and, given they are eleven points clear of sixth place Three Bridges, must be almost sure of a play off place even if their chances of taking the title look to be remote; whilst tonights hosts have other problems. The Golds are six points clear of the bottom two, but are six without a win and have lost their last four. The sides meet again on the last day of the regular season.

Broadbridge Heath, victors over Sittingbourne on Saturday, are back on their own patch. The Bears, four unbeaten- matches from which they have taken ten points- are in the best form of their Isthmian careers and welcome Sevenoaks Town looking to add to their tally. Oaks are in tenth, thirteen points away from the top five, and have probably left any play off challenge too late, but won’t yet have given up on their promotion aspirations. They’ll have revenge on their minds, too, after a goal two minutes into added time gave the Bears victory at Greatness Park earlier this month.

Burgess Hill Town and Ashford United meet in Mid Sussex- Wivelsfield Station, visiting fans- with this one a 7.30 PM kick off. The Hillians have slipped down to thirteenth after a run of one point from their last seven matches, and whilst they are thirteen points clear of the bottom two they’ll want to put a stop to that decent. The Nuts and Bolts changed their manager after last weekends win over Littlehampton Town, and are two places and six points better off after a disappointing season so far. United have won the last three encounters between the sides- and indeed Hill have won only one of their last eight against these opponents, losing the rest.

Also at 7.30 PM, East Grinstead Town play host to Hythe Town. The Wasps are eight points clear of the bottom two, and having taken four points from their last two matches seem to have put their losing run behind them. The travelling Cannons are still looking up, thirteen points away from a top five spot with six matches in hand. We’ve written a lot about the additional matches Hythe have to play, but for them to matter they will need to come with points, and the last two have brought only one of those! We remember from last season just how dangerous Hythe can be if they can put together a run, but it might need to start tonight! The Cannons defeated the Wasps in League and Cup at the start of the season, and have lost only one of the last seven meetings between the sides.

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