The top two play the bottom two as the title fight continues

Ramsgate returned to the summit last weekend, and they take a two point lead in the direction of London as they take on bottom side Beckenham Town. This time last season both sides were fighting for a play off spot, which just demonstrates how far Becks have fallen, and they are six points from safety- although they have looked much improved of late, with only two defeats from six. The Rams have one defeat from nine, may need a win to remain ahead of Cray Valley PM, and narrowly defeated Becks one-nil in November.

Cray Valley PM lost a crazy game against Three Bridges five-four last time out, their first defeat of the season, and will look to quickly put that behind them as they make a short trip to Erith and Belvedere. The Deres are second from bottom but only a point from safety- but have only two wins from ten, and may have to be at their best to take anything from a side who defeated them three-nil the last time they met.

Third place Sittingbourne have won eight of their last nine, a fine run, and yet are still nine points behind the leaders in third place. The Brickies are on the road to take on mid table Ashford United, the Nuts and Bolts seeing their three match unbeaten revival come to a crashing end in a four-nil defeat against Ramsgate last weekend. A Jardel Adeyinka goal was the difference between the sides when they met at the Roman Stadium in November, and the Brickies also defeated United in the Kent Cup two months earlier.

Fourth place Lancing have seen their lead over the chasing pack diminish to four points after a hitting an inconsistent patch, two wins, three defeats and a draw from their last six. The Lancers are heading along the A27 and up the A24 to take on Sussex rivals Broadbridge Heath, the Bears having opened up an eleven point gap on the bottom two and looking for a third consecutive win. The Lancers tamed the Bears two-one in November.

Chichester City have been magnificent of late, and hold fifth place on goal difference from Three Bridges and Herne Bay- although they have played one match more. City welcome Burgess Hill Town hoping to extend a seven match unbeaten run- and have won the last three without conceding a goal. The Hillians, in contrast, have hit rather a tricky patch, and are five without a win- having lost four of them. The last time the sides met they delivered an eight goal thriller, City with five of those and three points.

Three Bridges have scored more goals than anyone apart from Ramsgate this season, but only six clubs have conceded more- which is why their matches have been marvellously entertaining if you’re a neutral! Bridges are outside the top five only on goal difference, and will hope to make it four wins in a rows they welcome the side behind them only on goal difference, Herne Bay, in what looks very much like our match of the day. Bay have lost only two of their last ten but last Saturday’s defeat against Hythe Town saw them end the match with nine men, so they’ll want to put that quickly behind them. When the two sides last met Bridges saw a three goal lead snatched from them by Michael Salako and had to be content with a draw.

Sheppey United have fallen to seven points away from fifth place, but they do have two or even three games in hand over the sides above them, so will remain confident that they can take a play off place. The Ites welcome Sevenoaks Town, Oaks two places and four points behind them, and with only two wins in ten. This will be United’s first match for a fortnight, that last fixture a defeat against Merstham- and they’ll hope to complete a double after defeating Town one-nil in November.

Hythe Town play host to Horndean, as two sides who have been fighting a battle with the elements get back into action. The Cannons are eight points away from fifth place but have SIX games in hand over the side currently occupying it, and after their win at Herne Bay last weekend will be confident of closing that gap over the coming weeks, weather permitting! They’ve won three in a row, whilst the travelling Deans have lost their last two but were in good form prior to that, and will hope to increase the eight point gap between themselves and the bottom two- although they will remember that Hythe defeated them four-nil the last time they met.

Phoenix Sports welcome Merstham. Sports find themselves only one point above the drop zone and having gone eight matches without a win, whereas the Moatsiders were four unbeaten until their midweek home defeat against Chichester City, a run which has put ten points between them and the drop zone. They defeated Sports three-nil in November, and will be hoping for a quick reaction to defeat and a win double.

East Grinstead Town will hope to finally get back into action, as Littlehampton Town come to call. The Wasps are four points above the drop zone and have lost their last five, but have played only twice in the last month and haven’t had a home fixture since February 6th, so will be pleased to be back in front of their own fans. The travelling Golds are one place and two points better off, but have lost their last two and are four without a win. A Glenn Wilson double saw East Grinstead take the points at the Sportsfield in November.

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