Unbeaten records fall, whilst Vickers and Chats climb

Ramsgate kicked off with a four point lead at the top of the table, and hoped to extend it as they welcomed Sheppey United- but the Ites inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Rams. Rodney Adamon Eruotor was the hero for the visitors, scoring two goals in the ten minutes after the break and silencing many of the six hundred and thirty seven watching on. Theo Osinfolarin got one back with thirteen minutes left, but the Ites held on and the Rams lead is down to three points.

Another previously unbeaten club, Beckenham Town, also saw their unbeaten record disappear- against VCD Athletic, who leapt over them into second. Perhaps distracted by next week’s FA Cup tie against Dagenham and Redbridge next Saturday, the hosts went behind after just twelve minutes, Andrew Allassani with the goal- but levelled before the half hour, Jamarie Brissett with the equaliser. Twelve minutes from time Youssef Bamba got the winner for Vickers, and secured ten points from their last twelve.

Chatham Town had their eye on a top four spot as they welcome bottom side Corinthian. Cup and Trophy commitments had seen the Chats play only one league match since August Bank Holiday Monday, but Trophy and Cup defeats meant they could now concentrate on their bread and butter- and they’d been very good in the league so far. Their visitors hadn’t managed to win a league game, and came into this fixture on the back of four consecutive defeats- and now that run has lengthened to five, after Dan Bradshaw got the only goal of the game twelve minutes from time. Chats up to fourth.

Haywards Heath Town seemed to have put a poor start behind them and had climbed to eighth- but their revival was punctured against Sittingbourne, who left with two goals and three points. Mario Quissaca put the visitors ahead after just two minutes, Donvieve Jones added a second late on, and Dean Gunner saw red for the hosts.

Hythe Town and Littlehampton Town met in a mid-table battle. The Golds had gone four matches without a win, whilst the Cannons had only one win from their last six- and a goalless draw perhaps wasn’t what either required, but it was what they got.

Chichester City, our draw specialists, managed a victory against Three Bridges, who- due to their cup exploits- were playing their first league match since August Bank Holiday Monday. Tad Bromage put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, but a red card for Curtis Gayler meant they had to play half the match with ten men- and City took advantage. Josh Clack equalised just before the break, and just before the hour Lloyd Rowlatt sealed three home points.

We had a Sussex derby as East Grinstead Town welcomed Lancing. Only one point separated the two at start of play, and the Wasps had four consecutive defeats to recover from, whilst the Lancers had also gone four games without a win. It was the hosts who regained their sting, an early goal from former Lancer Matt Daniel and a late Andrew Briggs effort sealing a two-nil win.

Into the FA Trophy now.

Ashford United played host to Kings Langley, who are mid table in Pitching In Southern Premier Central. The visitors had gone five matches without a win, lost the last four, and conceded sixteen goals in the process, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise when Lanre Azeez put the Nuts and Bolts ahead on twenty five minutes, but the hosts couldn’t hold onto their lead until the break, a penalty equaliser on the stroke of half time drawing the visitors level. Sadly for United, the winner arrived on seventy two minutes, and it was Kings who left happy.

Burgess Hill Town picked up their first League win of the season last time out, but the Hillians have been much better in cup competitions. They welcomed Pitching In Isthmian South Central Hanworth Villa, and Dan ‘Hitman’ Perry opened the scoring for the hosts after just six minutes. Martyn Box made it two with eighteen minutes left, and although Jonathan Hippolyte immediately got one back the Hillians held on for victory, disappointing the visiting fans and their famous friend- above, courtesy of Chris Neal.

Carshalton Athletic welcomed a side who have a positive recent cup pedigree, Cray Valley PM. The Robins went ahead eight minutes before half time, Femi Akinwande with the goal, but the Millers were soon level, Adam Coombes sending them into the break happy. The Robins struck next, Matthew Vigor eighteen minutes from time, but again the Millers struck back, Connor Dymond equalising. Off we went to penalties, and the hosts won the shootout, four-three.

Folkestone Invicta hoped to take the form they showed when knocking Dulwich Hamlet out of the FA Cup last weekend into the Trophy, as Whitehawk came to call. The Hawks, nine games unbeaten, were no pushovers- and although Ibrahim Olutade put the hosts ahead on sixty nine minutes, a missed penalty cost Invicta when the visitors responded just before the end, Marcus Marku sending the match to penalties. Invicta were better from the spot during the shootout, winning four-three.

Grays Athletic welcomed Faversham Town to Parkside, and neither side could find the net until the dreaded shootout, which the hosts won four-two.

Lewes hoped a new month might change their fortunes after September saw them depart the FA Cup against Pitching In South East opposition and fail to take a League point. The Rooks welcomed Sevenoaks Town, who are still in Cup and of course defeated National League South side Bath City last weekend, and the hosts went ahead just after the hour, Deon Moore opening the scoring. That turned out to be that, five hundred and fifty watching on, most leaving both relieved and happy.

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