With three points between the top four, just who will be the five o'clock heroes?

A quick luck at the form guide shows that each of our top four are in good form, but also that each of them are prone to dropping points of late.

Our leaders, Ramsgate, face the tough challenge of the visit of second place Ashford United. The Rams have lost two of their last four, their latest defeat coming at the hands of Litttlehampton Town last weekend; whilst at the same time the Nuts and Bolts were defeating Haywards Heath Town four-nil, but that was their first win in four. The last time the side from Homelands travelled to face the Rams was on the Monday after New Years Day, and they left with a three-two win, particularly due to the form of Gary Lockyer- and they did the double over their seaside opponents with a four-two win in April, a match which saw Lockyer take his tally against the Rams for the campaign to four. Is it time for Rams revenge? They might need it to stay at the top.

Chatham Town welcome the Rams conquerors, Littlehampton Town. The Chats lost for only the second time this season last weekend, at Three Bridges, so will want to get straight back to winning ways; whilst the Golds are in their best form of the season, and followed up that Ramsgate win by demolishing Beckenham Town four-one in midweek. Another win for the Golds could see them occupy a top five spot.

Whitehawk are three points off the top, but have a better goal difference than any of their rivals. The Hawks knocked Premier Division Hastings United out of the Velocity Cup in midweek, a result which allowed them to quickly bounce back from last weekend’s first league defeat of the season, at Beckenham Town. The Hawks travel to take on struggling Corinthian, but our second bottom side have looked improved of late, only one defeat from four across all competitions. They removed Maidstone United from the Kent Cup in midweek.

Cray Valley PM start the day in fifth, and the Millers are on the road to Sheppey United, who are seven places- but only five points- behind them. Cray Valley have 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.

Beckenham Town are the hosts for the Hillians today. Our sixth place side flatter to deceive, one moment taking Whitehawk’s unbeaten record, the next being thrashed at Littlehampton- so today’s outcome might depend on which version of the Becks turn up. Victory could see them into the top five, whilst Hill, five points behind, have promotion aspirations of their own. They’ve only two defeats from ten as they travel to Eden Park.

VCD Athletic end a set of three sides on twenty three points. Vickers have ended a poor run with wins over Faversham Town and Burgess Hill, and today welcome East Grinstead Town. The Wasps are six points back in thirteenth place, but have taken four points from their last two matches and will travel hoping to add three more.

Tenth hosts eleventh as Chichester City welcome Sevenoaks Town. Both have stumbled a little of late, City without a win in three- although they did draw two of them; Oaks seeing a fine run brought to an end by East Grinstead Town and following that with a goalless draw against Sittingbourne. City took four points from their opponents last season.

Sittingbourne welcome Lancing. The Brickies have slipped down the table, and are eight matches without a win if we include Kent and Velocity Cups; whilst the Lancers aren’t much happier, as they’ve lost their last three league matches and slipped into the bottom four. The visitors may have a few new names in their squad, however.

Haywards Heath Town certainly haven’t had the season we might have expected, and come 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, got back to winning ways with victory over Lancing last time out.

Finally, Three Bridges- impressive victors over Chatham Town last time out- welcome 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’ve lost their last four- and indeed have only two league victories all season. Bridges have won two of their last three and seem to be on the up- but they’ve found a consistent good run hard to come by this season despite some fantastic performances on occasions.

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