A battle for the summit!

Sittingbourne are level on points with leaders Broadbridge Heath, and with the Bears taking an enforced rest this weekend the Brickies will be aware that victory over Peacehaven & Telscombe will take them to the top of the table. The Brickies have started the League season in find form, undefeated and with four wins from five, whilst their visitors are four without a win and down in thirteenth place.

Hastings United, with four wins and a defeat from five, welcome mid table Merstham to Pilot Field. United have lost their last two matches in League and Trophy so will want to make sure that defeat doesn’t become a habit, whilst the Moatsiders are four without a win in all competitions, including three defeats- all of those results on the road. Merstham are unbeaten in the last seven meetings between the sides. 

Two unbeaten sides, Faversham Town and Herne Bay, meet at the Aquatherm Stadium. The Lilywhites have played seven home matches in all competitions this season and triumphed in six of them, and indeed have seen their only defeat come against top flight second place Welling United in the Cup. Bay have played only three League matches and won them all, although they have departed both knockout competitions. Both of last season’s meetings between the sides ended in draws.

Sixth place Margate travel to take on a side still looking for a first win of the season, Sevenoaks Town starting the weekend third from bottom. Gate have hit a little slump, losing three out of their last four in League, Cup and trophy, whilst Oaks are undefeated at home despite their struggles too pick up a victory, and have generally played better than their points tally would suggest. The last four meetings between the sides have brought a win each and two draws, Gate taking four points last season.

Croydon Athletic know that a win will lift them into the top seven- indeed, perhaps as high as third. The Rams welcome an Ashford United side who start the weekend three points behind them. Athletic are looking for a fourth successive League win, whilst the Nuts and Bolts have won their last two matches in League and Trophy by an aggregate of seven-one. United did the double over Athletic last season.

South Park Reigate will expect to jump into a Play Off spot if they can defeat visitors Steyning Town. The Sparks have actually been better on the road so far this season, but have taken four points from their last two matches; whilst Steyning will be playing for the first time since August Bank Holiday Monday- a long time to wait before trying to build upon their first win of the season, which came against Eastbourne Town.

Two wins in a row have propelled Horley Town up the table, and they’ll be hoping for another three points as they travel to take on Eastbourne Town. The side from the seaside have lost three of their last four in the League, and indeed three in a row in League and Trophy. 

Deal Town are the hosts for Punjab United. Deal will hope that they have finally found their feet after winning two home matches in a row, Sheppey United despatched in the Trophy and Merstham in the League; whilst United are still looking for a first Step Four win and start the weekend at the bottom of the table, and have lost five in a row in all competitions- although they have put tip a decent show in the latest two narrow defeats against promotion-chasing Sittingbourne and Faversham Town.

Whitstable Town and Cray Valley PM have had rather poor starts to the campaign, the Oysterboys second from bottom after one win from four, the Millers sixteenth after no wins yet but four draws from six. Town have followed three wins in all competitions with three defeats, whilst their visitors haven’t yet managed a win from eight matches in League, Cup and Trophy. 

In the Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round, Crowborough Athletic travel to take on the Beavers of National League South Hampton and Richmond Borough. The Crows have saved their best form for the Cup so far this season, winning only one of five in the League and yet knocking out Premier side AFC Whyteleafe in the last round and scoring eight goals to defeat Guernsey and Epsom and Ewell at the start of the competition. Their hosts are fourth from bottom in Step Two, but have saved their best form for their home matches, losing only one of four at the Beveree. 

Sheppey United travel to take on Step Five opposition, SCEFL Premier side Snodland Town their hosts. The Ites need to avoid complacency, as their hosts knocked fellow South East side Margate out at Hartsdown Park in the last round, and indeed have only one defeat in any competition so far this season. Sheppey have only one League win so far this season but have been much improved in the Cup, defeating SCEFL opposition in Kennington and Rusthall, and Combined Counties Premier Redhill to reach this stage.