Another South East and Trophy Saturday

South Central side Ascot United welcome South East side Margate in a match which promises much. The Yellas have won their last six matches in League and Cups, particularly delighting their supporters as the last four of those have been on their own Racecourse Ground. Anas Igozouln is looking to score for the fifth match in a row. The visitors haven’t lost a match alls eason, and seem to be getting better and better, winning five in a row, of which four have been on the road, including Tuesday’s win at South East leaders Beckenham Town and last Saturday’s demolition of Premier Division Bognor, four-nil on the Sussex coast. They seem to have goals throughout the team, Harvey Brand on five, player-boss Ben Greenhalgh on seven and- an actual striker- Ibrahim Olutade also on five.

Another South East v South Central match sees Ashford United welcome Hartley Wintney to Homelands. The Nuts and Bolts are yet to win in the league but throw a knockout competition at them and they come out swinging, having already won five cup ties this season. The Row have lost only one of their last four, and defeated South East opposition- East Grinstead Town- in the last round.

Flackwell Heath of Pitching In Southern Division One Central are the hosts for Broadbridge Heath. The Bears are on a good run, only a narrow defeat against Ramsgate in the Cup stopping them from winning five in a row- all on the road- whilst heath have won six of their last seven, including a win over Farnham Town in the last round.

Herne Bay were superb in defeating Hendon in the Cup last weekend, but followed that with a midweek Velocity Cup shootout defeat against Sheppey United. Bay have played most of the season on the road, but when they have been at home it has been something of a fortress and they’d like to keep it that way. Bridges are currently playing a long way from home at Chatham Town and will hope to get back to their own patch as soon as possible- and they’ll be back in herne Bay for a league match on October 1st. The Sussex side are yet to pick up a league win, perhaps unsurprisingly with every game an away game, but did win in Kent when defeating Hythe Town in the last round. Both matches between the sides last seaosn ended all square.

We’ve a Sussex derby as Littlehampton Town welcome Burgess Hill Town- and the two sides wil be rather familiar with each other as they met in midweek, Hill winning three-two. The Golds have scored an average of two goals a game this season, but have won only three of eight in all competitions, so their problems clearly lie at the other end. Hill have won six of their last seven. 

South East title chasers Ramsgate are the destination for South Central Raynes Park Vale. The Rams have lost only once in any competition this season- a much changed side departing the Velocity Cup on penalties in midweek- and will be full of confidence, particularly with Joe Taylor doing his usual in front of goal, eleven goals already. Vale travel on the back of two defeats, and will want to put that right. They also have a hotshot, Jordan Gallagher on six.

Sevenoaks Town, who became the first side to defeat Ramsgate this season with a Velocity Cup shootout win in midweek, play host to South Central Leatherhead. The two sides met in the FA Cup just over a month ago, the Tanners winning two-nil, so the hosts will want revenge- and they have won four of their last five. Leatherhead have also won four of their last five, only a Cup defeat at Dartford blotting their copybook. 

Sittingbourne will fill Blakey’s Shed for the visit of Kingstonian. The Brickies put out a rather youthful side in Velocity Cup defeat in Erith in midweek, which ended a six match unbeaten run- and they’ve been pretty muich perfect at home, with four wins and a draw- and that draw came against premier side Dover Athletic, who were defeated in the replay. The K’s are still to find consistency, but are three unbeaten and have already defeated South East opposition this season, Eastbourne Town in the last round. 

Uxbridge have found form of late, their last four matches bringing three wins and a draw- and twelve goals- and they welcome an AFC Croydon Athletic side who, as we write, are without a manager. The travelling Rams are rather hit and miss this season, but were three unbeaten before falling to defeat at Erith Town last weekend so perhaps are beginning to find their Step Four feet.

Pitching In Isthmian South East

Leaders Beckenham Town have the chance to get back to winning ways as they welcome Merstham. Becks lost for the first time this (league) season as they were defeated by Margate in midweek, and have another tough match in prospect as Merstham head to Eden Park. The Moatsiders are three without a win, but that followed as run of six wins from seven so may well prove formidable opponents- and they gave National League South Tonbridge Angels something of a fright in the Cup last weekend.

Sheppey United could climb to second if they can defeat Steyning Town at Holm Park. The Ites have a perfect league record after four matches, and have bounced back from FA Cup and Trophy defeats to win two in a row. The Barrowmen picked up their first Isthmian victory in their nlast league fixture, hitting four against Littlehampton Town, but they have otherwise lost four of their last five. 

Erith Town start the weekend in fourth, and travel to face Hythe Town with hope of climbing higher still. The Dockers have won four of their last five in all competitions, only a defeat against Sheppey spoiling that particular record, whilst the Cannons have lost six of their last seven in all competitions, and still seem to be in a period of transition. 

Lancing welcome Phoenix Sports to Culver Road, and undoubtedly both sides will be viewing this encounter as a great chance to pick up a first win of the season. The Lancers have played six matches in all competitions, five of them at home, and lost them all- whilst Sports have lost their last six, and indeed eight of ten in all competitions, those last six seeing them score one solitary goal.