‘B’ teams abound on South East and Velocity Tuesday

In Pitching In Isthmian South East, fourth place Beckenham Town can climb back to third with victory over East Grinstead Town at Eden Park, but we suspect the Wasps will have something to say about that. Becks have slipped down the table due to a run of four matches without a win- the first three of those defeats- whilst the Wasps are full of confidence after winning their last two, including becoming the first side this season to defeat leaders Ramsgate. 

Becks took four points from the Wasps despite their struggles last season, and did the same in 22-23, as well as knocking tonight’s opponents out of the FA Cup after a replay. That’s six meetings without an East Grinstead win- but the travelling faithful will very much believe that tonight is the night.

Broadbridge Heath, in eleventh, welcome a Herne Bay side five places and six points further back. The Bears have lost only one of their last six and are in good form, whilst Bay are hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat and have been the epitome of inconsistency all season. If Heath have had a problem this season it has been their home form (whilst only Ramsgate, Sittingbourne and Beckenham Town have been better on the road); whilst Bay haven’t travelled well, with only two away wins all season. 

Bay took four points from their hosts last season, their last meeting a three-one win on the Kent coast in February, in which Michael Salako got a hat trick. 

Onto the Velocity Cup Fourth Round, and holders Chatham Town, in fourth place in Pitching In Isthmian Premier, welcome Burgess Hill Town, who are in fifth place in our South East Division. The Chats are unbeaten in the league since October 1st, and indeed have lost only one of their last fifteen in all competitions, that defeat coming against National League South side Slough Town in the FA Cup- and Slough required a penalty shootout to progress. Hill have also been in fine form, and indeed also have only one defeat in all competitions since October 1st- although that was an out of character performance in a league loss against Broadbridge Heath, and they’ve won two matches on the road since then. One defeat in fourteen across all oppositions might well make them formidable opponents for the Premier promotion chasers.