Becks stay top- but Rams hit five

Leaders Beckenham Town started the day with a four point advantage at the top, so we knew that they would still lead the table on Saturday evening whatever happened against third place Sittingbourne. What happened initially was an early goal from a rather predictable source, Jamarie Brissett making it twelve from the season as he put the hosts ahead after just five minutes, but the Brickies were level by half time, Mitchell May with the equaliser. Just after the hour Steven Townsend restored Becks lead, and it looked like they’d hold onto it, only for Troy Howard to level in added time. 

Our two one hundred percenters played each other on the Kent coast, Ramsgate hosting Sheppey United. The Rams had played five league matches and won them all, whilst the Ites had gone one better and are looking for their seventh straight victory. We knew that one of those one hundred percent records would definitely go- and goodness, it went in style, the Rams hammering their visitors by five goals to nil. Joe Taylor’s fifteenth of the season put them ahead on nineteen minutes, and within four minutes Benny Bioletti had doubled their lead. Alfie Paxman got a third in first half added time, and Paxman got another on sixty seven minutes, before Josh Ajayi rounded things off with a fifth in added time. The Rams go second, five points behind the leaders with five games in hand. 

Margate were back at Hartsdown Park for the second time this week, Croydon Athletic the visitors. Gate were unbeaten in the league, and unbeaten in all competitions on their own patch, and both of those record continued but they could take only a point from this match, despite being ahead twice. Ben Greenhalgh’s tenth of the season put them ahead on twenty five minutes, only for Ademola Shokunbi to quickly level, but the hosts were ahead in added time at the end of the half, Jordon Ababio the scorer. Thirteen minutes from time Brandon Pierrick’s tenth of the season earned the visitors a point, and meant he had scored in five matches in a row- although this one came direct from a corner. 

It was eighth v sixth as Merstham took on Burgess Hill Town, the sides separated by only a point at kick off and Hill outside the top five only on goal difference. The Moatsiders had taken seven points from their previous nine, whilst Hill had lost only one of six in the League, and it was the Sussex side who struck first, Alex Brewer putting them ahead on fourteen minutes. They struck second, too, Brannon O’Neill in the first minute of the second half, but the hosts got a goal back just after the hour through Aaron Jenkins and deep in added time grabbed a point, Matt Drage with the equaliser. 

Erith Town climbed back into the top five with victory over Deal Town. The Dockers have gone four without a win in all competitions, and it looked like that run would extend to five, only for James Dyer to give them a two-one victory with a last minute spot kick. Earlier Ash Miller had put the visitors ahead just before half time, only for Harrison Carnegie to level for the hosts ten minutes later. 

Hythe Town welcomed Eastbourne Town to Reachfields, and were rather too welcoming as the Sussex side departed with three points. The visitors went ahead five minutes before half time, Marcin Ruda with the opening goal, but six minutes into the second half Sammi Takaloo drew the Cannons level. The winner came on the hour, Leon Grieg scoring a free kick after Lex Allan saw red. Eastbourne are up to ninth. 

Ashford United have been in fine form in knockout competitions, having won seven matches in Cup and Trophy, including victory over Step Three Walton & Hersham last weekend- but they were still without a league win and that wait continues after Broadbridge Heath defeated them comprehensively at Homelands, their third win in a row against the Nuts and Bolts. All of the goals came after the break, Tadley Bromage opening the scoring on forty six minutes, Louis Evans doubling their advantage twelve minutes later, and Mark Goldson getting the third nineteen minutes from time- although the hosts had missed a penalty in the first half. The Bears are eleventh, United second from bottom. 

Herne Bay had played only four league matches this season prior to kick off against Sevenoaks Town, so busy had they been in Cup action, and they were in positive frame of mind having won their first home league fixture of the season in midweek, defeating Steyning Town. Bay broke the deadlock against the Oaks on seventeen minutes, Kane Haysman the scorer, and within two minutes had another, Josh Reid making it two-nil. And then…the Oaks went goal crazy! In the five minutes before half time Jefferson Aibangbee and Warren Mfula brought them level, and within ten minutes of the start of the second half they had added two more, Rodney Eruotor and James Jeffrey making it four-two. On sixty seven minutes Mfula added another, and although Joel Odeniran pulled it back to three-five, that was that. Oaks climbed to fourteenth. 

Littlehampton Town, in nineteenth, welcomed a Phoenix Sports side who sat bottom of the table but were under new management. The Golds have been having a rather inconsistent season and had gone three league matches without a win, whilst Sports had lost seven of their eight league matches so far and were still looking for that first victory. Town went ahead on eighteen minutes, Dion Jarvis with the opener, and by half time added two more, Kieron Pamment and Ryan Toro-Thomas the scorers. The fourth arrived four minutes from time, Joe Benn making it four-nil and sending the Golds up to sixteenth. 

Finally, we had a Sussex derby, as Steyning Town played hosts to East Grinstead Town. The Wasps had won only one of their last five in the League, but they picked up three points on the road on this occasion, bringing home a three-two victory. Alex Andrade Filipe opened the scoring on eighteen minutes, and the visitors were two up when Connor Tighe added a second seven minutes later. Charlie Towning pulled a goal back for the hosts with a free kick just before half time, but on sixty six minutes Omar Folkes headed home to make it three-one. A Jack Barnes penalty ten minutes from time gave Steyning hope, but they couldn’t find an equaliser- and right at the end had Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke dismissed.