Becks win late, Hill go second- and Brickies get six!

Leaders Beckenham Town travelled to Lancing, and after eighty four goalless minutes it looked like they’d take only a point- but they had other ideas. Akheem Belford broke the deadlock, and they are seven points clear, after closest challengers Ramsgate saw their match postponed. They have played six game store than the now third place Rams, however- the gap between the two now eight points. 

In between Becks and the Rams, and up to second place, are the Hillians. Burgess Hill Town have been in fine form, and broke the deadlock against Steyning Town seven minutes into the second half, Brannon O’Neill with his third goal in five matches. That was that until two minutes from time, when Hill decided to punish anyone who had left early. First Oli Davies made it two-nil, and then the same player quickly added a third. Three minutes into added time Steyning got a goal back, Jack Barnes with it, but the fightback, such as it was ended there. 

Sittingbourne have been in fine form, whilst visitors Hythe Town were looking to avoid a sixth consecutive league loss. On that basis it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the Brickies took the lead in the twenty fifth minute, nor when they doubled it eight minutes later, Mitchell May with his eleventh and twelfth goals of the season. It quickly got even worse for the Cannons, as Donveive Jones added a third four minutes before the break, and May completed a first half hat trick in added time at the end of the first forty five. It would have been better for Hythe had May taken the match ball home there and then, as it was was five-nil within eight minutes of the second half starting, May getting another. Into added time and the Brickies made it six, Ryan Kingsford completing the rout and sending them fourth. They are nine points behind the leaders with four games in hand. 

Sheppey United looked to extend their one hundred percent home record as Margate visited the Island, but it was Gate who made the breakthrough just before half time, Ibrahim Olutade scoring for the ninth time this season. Olutade added a second ten minutes into the second half, but the Ites made a fight of it when Sinnkaye Christie halved the arrears- and they had nearly half an hour left to level. Sadly for the home faithful Olutade was rather taken with the match ball, and he claimed it for his very own when added a third twelve minutes from time. Danny Leonard made it two-three in added time, but Gate held on for three points- and are behind their fifth place hosts only on goal difference. Image from Marc Richards.

Sevenoaks Town and Erith Town played out a goalless draw at Greatness Park, whilst celebrating the life of Eddie Diplock, ‘Mr Sevenoaks.’ Rest in Peace Eddie. 

Deal Town welcomed Merstham to the seaside, and went ahead on thirteen minutes, Billy Munday the scorer, but Andy Somo quickly levelled, his first Moatsiders goal. Five minutes before half time disaster struck for the visitors, Olu Lawal dismissed, and the ten men held out for only four minutes before Munday put his side ahead once more. Munday had a hat trick five minutes into the second half, but the ten men narrowed the gap when Matt Drage quickly pulled it back to three-two. That said, with only a minute more played Deal had a fourth, Ben Chapman restoring their two goal advantage, and although Korrey Henry pulled it back to four-three in added time, the hosts held on for victory.

A much changed Phoenix Sports side were the hosts for Herne Bay, but those changes didn’t have an immediate impact as Kane Haysman put the visitors ahead on twenty six minutes. The visitors quickly made it two-nil, Ethan Smith the latest scorer, and just before the hour the match looked as good as won, Michael Salako making it three-nil from the spot. Sports got a goal back seventeen minutes from time, Marcus Elliott the scorer, but that was as good as it got for the home faithful.

We had a local derby as Bears welcomed Bridges, and Broadbridge Heath weren’t very welcoming as they scored in the first minute, Mark Goldson breaching the visitors backline, Three Bridges quickly levelled, however, Kevin Rivera with a ninth minute equaliser. The visitors went ahead three minutes before the break, Reece Hallard making it two, and there was still time for Rivera to add a third before the half time whistle sounded. The second half saw no further goals, and the visitors up to sixteenth. 

Ashford United only took two minutes to make the breakthrough on the sunshine coast, Louis Collins finding a way past the Eastbourne Town defence, but the hosts were level five minutes before half time, James Ding the scorer. Gary Lockyer has been in superb form for the Nuts and Bolts, and he restored their lead sixteen minutes from time with his twelfth of the season, earning them three points in the process. 

Croydon Athletic welcomed Littlehampton Town to the edge of Mitcham Common. The Golds took the lead eleven minutes into the second half, Rob O’Toole the scorer, and it was an advantage they doubled with twenty two minutes left- but the Rams Brandon Pierrick has been in fine form, and he got a goal back- his tenth of the season- to score for the fifth successive match and half the deficit with seventeen minutes remaining. Athletic have been good at scoring late goals, and they had another one minute from time as Cian McCathy made it two-two, and that was the final significant action of the match.