We had another Sittingbourne home win, a derby win for Three Bridges, and a collection of draws on our South East Tuesday
Sittingbourne have become invincible at home (not that they’re much different on the road) and Tuesday evening saw them make it fourteen wins from fourteen at Woodstock Park, East Grinstead Town the latest luckless opposition.
The Brickies went ahead just before the half hour, Mitchell May taking his tally to twenty three, and seven minutes into the second half Ryan Kingsford made it two. Right at the end Liam Smith got a third, the seventy seventh league goal scored by the Brickies this season. The only side in the entire League to score more? Leaders Ramsgate, who see their lead at the top cut to two points. Sittingbourne, however, have a better goal difference, and indeed they lead the way in defence, conceding fewer goals than anyone else in the league.
The Brickies are pictured with our Vita Risk Solutions Manager of the Month Award. Our image, courtesy of Paul Golding, features Reece Prestidge, our Director Neil Pilcher, manager Ryan Maxwell and Billy McMahon. Congratulations, and thanks to Vita Risk, as always, for their support.
Three Bridges are back at home, and seem to be loving it. They climbed to twelfth place with a comfortable three-nil derby win over Lancing, their fourth win in a row, and once more resemble the side who reached the Play Off Final last season. They went ahead after just three minutes, Ben Holden the scorer, and only nine minutes later doubled their advantage through Reece Hallard, his nineteenth of the season. Eight minutes into the second half, Kevin Rivera made it three-nil, and right at the end the Lancers misery was completed by a red card for Harrison Parker. Lancing are eighteenth, three points above the drop zone but having played a game more than the side behind them, neighbours Littlehampton Town. Image- we suspect- from DB Sports Photos.
Sheppey United, in sixth, played host to fourth place Burgess Hill Town. The Hillians were looking for a seventh successive win, and it looked very much like they’d earned it, only for a goal eight minutes into added time to give the Ites a point.
Alex Malins put Hill ahead on twelve minutes, but they’d hardly finished celebrating when Dan Bradshaw’s twelfth of the season drew the hosts level. Twelve minutes into the second half it was once again advantage to the visitors, Ben Pope restoring their lead- and that looked to be that, only for Gil Carvalho to spoil the party for the travelling faithful right at the end.
Hill are nine points ahead of of the Ites, having played two games fewer, whilst Sheppey have also played a game more than fifth place Beckenham Town, who are one point better off.
Broadbridge Heath took a two goal lead into the break as they hosted Croydon Athletic, but in the end got only one point. Brad Peters put the Bears ahead midway through the first half, and six minutes before half time Callum Dowdell made it two. Eleven minutes into the second half the Rams halved the arrears, Shay Brennan the scorer, and then fourteen minutes from time the visitors earned a share of the spoils when Elijah Anthony popped up with an equaliser.
Eastbourne Town and Littlehampton Town met in a Sussex derby. The hosts had only one win in their previous seven, the visitors brought with them a twelve match winless run, and neither side looked like changing their fortunes, the match ending without a goal. The hosts are thirteenth, the visitors three points from safety- but undoubtedly gladdened by the news of Lancing’s defeat, as they are three points behind the Lancers with a game in hand and a much better goal difference.
