Brickies extend their lead with a derby hammering

Sittingbourne won their twelfth match in a row on Saturday to go top of the table, and they made it thirteen and continued their perfect home record with a derby day hammering of Sheppey United. The Brickies went ahead just before the half hour, Jack Steventon with the opener, and the Ites chances were severely diminished when Joe Boachie added a second with twenty two minutes remaining. Eight minutes from time Liam Smith got a third, and four minutes later the Brickies scored another, Mitchell May’s twenty first of the season coming from the spot. Image from Paul Richards. 

The lead at the top is three points- although Ramsgate have a game in hand- but a goal difference of plus fifty four after twenty one matches tells its own story, as does twelve home wins from twelve. 

- and the Brickies are back at Fortress Woodstock on Boxing Day, having won each of their eleven home fixtures so far. Sheppey United make the rather short trip, the Ites outside the top five only on goal difference but in mixed form, having lost their last two. 

Ramsgate made the short trip to Margate, both sides having lost only once this season- a statistic which remained true at full time. The Rams made the breakthrough in first half added time, Joe Elull the scorer, and although Harry Hudson levelled for the hosts ten minutes into the second half parity lasted only two minutes before Jay Leader put the Rams ahead once more. It seemed as if three points were guaranteed, but three minutes into added time substitute Max Walsh popped up to delight the home contingent with an equaliser, and extend the hosts unbeaten run to twelve matches. Two thousand five hundred fans watched this one, and they were certainly entertained. 

Eastbourne Town welcomed East Grinstead Town, the Wasps travelling down the A22 with a three match unbeaten run to protect. They did protect it in the end, but goodness they left it late. The hosts went ahead after just seven minutes, James Ding taking his tally for the season into double figures, and it looked to have been enough for three points- only for the Wasps to equalise four minutes into added time. Connor Tighe scored the equaliser, his seventh goal of the season. 

Hythe Town, after a run of two wins from ten, very much needed a win as they hosted Ashford United- but they didn’t get one. After a goalless first half Gary Lockyer’s twenty first goal of the season put the visitors ahead two minutes into the second half, and sixteen minutes from time Tolulope Jonah added a second and made the match safe. A late red card for Louie Procopi compounded the Hythe misery, and they are third from bottom, three points from safety. Ashford are tenth- six points away from the top five. 

Bottom side Steyning Town Community, without a win since September 28th and on a run of sixteen matches that had brought only two points, were the hosts of a local derby with Lancing. The sides provided much entertainment, but Steyning will be disappointed not to finally pick up a much needed three points. The hosts went ahead after just two minutes Harvey Killick the scorer, and doubled the lead sixteen minutes later, Killick pouncing once more. Harry Heath, scorer of four goals for Lancing on Saturday, got his side back into the match just after the half hour, and then half an hour later levelled things up- but four minutes from time it seemed as if the Barrowmen had all of the points wrapped up, Robert Malila making it three-two. Sadly for the home fans, they hadn’t, as only two minutes later Harrison Parker made it three-three.

Steyning have eight points between themselves and safety, Lancing have cut the gap between themselves and safety to two points- and have only one defeat from five. 

Croydon Athletic seemed to have lost their way a little, the Rams, in fifteenth, having gone seven games without a win- but they bounced back in style, putting struggling Phoenix Sports to the sword. The hosts went ahead on twenty four minutes courtesy of Brandon Pierrick’s eighteenth goal of the season, and by half time it was three-nil, Soul Kader and Jahmari Clarke leaving them comfortable at the break. Kader added a fourth almost immediately after the restart, and although Jack Turner pulled a goal back seven minutes later the four goal lead was reestablished right at the end, David Omilabu rounding off an impressive afternoon for Athletic. Sports remain six points away from safety. 

Deal Town hoped to make it four wins in a row as they welcomed Herne Bay. The visitors had lost four in a row, but they made a quick start, Kane Haysman opening the scoring after just five minutes. It was a lead they held only for a quarter of an hour, Rory Smith with the equaliser- and the scoring stopped there. Deal are five points away from the top five, Bay six points clear of danger. 

Broadbridge Heath headed to the seaside, and Littlehampton Town. The travelling Bears were five unbeaten- and indeed had won four of those- and that unbeaten run continued but they had to settle for a point. Town took the lead in first half added time, Kieron Pamment with the opener, but eleven minutes into the second half Mark Goldson levelled for the Bears and four minutes from time they looked to have won the match, Kyle Sim making it two-one. Deep in added time- indeed  with five extra minutes played- Matthew Storm grabbed a point for the Golds, who are two points clear of the bottom four. The Bears are thirteen points and and seven places better off. 

Sevenoaks Town were back on their own patch, Merstham the visitors. Oaks had been in mixed form, two wins and three defeats from their previous five, whilst the Moatsiders saw a three match winning run come to an end against Sittingbourne on December 14th, and have had to wait to get back into action. Merstham went ahead after eleven minutes, Billy Oram the scorer, but a beauty from Rodney Eruotor drew Oaks level just before the half hour and twenty minutes from time Josh Wisson completed the turnaround. With only eight minutes left Aaron Jenkins equalised for the visitors, and that was that. 

Three Bridges were finally back at Three Bridges after spending the season so far ground sharing many miles away at Chatham Town. Bridges started the day four points above the bottom four with many games in hand over the sides around them, but they had a baptism of fire as they welcomed fifth place Burgess Hill Town to Jubilee Field. Hill had only one defeat from ten, and they wrapped up all three points in an impressive first half, Joseph Overy the architect of victory, scoring on eighteen and twenty five minutes. Soon after the second goal a red card for Bridges Hayden Neathey on his debut left the hosts facing an uphill struggle, and the highlight of their afternoon was a consolation goal in added time at the end of the match, Billy Irving scoring it. Hill open up a three point gap between themselves and sixth place Sheppey United having played three matches fewer than the Ites.