Bridges go eight clear- and Wasps see their relegation confirmed

Leaders Three Bridges suffered a rare defeat on Saturday, but they bounced back in style as they travelled to take on second bottom Beckenham Town- and took their ‘goals for’ tally to one hundred and eight in the process, an average of more than three goals per match.

They nearly doubled that average on this occasion, hitting Becks for six. Noel Leighton was the chief architect of the hosts destruction, the Bridges number nine scoring the first three and the fifth to take his tally for the season to twenty nine in thirty matches. Charlie Bennet got number four- his twenty third- and Carlos Richards delivered number six. Alfie Bloomfield scored the hosts consolation, and they are nine points from safety- whilst their visitors are eight points clear at the top. 

Third place AFC Whyteleafe were on the road to Broadbridge Heath, and were looking for a fifth win in a row- and a fifth consecutive clean sheet. They managed the former, despite going behind in the first half, Yuvi Mann giving the Bears an eighteenth minute lead. 

The second half saw the hosts give up their advantage after ten minutes, Ryan Gondoh with the equaliser, and two minutes later Moses Emmanuel gave Leafe the lead. Emmanuel added a third thirteen minutes from time to ensure three points were heading back to Church Road. 

Erith Town faced a tough task as seventh place Deal Town made the trip, the visitors having won seven in a row prior to defeat against Croydon Athletic on Saturday. Despite that, the Dockers took the lead on the quarter hour, Richie Atkins with the goal, and they held that lead for forty minutes before Ash Miller’s thirteenth goal of the season drew the visitors level. The scoring stopped there, and Erith opened up a four point gap on the bottom four, whilst Deal remain seventh- four points away from the top five. 

Bottom side East Grinstead Town started the night twenty seven points from safety, and sadly ended it with relegation confirmed. They fell behind against visitors Sheppey United on twenty four minutes, Jacob Lambert with the opener, and the Ites quickly added another courtesy of Dawid Przybylo. Steve Smith got one back for the hosts ten minutes before half time, and it looked as if they might take a rare point as Dan Perry levelled sixteen minutes from time, but nine minutes later a spot kick from Lambert ensured three points headed back to the Isle, and that the hosts were relegated. Erith’s point against Deal left the Wasps twenty eight points from safety with only nine matches remaining.

Crowborough Athletic, in seventeenth, eased to victory against Ashford United. Tom Pearson put the Crows ahead on four minutes, and four minutes into the second half they got another, Jack Lyons with that one. Jedidiah Brown got one back for the Nuts and Bolts two minutes from time, but there wasn’t enough time to salvage a point. 

The Crows climb to fifteenth- and open up a thirteen point gap on fourth bottom Hassocks.