Can the Rams get the better of Becks?

Leaders Ramsgate have opened up a five point lead at the top, and are back on their own patch, where their visitors are fifth place Beckenham Town. The Rams have lost only once all season and are looking for a fifth successive win, whilst Becks have gone six without a win, drawing their last three, but have a five point cushion between themselves and sixth place. The sides have met four times since Becks arrived at our level, and Rams remain unbeaten, with two wins and two draws. 

Second place Sittingbourne have a game in hand over the leaders- Tuesday’s postponement at Margate- and are protecting a twenty one match unbeaten League run as Lancing come to call. The Brickies are not only unbeaten at home, they’ve won every home match so far, so the Lancers will really have to be at their best. Lancing have opened a four point gap between themselves and the bottom four, and have won two of their last three- but have only one win on the road. 

Margate hit the road- but not too much of it, as they only travel along the coast to take on Hythe Town. Gate are twelve points away from the top but perhaps more importantly fourteen points clear of sixth place Sheppey United, but saw a long unbeaten run end against Sevenoaks Town last weekend and will want to bounce back. The Cannons have lost their last five, have only one win from ten, and are seven points from safety.

Fourth place Burgess Hill Town travel to third bottom Phoenix Sports. The Hillians are looking for a sixth consecutive win, whilst Sports are inconsistent but far more impressive than they were a couple of months ago, but are still seven points from safety. Their last four have seen them win two and lose two, and if that pattern continues, Hillians watch out!

Sixth place Sheppey United will be focused on reducing the six point gap between themselves and the top five, and they face the challenge of Broadbridge Heath at Holm Park. The Ites ended a five match winless run by defeating Hythe last time out- although that was New Years Day- whilst the travelling Bears have lost their last two, but were in fine form prior to that.

Seventh place Merstham travel to take on manageress Herne Bay. The Moatsiders have lost only two of their last ten, whilst Bay find themselves only two places above the drop zone, albeit with a seven point cushion, after one win- and six defeats- from their last eight. 

Deal Town- in eighth- travel to Three Bridges hoping to get back to winning ways after heavy defeats in their last two. Bridges are very much enjoying being back at home and have won five of their last seven, looking far more like the side who reached the Play Off Final last season.

Ashford United head to Sevenoaks Town. The Nuts and Bolts are in ninth place, seven points away from the top five, but have lost their last two- whilst Oaks, who ended Margate’s unbeaten home record last Saturday, are looking for a fourth win in a row. They are only one point behind their hosts and have played a match fewer.

Erith Town travel to take on bottom side Steyning Town. The Dockers have three defeats from their last four, results which have seen them slip to eleventh, whilst the Barrowmen picked up a victory last time out, their first win for an awful long time, and will hope to build on that. They start the weekend eight points from safety.

Eastbourne Town head up the A22 to take on Croydon Athletic. Town have only one win from six, whilst their hosts have lost their way somewhat, with only one win from ten, and are six points behind their visitors- and seven above the bottom four.

Littlehampton Town and East Grinstead Town meet in a Sussex derby. The Golds are four points from safety after a run of eleven matches without a win, whilst the Wasps are eight points better off with games in hand over almost everyone (indeed only Burgess Hill Town have played the same number, everyone else has played more). They saw a four match unbeaten run ended by Margate last time out- but last time out was as far back as December 28th!