Could Becks finally be toppled from the top?

Leaders Beckenham Town have been in superb form, winning match after match- and yet as they go for their seventh win in a row they must be a little discomforted by the fact that second place Ramsgate have kept pace with them and, courtesy of games in hand, closed the gap to just one point. Becks travel to eighth place Merstham, the Moatsiders seven points away from the top five despite a run of only two defeats in ten, the latest of those coming due to an added time goal in a four-three win for Sheppey United last weekend. Merstham have lost only once at home, Becks have lost only once away, and our leaders defeated their opponents three-nil in September so will be determined to deliver a double and hold on to their advantage.

Ramsgate travel to take on Sevenoaks Town, and have a perfect away record- indeed the only side to take anything from them so far this season were fifth place Burgess Hill Town, who escaped with a draw. The Rams defeated the Oaks five-one as recently as October 29th, but the hosts did knock the Rams out of our Velocity Cup in September so will hope to do so again, although they can’t win this one on penalties! Oaks are in good form, having lost only two of their last ten, and will be determined to stop their visitors winning a sixth match in succession. 

Sittingbourne, in FA Trophy action,  take the trip to the cathedral city of Winchester, and travelling Brickies may wish to take a look at King Arthur’s Round table before the game (please note, there probably wasn’t a King Arthur, and if there was this certainly isn’t his table, but it’s an attractive bit of carpentry nonetheless!). Hosts Winchester City are just outside the drop zone in Pitching In Southern Premier South, and have struggled on their own patch, winning only once in the league- but they are four unbeaten in all competitions. The Brickies have won their last seven matches in all competitions, kept six clean sheets and conceded only one goal, and already have three giantkillings to their name this season (including Dover Athletic twice!). 

Fourth place Margate travel to Chatham Town to take on Three Bridges (who must be desperate for their ground to be finished so they can move home once more). Gate have lost only once this season, and only the top two have won more matches on the road, whilst Bridges are always on the road, haven’t managed a ‘home’ win (perhaps because they haven’t actually been there) and have only two wins from their last ten. Two Ben Greenhalgh goals gave Gate a two-nil win when the sides met at Hartsdown Park last month.

Burgess Hill Town hope to stretch their unbeaten run to nine matches, but will face a tough task as Sheppey United travel to the edge of the nature reserve for a fifth v sixth battle. The fact that Hill are the only side to take as much as a point from Ramsgate so far this season should demonstrate just how good they’ve been, whilst the Ites are only a point behind, and will be buoyant after coming from two down to defeat Merstham with an added time winner last weekend. The sides will meet again on December 3rd.

Erith Town welcome Hythe Town to Thamesmead. The Dockers are four points away from the top five but having a very positive first Isthmian season, and are looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches; whilst the Cannons find themselves a point above the drop zone and without a win on the road, having won only one- and lost eight- of their last ten. The Dockers won the first match between the sides this season, on September 21st, by five goals to nil- James Dyer with a hat trick doing most of the damage.

Deal Town play host to Littlehampton Town, ninth v fifteenth, six points between them at the start. Deal have lost their last two and have been rather inconsistent, four wins and six defeats from their last ten, with four wins and four defeats from eight home matches so far, so who knows what kind of performance their fans have to look forward to! The travelling Golds have hardly been any more consistent of late, but were three unbeaten prior to a narrow loss at Ashford United in midweek. Deal defeated the Golds four-two as recently as October 29th.

AFC Croydon Athletic head to Sussex to take on Steyning Town. The travelling Rams were a little unlucky to lose at Carshalton in the Velocity Cup in midweek, but prior to that were in good form, and take a nine match unbeaten run in the league to face the Barrowmen. Steyning have been in terrible form, losing ten league matches in a row, including three-one in Croydon three and a half weeks ago. 

Broadbridge Heath take on Eastbourne Town in a Sussex derby. The Bears saw a late, late equaliser deprive them of three points against Sevenoaks Town, and have been better on the road than at home so far this season, whilst Town have also had more success on their travels so won’t be too worried by the journey- and will be boosted by last Saturday’s win over Herne Bay. Only goal difference separates the two sides in the table, and whoever loses this one will only have to wait ten days for revenge, as they are scheduled to meet again at The Saffrons later this month. 

East Grinstead Town head to Ashford United with a three point and four place advantage over their hosts, but that could change if the Nuts and Bolts were to deliver a second win of the week. United came from two goals down to defeat Littlehampton Town on Tuesday night, ending a run of four consecutive defeats, and the the last time they won a match they went on a three match winning streak, so will want some more of that. Town defeated Phoenix Sports four-two last weekend, but have also been rather inconsistent, four wins and six defeats telling its own story. The one thing neither side have experienced in their last ten matches is a draw, so perhaps we’re due one of those?

Finally, we have a bottom three battle as Phoenix Sports welcome Lancing, three points and Steyning Town sitting between them in the table. Sports have only one win this season, the Lancers have two, and the latest of those for the visitors came last weekend against Ashford United, so they’l hope to build some momentum. A win for the hosts would take them level on points with the Lancers, but barring some kind of miracle still behind them on goal difference. Lancing defeated these opponents two-nil in September for their first win of the campaign.