Invicta win an Easter title- whilst Gulls relegation is confirmed

We had a busy Easter weekend, and it decided the title, with Folkestone Invicta finally getting to raise that trophy aloft. The Stripes made quite sure that they were champions by defeating St Albans City two-one at Clarence Park on Saturday, goals from Jake Hutchinson and Kevin Lokko seeing them come from behind to take three points after an early Sam Smart opener for the Saints. Then Monday saw them come from behind again to defeat Ramsgate at the Alcaline Stadium in front of two thousand, five hundred and ninety two. Billy Munday gave the Rams an early lead, but two Hutchinson goals- on thirty one and thirty six minutes- saw the hosts pull ahead, before a quick Solomon Ogunwomoju leveller for the visitors. A red card for Eze Ebuzoeme gave Ramsgate an uphill struggle with twenty four minutes left, and Nathan Paul-Lavaly confirmed the points for the hosts by making it three-two seventeen minutes from time.

Congrats to the Stripes- we will miss you enormously, but- and we mean this in the most positive way- don’t come back! Image from Sharn Visuals. 

Second place Aveley would very much like to have home advantage in the Play Offs, all the way through to the Final if they reach it, and victory at Chatham Town on Saturday- George Saunders scoring the only goal- was followed by another three points against tenants Hashtag United on Monday. The Tags went ahead just before the half hour through Ellis Devereux, but Ollie Peters soon levelled from the spot and a second half double from Jesse Nwabueze made it three-one at the end. The Millers are nine points clear of sixth place Dartford with three matches left, and two points clear of third place Billericay Town. The Tags are fourth from bottom, inside the bottom four only on goal difference- but of course have already asked to be relegated, a matter than will be decided by the F.A.

Chatham have dropped to fifth, that defeat against Aveley followed by a three-two defeat at Dartford on Monday, Dan Smith (2) and Olly Box the Darts scorers. Jordy Robins and Ben Allen replied for the Chats, but they are now only two points ahead of Dartford, who took a point in a two-two draw at Carshalton Athletic on Saturday. Ryan Huke opened the scoring for the Robins, Evans Kouassi and Rohan Vaughan turned things in the Darts favour, and Fabio Saraiva grabbed an added time equaliser. 

A two-one defeat for the Robins on Monday at Dulwich Hamlet left them two points clear of the drop zone, first half goals from David Smith and Anthony Jeffrey enough to give Hamlet three points despite Nathan Young-Coombes consolation.  

Another positive weekend saw Billericay Town up to third. The Blues won a seven goal thriller at Cray Wanderers on Saturday, coming from two down- Alex Hernandez and Lateef Adaja- to take the points. Callum Watts halved the arrears for Town but they were soon three-one behind, Ola Ogunwamide striking for the Wands, before a three goal salvo in the closing stages. Macauley Bonne brought it back to three-two, Alfie Cerulli delivered an equaliser, and the winner arrived in added time courtesy of Frankie Merrifield, four-three the final outcome.

Billericay followed that by confirming Canvey Island’s relegation on Monday. Charlie Ruff, Cerulli and Bonne gave the Blues a three goal advantage, and two late goals from Connor Hubble and Freddie Price couldn’t save the visitors. Billericay are seven points clear of sixth place Dartford, two behind second place Aveley.

Brentwood Town are fourth, three points clear of Dartford as the race for fourth and fifth spot continues to excite. The Blues fell to defeat at Burgess Hill Town on Saturday, Kaan Bennett, Chris Whelpdale and Ben Pope sealing a three-two win for the hosts, Louie Johnson and Ethan Kaiser on target for the visitors. Monday saw Brentwood return to winning ways with a goal in each half giving them victory over Welling United, Charlie Edwards and Kymani Thomas the scorers.

Burgess Hill rounded off a positive weekend by defeating Chichester City two-nil, Harry Lawson and Bennett the scorers; whilst Welling are outside the bottom four on goal difference, a three-one win over Chichester City on Saturday giving them some breathing space. Dean Gunner and a double from Ade Azeez confirmed that victory, despite Jimmy Wild scoring for City.

Cray Wanderers saw their play off hopes seriously dented despite victory at Cray Valley PM on Monday. That win in the Cray derby came courtesy of goals from Frankie Raymond and Shae Hutchinson, Fumnaya Shomotun scoring for the Millers, but, coupled with that defeat against Billericay, Wands are now six points from the top five with three games to go. 

That defeat from Cray Valley followed a one-nil win at Ramsgate on Good Friday- Chris Dickson the scorer- and the Millers are a point from safety with three games left. 

Elsewhere, Potters Bar Town’s weekend saw a victory over Lewes- two-one- and a four-one loss at Cheshunt. The Scholars are nine points from safety and, with four games to go, look to have a near-impossible task. The Rooks bounced back to defeat Whitehawk on Monday, and that was our featured match- more HERE.

Wingate and Finchley look almost safe after a draw at Whitehawk on Saturday was followed by a two-nil win over St Albans City on Monday, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi and Camilo Restrepo with second half goals opening up a seven point gap over the bottom four.