Late Brickies come from behind- twice- to maintain their lead

Sittingbourne took a nineteen match unbeaten run to Broadbridge Heath, and extended that to twenty with their fourteenth win in a row- but for quite a while that outcome looked in doubt. The Bears, who were six unbeaten, took the lead on nine minutes, Brad Peters the scorer, and although Joe Boachie levelled eighteen minutes later the hosts went ahead once more two minutes into the second half, Mason Doughty making it two-one. On sixty six minutes Jack Steventon levelled once more, and then, four minutes from time, the Brickies strength showed once more, Boachie finding a winner which keeps them three points clear at the top.

Ramsgate swept aside Croydon Athletic in front of one thousand and twenty four at Southwood. It took ten minutes for Jay Leader to give them the lead, seventeen more for Alfie Paxman to add a second, and another twelve minutes for Joe Taylor to take his tally for the season to thirty two, three-nil at the break. Nineteen minutes into the second half Taylor had another, and a terrible afternoon for the visiting Rams ended when the hosting Rams added a fifth, Josh Ajayi with that one fifteen minutes from time. 

Margate, unbeaten since mid October, took that run to thirteen with victory at East Grinstead Town. Third place Gate saw Ibrahim Olutade’s nineteenth of the season give them the lead on twenty minutes, and Louie Atkins wrapped up three points six minutes after half time, two-nil the final score. 

Fourth place Beckenham Town made it a third draw in a row and six matches without a win after Eastbourne Town delivered a late, late leveller at Eden Park Avenue. Eastbourne went ahead after just seven minutes, Nathan Hover the scorer, but Becks levelled in the early stages of the second half and quickly went ahead, Louie Theophanous with both goals, his tally up to sixteen in eighteen matches. Seven minutes into added time the Becks return to winning ways was thwarted, Hover popping up with an equaliser.

Burgess Hill Town made it three wins in a row and opened up a five point gap between themselves and sixth place after a comfortable win over Sevenoaks Town. Hill went ahead on seven minutes courtesy of an own goal, and doubled their lead on the half hour, Stefan Vukojie with that one. The scoring stopped there, the hosts winning on their own patch for the ninth time this season. 

Deal Town climbed up to sixth with a comprehensive hammering of Lancing. Five first half goals left the Lancers reeling, with five different scorers- Archie Hatcher, Ash Miller, Ife Oni, Tom Chapman and Wes Hennessey doing the damage. Lancing kept a clean sheet after the break, but it was a bit late to shut up shop by then. Deal are five unbeaten- four wins- the Lancers two points from safety.

Ashford United made it four wins from five and climbed to eighth, victory over Erith Town taking them to within six points of the top five. Victory was rather comfortable for the Nuts and Bolts, Louis Collins scoring on six and seventy three minutes, James Dunne on thirty four, to give them a three-nil lead before Finley Williams got a late consolation for the Dockers. United also missed a penalty and hit a post, but three was enough!

Merstham are ninth, after a draw with bottom side Steyning Town. The Moatsiders took an early lead, Aaron Jenkins scoring after twelve minutes, but Freddie Chester drew the visitors level eleven minutes before half time, and the goals ended there. Steyning are seven points from safety. 

After five matches without a win, Herne Bay got back to winning ways by triumphing in a five goal thriller against Littlehampton Town, whose winless run is now nine matches. Bay went ahead on twenty eight minutes, Michael Salako the scorer, and went two up in the early stages of the second half, Scott Heard with that one. George Gaskin quickly replied for the Golds, and after Kane Haysman made it three-one sixteen minutes from time Gaskin got in on the act once more to make the closing stages interesting, but the hosts held on for victory and open up a nine point gap between themselves and the drop zone. 

Sheppey United’s promotion chances were hit by three goals for Three Bridges at Holm Park. The Ites fell behind on thirty five minuets, Billy Irving scoring for the third match in a row, and although they were level ten minutes into the second half, Victor Aiye the scorer, Hayden Velvick quickly restored the visitors lead. With twenty five minutes to go Bridges went three-one up, Reece Hallard the scorer, and although Dan Bradshaw made things interesting four minutes from time, pulling it back to three-two, that was as good as it got for the Ites- a fourth defeat in a row. Bridges are seventeenth, but now six points clear of the drop zone with games in hand over everyone around them. Image: Marc Richards. 

Phoenix Sports are three points from safety after coming from behind to plunge Hythe Town deeper into trouble, the Cannons now behind Sports on goal difference. Hythe went ahead after only two minutes, Javaun Splatt the scorer, but the hosts levelled five minutes into the second half, Isaac Thompson’s third goal in two matches, and three minutes from time earned all three points when Deshane Dalling got the winner. The Cannons have lost four in a row and have one win from ten.