Rams and Becks tussle for top spot, whilst the chasing pack look to cut their lead

Ramsgate find themselves two points clear of Beckenham Town at the top and remain unbeaten, winning fourteen of their fifteen matches so far. The Rams are hoping to take their winning run up to seven matches and take some local bragging rights as Herne Bay make the trip along the coast. Bay have had a torrid time of late, taking only one point from their last six matches- and we suspect that Ramsgate would be the last place they’d want to go in such circumstances, but also that they’ll be thinking what a boost it would give them if they could be the side to finally defeat the Rams. The two sides only met eleven days ago, Ramsgate wining two-one.

Second place Beckenham Town saw their winning run- which was six games long- come to an end at Merstham last weekend. Becks are two points behind the Rams having played three matches more, and we suspect that if they want to stop their seaside rivals from running away from them will need to get back to winning ways at top speed. Ashford United are their visitors. You never quite know what you’re going to get from the Nuts and Bolts, but they have looked impressive whilst winning their last two league matches and they will be rather hungry for revenge after Becks beat them three-nil a few weeks ago. 

Sittingbourne, back to the day job after another fine giant killing cup win last weekend, are eight points behind the leaders with a game in hand. The Brickies, who have a perfect home record with eight wins from eight, welcome Sevenoaks Town to Woodstock, their visitors in eleventh place but fifteen points behind. Oaks are in decent form, with only three defeats from ten, and they gave Ramsgate a scare last time out, so they shouldn’t be written off. The sides drew one-one in mid October.

Margate, with only one defeat this season, are back at Hartsdown Park, where they welcome Erith Town, the Dockers two places and six points behind them. Gate have won six of their last seven- the other was a draw- and defeated their visitors three-one in Thamesmead a month ago,  whilst Town are looking to extend their unbeaten run to six matches, and to narrow the gap between themselves and the top five. 

Burgess Hill Town have been something of a revelation this season, and the Hillians are looking to extend their unbeaten run to ten matches as they travel to East Grinstead Town, if the weather doesn’t get in the way. The Wasps start the day in fourteenth, have lost three of their last four, and have been better on the road than at home so far this season. They’ll be looking for revenge after losing two-nil against Hill on September 28th, but that was their fifth defeat in a row against these opponents. 

Sheppey United start the weekend in seventh place, four points away from the top five, and will hope to cut that deficit as they take on bottom side Phoenix Sports. The Ites have been in mixed form, winning only one of their last four, whilst Sports have won two of their last four, but those are the only victories they’ve managed so far this season. That said, they have looked to be improving of late, and another three points could even see them climb out of the bottom four if other results go in their favour. United defeated Sports two-nil in September. 

Merstham were magnificent in victory over Beckenham Town last weekend, and the Moatsiders, who have lost only two of their last ten, will hope to climb closer to the top five as they travel to Littlehampton Town. The Golds were defeated by a late goal when they travelled to Moatside in September, and will want to avoid a third successive defeat. 

AFC Croydon Athletic- under new management- are the hosts for Three Bridges. The Rams have proved very difficult to defeat, but have seen their progress slowed by a procession of draws, eight from fifteen matches so far. They take a ten match unbeaten run into this clash, whilst Bridges are looking to avoid a fifth consecutive loss, having won only two of their last ten, a run which has dropped them into the bottom four. Having played every match away from home won’t have helped Bridges at all, but hopefully they’ll be back in Crawley for Christmas. The first match between the sides this season ended one-one.

Eastbourne Town and Deal Town meet at the Saffrons. Deal hit these opponents for four back in September, but have struggled to find consistency, five of their last ten ending in victory, the other five in defeat. Their hosts are hoping for a third successive win and seem to have found their feet after a four match losing streak. 

Lancing take on Broadbridge Heath in a Sussex derby. The third bottom Lancers have taken only four points from the last thirty available, and yet victory could see them climb out of the danger zone; whilst the Bears have only one win from eight so their form isn’t a great deal better, but they are five places and nine points better off. They defeated the Lancers one-nil in September.

Hythe Town, a point outside the drop zone but with the worst goal difference in the Division, face second bottom Steyning Town at Reachfields. The Cannons have won one- and lost eight- of their last ten matches, whilst their visitors had lost ten in a row prior to last weekend’s draw with Croydon. They did defeat the Cannons, however, back on 28th September- indeed that was their last victory.