Rams and Brickies eat into Becks lead

Ramsgate made it eleven wins (and a draw) from twelve despite a late Ashford United comeback at Homelands. The Rams were ahead at the break courtesy of the expected Joe Taylor goal- that’s twenty one for the season, in twenty two games- and within four minutes of the second half added another, Billy Munday the scorer. Six minutes later Tijan Jadama’s sixth of the season made it three, and it looked to be game over, but the Nuts and Bolts rallied in the closing stages. Two minutes from time Louis Collins got a goal back, and then six minutes into added time Mack Reilly got a second. Soon after that Rams keeper Henry Newcombe was dismissed, but the visitors held on to close to within four points of leaders Beckenham Town- and have four games in hand.

Phoenix Sports were boosted by their first win of the campaign at the weekend, but they couldn’t repeat the feat against high flying Sittingbourne, as the Brickies made it six wins in a row in all competitions- five of which have also seen them keep a clean sheet. This victory was fairly comfortable, Mitchell May’s nineteenth of the season getting them started after eight minutes, Donvieve Jones scoring for a third match in a row to make it two a quarter of an hour later, and Henry Lukombo making it three, three minutes from time. The Brickies are third, six points behind the leaders with three games in hand.

Margate travelled to Deal Town for a local derby, and came away with three points- but it was close. Gate got the only goal of the game two minutes into the second half, Harvey Brand’s sixth of the season, and six hundred and eighty one watched them do it. That’s five league wins in a row for Margate, who are fourth.

Burgess Hill Town showed no mercy to struggling Lancing at the Homecall Carpets Community Stadium. The Hillians took only two minutes to go ahead, Chris Whelpdale’s first goal in green- and twelve minutes later Bobby Price made it two. Whelpdale added a third six minutes into the second half, and three minutes later the hosts had another, Stefan Vukojie making it four. Right at the end the fifth and final goal of the night arrived, and again it went to Hill, Brannon O’Neill giving the Lancers a rather miserable- if short- trip home. That’s seven unbeaten in the league for the Hillians- including seven points taken from teams in the top five. Hill are fifth.

Erith Town welcomed Sheppey United, seventh v sixth, and both had to settle for a point. The Ites must have thought they had taken all three, as they held onto a fourth minute lead- given them from the spot by Jacob Lambert- until the first minute of added time, only to then concede a penalty themselves. James Miles kept his cool to earn a point for the Dockers. 

Merstham and AFC Croydon Athletic delivered a six goal thriller at the Hybrid Fitness Stadium. The Moatsiders went ahead through Lee Lewis midway through the first half, only for Nya Kirby to level for the Rams just before the break- and eight minutes into the second half the viitors were ahead, Kirby once more doing the damage. Dean Gunner quickly drew the hosts level, and thirteen minutes from time Korrey Henry looked to have given them three points- but in added time the visitors called for Captain Fantastic! Skipper Brandon Pierrick has been in superb form for the Rams, and he earned his side a point with his seventeenth goal of the season to ensure they ended the day eight unbeaten in the League. The Moatsiders have lost only one of nine, and the three hundred and forty nine watching on were once again royally entertained. 

Broadbridge Heath are up to twelfth after consigning East Grinstead Town to a third defeat in four. The Bears went ahead five minutes before half time, Mason Doughty’s third of the season giving them the lead- and they still had time to double their advantage before the break, Matt Hay making it two. A goal from Mark Goldson five minutes into the second half meant that the match looked secure for the Bears, but the Wasps hit back, Matt Daniel and Connor Tighe pulling it back to three-two. Right at the end, and with the visitors still searching for an equaliser, substitute Callum Dowdell added a fourth for the hosts to secure the points. 

Littlehampton Town travelled to take on neighbours Steyning Town, and the Golds took only two minutes to go ahead, Joe Benn the scorer. They spent the next eighty eight minutes or so holding onto that, and picked up all three points, moving up to sixteenth, whilst their hosts are twentieth. That’s Steyning’s ninth league defeat in a row, and the Golds first win in five. 

Herne Bay and Hythe Town played out a one-one draw at The Crest Stadium. Bay were looking to get back to winning ways after three successive defeats, and they took the lead on thirty six minutes, Ethan Smith the scorer, only for the Cannons to take a point nineteen minutes from time, Tushaun Walters the scorer.