Rams and Brickies on the road as the battle for top spot continues

Leaders Ramsgate head to Sussex to take on Broadbridge Heath. The Rams are two points clear at the top, whilst their hosts are in twelfth, but with only one defeat in their last seven- and that defeat came against Sittingbourne, and goodness they gave the Brickies a fright! The sides have already met this season, a narrow victory for the Rams in the FA Cup back in mid September. 

Sittingbourne are an incredible twenty four matches unbeaten in all competitions, have slayed so many giants we might as well just give them our Performance of the Month trophy permanently to save time, and travel to Erith Town looking to keep the pressure on Ramsgate at the top. Erith have actually defeated a- admittedly much changed- Brickies side in the Velocity Cup this season, but have slipped to tenth spot after a run of two wins from seven, although only two of those seven were defeats. The gap between the Dockers and the top five is now eleven points, so this one is important for the promotion aspirations of both sides.

Third place Margate have lost only once all season and are unbeaten at home, and they’ll be hopeful of continuing that fine home record as Sevenoaks Town come to call. Gate’s unbeaten League record goes back nearly three months, whilst Oaks are looking for a third win in a row and start the weekend in eleventh place, a rather incredible twenty points behind their hosts. 

Burgess Hill Town have climbed to fourth on the back of four wins in a row, and have opened up a sixth point gap between themselves and sixth place Sheppey having played three matches fewer. The Hillians will hope to reduce the gap between themselves and the leading trio by defeating AFC Croydon Athletic, the visitors having slipped to fifteenth after a run of one win in ten. Hill have won nine of their eleven home matches this season, and have already defeated the Rams at the Homecall Carpets Community Stadium, a goal fifteen minutes into added time earning them an FA Cup win at the end of August.

Fifth place Beckenham Town welcome Phoenix Sports. Becks are fairly comfortable in fifth, five points clear of Sheppey United, despite a six match winless run that has seen them draw their last three. Sports are four points from safety and third from bottom, but have given themselves hope with two wins from their last four. Sports boss Darren Anslow returns to visit his former club. 

Sheppey United travel to East Grinstead Town, the Ites looking to reduce the gap between themselves and fifth spot, which currently stands at five points. They got back to winning ways against Hythe Town on New Years Day, ending a run of four defeats, whilst the Wasps haven’t played for a fortnight, when they lost to Margate- but were four unbeaten prior to that. They are fourteenth- eight points clear of the bottom four and with games in hand to play.

Deal Town welcome bottom side Steyning Town. Deal are seven points away from fifth spot having played three games more than the side occupying it, and a positive run has been ended by two defeats in a row; whilst the visitors got a first win since September last time out, and with only one defeat from five are feeling more positive about the five point gap between themselves and safety. With twelve wins, thirteen defeats and only one draw you can never be quite sure what you’re going to get from Deal- apart from the fact that someone almost always picks up three points! 

Ashford United are at home once more, Three Bridges making the trip. United are seven points away from the top five but will be disappointed by their defeat to Steyning last weekend, whilst Bridges have won four and lost three of their last seven and will hope to quickly recover from last weekend’s hammering at the hands of Ramsgate. They are four points above the drop zone, but have played far fewer matches than those around them.

Merstham play host to Hythe Town. The Moatsiders are nine points away from the top five, mainly because they’ve drawn their last three matches and are four without a win, but have played some thoroughly entertaining football this season; whilst the travelling Cannons are looking to avoid a sixth successive defeat, have won only one of their last ten, and find themselves four points from safety. 

The last time that Hythe won a league match on the road was on Tuesday 19th March at East Grinstead Town- that’s seventeen away matches without a victory so far. 

Eastbourne Town and Littlehampton Town meet in a Sussex seaside derby. The hosts are six places and thirteen points clear of their fourth bottom visitors, who have taken two points from the last thirty available and are without a league win since November 9th- but might be boosted by a County Cup win in midweek. The hosts are looking to go four unbeaten, and to build on their Sussex seaside derby win over Lancing last weekend. 

Finally, Lancing are only one point above the bottom four and have played a game more than the side who occupy that final relegation place, so will be rather keen to win as Herne Bay come to call. The Lancers last eight matches have brought three wins, three defeats and two draws, which doesn’t sound like relegation form, whilst Bay are only two places- although six points- better off. Bay have spent all season searching for consistency, and perhaps have decided to be consistently inconsistent, but with only one win from seven have not been at their best for some time.