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

Leaders Ramsgate travel to face the challenge of seventh place Merstham, with Moatside a place of delight after their youth side earned an FA Youth Cup Fourth Round tie at…Chelsea. To be fair, Merstham fans have seen plenty to delight them this season, and their side have been particularly formidable at home; whilst the Rams have been formidable everywhere, but they did lose their last away match at East Grinstead Town. Ramsgate might need a victory to stay ahead of Sittingbourne, Merstham are four points away from a play off place so certainly won’t see this match as anything other than crucial. 

Second place Sittingbourne travel to Eastbourne Town- the sunshine coast, although the weather forecast suggests that description may constitute an offence against the truth. What is true is that the Brickies are in sparkling form, nineteen matches unbeaten in all competitions, looking for a fifteenth win in a row, with a perfect home record and scoring goals for fun. Town are looking to go four unbeaten, but they face a tough afternoon. 

Third place Beckenham Town, five matches without a win, welcome Three Bridges to Eden Park Avenue. Becks have drawn their last two and show signs of recovering from their recent slump, whilst Bridges have opened a four point gap between themselves and the bottom four and will be looking forward to actually playing at home for the first time this season on Boxing Day. Bridges have won three of their last four and are beginning to resemble the side who surprised us all last season.

Margate, in fourth, are unbeaten at home and unbeaten in ten matches, a run which they will be confident of extending as second bottom Steyning Town head on their jolly boys outing. Steyning find themselves eight points from safety and without a win since September 28th, a run of fifteen matches that have brought only two points. The hosts will have their eye on third place. 

Burgess Hill Town are in the play off places only on goal difference, and they will be determined to stay there as Herne Bay head to Mid Sussex. The Hillians have lost only one of their last ten and are very much promotion contenders, whilst Bay, who we expected to be promotion contenders, are in freefall- looking to avoid a fifth consecutive league loss and with only two wins- and seven defeats- from their last ten. They start the weekend in sixteenth.

Sheppey United will hope to spend Christmas Day in the top five, as they are currently in sixth place, behind Burgess Hill on goal difference. The Ites travel to Deal Town hoping to quickly recover from last weekend’s defeat to Ashford United, whilst Deal are looking for a third win in a row- a victory which could lift them as high as seventh place.

Erith Town welcome Littlehampton Town to Thamesmead. The Dockers have fallen to six points away from a play off place after a run of only one win from five- although they only lost one of those matches; whilst the travelling Golds have gone six without victory, losing five of them, and find themselves only two points above the top four. They may need to avoid defeat to ensure that they don’t occupy a relegation place whilst opening their presents. 

Ashford United are climbing the table after a run of six wins from eight, and they could climb as high as seventh if they can continue their good form, Phoenix Sports the visitors. Sports are bottom of the table, eight points from safety, and have only two wins from ten- and indeed only two wins all season. The defeats have become more narrow, and they did take a point from in-form Broadbridge Heath on Saturday, but they need to start winning if they are to escape.

Broadbridge Heath have been in excellent form, their five match unbeaten run including four wins and four clean sheets, the latest of those coming against Herne Bay in midweek. The Bears welcome Croydon Athletic to West Sussex, the travelling Rams with a seven match winless run weighing heavily on their minds. 

Sevenoaks Town are on the road to Lancing. Oaks are in twelfth, ten points away from the top five and twelve clear of a bottom four which contains their hosts, the Lancers five points from safety. Oaks are hoping for a third win in a row, whilst the Lancers have looked improved of late, if we discount their defeat at Ramsgate last weekend, and will be confident that they can get out of trouble.

East Grinstead Town have opened up a ten point gap between themselves and the bottom four, courtesy of that fine win over Ramsgate and indeed a three match unbeaten run. The Wasps entertain the side in nineteenth place, Hythe Town two points from safety after a run of two wins from ten and indeed one win from their last eight.