Rams go five clear as Becks fall to defeat

Ramsgate found themselves two points clear of Beckenham Town at the top, and remained unbeaten as they welcomed Herne Bay in a Kentish seaside derby. The Rams went ahead on twelve minutes, Benny Bioletti the scorer, and within two minutes Roarie Deacon had added a second. On fifty six minutes any hopes Bat still held were dashed as keeper Harry Brooks saw red, and the hosts sealed their victory with a third, Tijan Jadama’s goal seventeen minutes from time the last one of the contest- and the Rams extended their lead to five points. 

Second place Beckenham Town saw their winning run- which was six games long- come to an end at Merstham last weekend. Becks started the day two points behind Ramsgate having played three matches more, and needed to get back to winning ways at top speed against visitors Ashford United- and they were certainly ahead at top speed, Louie Theophanous opening the scoring after just six minutes. The Nuts and Bolts were level just before the half hour, Gary Lockyer scoring his sixteenth goal of the season, and after the break Lockyer did it again, making it two-one. On fifty eight minutes the visitors had a spot kick, James Dunne making no mistake, and the visitors climbed to twelfth whilst the title race began to look as if it had only one horse. 

Sittingbourne, back to the day job after another fine giant killing cup win last weekend, looked to defend their perfect home record as they welcomed Sevenoaks Town to Woodstock. Donvieve Jones fifth of the season gave them the lead on the quarter hour, and three minutes before the break Ryan Kingsford made it two. The second half looked to be goalless, but in added time Troy Howard got a third for the Brickies and secured the three points. Sittingbourne are third, eight points behind the leaders with a game in hand, three behind second place Beckenham Town with four games in hand. 

Margate, with only one defeat this season, were back at Hartsdown Park, where they welcomed Erith Town, the Dockers two places and six points behind them. Gate had won six of their previous seven- the other was a draw- and defeated their visitors three-one in Thamesmead a month ago, whilst Town were looking to extend their unbeaten run to six matches, and to narrow the gap between themselves and the top five. Erith made the breakthrough midway through the first half, Ross Craig with the opener, and they scored again eighteen minutes from time through James Dyer- but suddenly, Gate came to life. Brandon Davey quickly got a goal back, and three minutes into added time Max Walsh managed to deliver an equaliser. That was finally that, Gate stay fourth, Erith in seventh. 

Burgess Hill Town’s trip to East Grinstead Town was postponed. 

Sheppey United started the weekend in seventh place, four points away from the top five, and hoped to cut that deficit as they took on bottom side Phoenix Sports. The Ites went ahead on thirteen minutes, Eitel Moumi Goueth with his third of the season, and Dan Bradshaw’s fifth made it two-nil twelve minutes before half time. Sports hit back midway through the second half, Richard Pingling giving them hope, and that hope remained until added time, when new arrival Frankie Maclocia- on from the bench- got a third for the hosts, who go sixth. 

Merstham were magnificent in victory over Beckenham Town last weekend, and the Moatsiders, who had lost only two of their previous ten, hoped to climb closer to the top five as they travelled to Littlehampton Town. The Golds were defeated by a late goal when they travelled to Moatside in September, and wanted to avoid a third successive defeat, but that didn’t look likely as Merstham charged into a two goal lead within the first half hour, Sam King and Billy Oram with the goals. The second half was a different story, as on sixty seven minutes the rather aptly named Matt Storm got a goal back, and three minutes later Delwin Duah equalised- but the match still had a twist in the tale. Five minutes into added time substitute Aidan Brown broke home hearts, scoring a winner for the visitors, three-two the final score, the Golds defeated by another late goal. Merstham are eighth. 

AFC Croydon Athletic- under new management- were the hosts for Three Bridges. The Rams took a ten match unbeaten run into this clash, whilst Bridges were looking to avoid a fifth consecutive loss- and the visitors not only did that, but they ended the Rams unbeaten run. The only goal came from the spot thirteen minutes from time, Ben Holden putting it away, and it lifted Bridges to within a point of safety. 

Eastbourne Town and Deal Town met at the Saffrons. Deal hit these opponents for four back in September, but had struggled to find consistency, five of their last ten ending in victory, the other five in defeat. Their hosts were hoping for a third successive win and seemed to have found their feet after a four match losing streak, and they were given an early boost, Alfie Foster dismissed for the visitors after just five minutes, James Ding scoring the resulting penalty. The ten men levelled just after the half hour, Macca Murray also scoring from the spot, but three minutes before half time the hosts were ahead once more, James Hull the scorer. They couldn’t hold onto that lead, however, giving away another spot kick, Murray cool once more to make it two-two at the break. Image courtesy of the club. 

The second half brought even more drama. Ding made it three-two to the hosts, and then Hull added a fourth, only for the ten men to quickly pull it back to four-three, Tom Chapman the scorer. But the last word went to Ding, who rang up three points and claimed the match ball with a fifth goal eight minutes from time, five-three the final score. 

Lancing took on Broadbridge Heath in a Sussex derby. The third bottom Lancers had taken only four points from the last thirty available, and yet knew that victory could see them climb out of the danger zone; whilst the Bears had only one win from eight so their form wasn’t a great deal better. Heath went ahead seven minutes before half time, Callum Dowdell the scorer, and the Lancers hopes were dashed a minute from time when Brad Peters added a second. Lancing are third from bottom, but six points from safety- the Bears in fourteenth. 

Hythe Town, a point outside the drop zone but with the worst goal difference in the Division, faced second bottom Steyning Town at Reachfields. The Cannons had won one- and lost eight- of their previous 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. 

The opening goal arrived on five minutes, and again it was bad news for Hythe’s goal difference tally, as Ed Kazlauskas gave the visitors the lead, but they levelled just before half time, Ellis Brown with the equaliser. The second half had a great deal more drama. Twenty minutes from time Vance Bola made it two-one to the hosts and that went hand in hand with a red card for the visitors Billy Fuller , and yet the ten men levelled with five minutes left, Nathan Da Costa the scorer. A draw looked likely to be the outcome, but two minutes into added time Ellis Brown decided otherwise, making it three-two to the hosts and keeping them out of the bottom four.