Ten man Rams come from behind- and Deal hit nine

It was a night of great significance in the promotion race and in the fight for survival, with a number of sides from the right end of the table taking on sides from the wrong end.

Croydon Athletic’s match against Beckenham Town was perhaps the pick of the bunch, the Rams in second, whilst Becks were seven from safety but five unbeaten. The Rams made a breakthrough on twenty minutes, loanee Stanley Oldfield continuing his fine start for the club, but the hosts then switched off and Alfie Broomfield was able to level within a minute. Becks scored again in first half added time, Shaquille Gordon putting them ahead, and it soon got worse for the hosts, as they saw Sonny Black dismissed seven minutes into the second half. Despite that setback the hosts drew level five minutes later, an own goal giving them a helping hand, but they scored the next one on their own, Ben Wynter making it three-two seven minutes from time- and held on for three points.

Athletic are eight points behind the leaders, whilst Becks remain seven from safety.

Sittingbourne played a local derby against Sheppey United, the Brickies looking to bounce back from their first defeat in months- but it was the Ites who struck first, D’jean Spencer putting them ahead on twenty four minutes. The lead lasted four minutes, Henry Sinai delivering an almost-immediate reply- and just as quickly Sittingbourne were ahead, Luke Woodward completing the turnaround. It looked as if the three points were staying at home, but then a minute from time Jacob Lambert conjured up an equaliser. The Brickies slip to fifth, one point clear of Jersey Bulls- and the Ites are sixteenth, eight points clear of the bottom four. 

Faversham Town headed to Mid Sussex to take on Hassocks, the Lilywhites hoping to climb back into the top five, the hosts desperate for points in the fight against the drop. Just before the break both sides were reduced to ten men, Jamie Wilkers departing for the Robins and Harrison Pont for Town, and the first goal eventually arrived twenty minutes from time. It went to the visitors, Nathan Wood putting them ahead, and they got a second six minutes from time, Frankie Smith leaving them rather more comfortable. 

Faversham climb to fourth, their hosts remain two points from safety- and have played two matches more than the next-best club, Erith Town. 

Deal Town have been in superb form, and were odds-on favourites to make it seven wins in a row as they hosted bottom side East Grinstead Town. Deal were ahead on sixteen minutes, Ben Chapman scoring his twelfth of the campaign, and three minutes before half time Ash Miller made it two. Callum Davies added a third early in the second half, Josh Strouts quickly made it four, and once again it the Wasps looked likely to get a proper thumping. The fifth arrived just before the hour, Miller once more, and then Strouts almost immediately made it six. Eleven minutes from time Miller completed a hat trick with number seven, and still the hosts weren’t done. Alfie Forster got number eight, James Fielding added number nine, and finally the pain stopped for the visitors. Deal are only three points away from the top five. 

After the match a Wasps fan sent a social media message asking whether the League could just automatically award three points to all of his side’s forthcoming opponents. He argued that this would, at least, save some anguish because he wouldn’t have to watch. Given the Wasps have conceded thirty four goals in their last five matches, it’s not difficult to understand his point. They are twenty six points from safety, with thirty left to play for.  

Our image shows Ash Miller picking up his Man of the Match Award, courtesy of the club.

Merstham were hoping to return to winning ways as they entertained Eastbourne Town, and it took them only two minutes to go ahead, Louie Theophanous taking his tally to six in seven matches for the Moatsiders. Town levelled twenty four minutes later, Nathan Hover scoring his ninth of the campaign, and the scoring came to an end there. 

Merstham are eleven points away from the top five, in eighth place, their visitors ten points above the drop zone in fifteenth.