Tuesday Night Rams go two points clear- with Becks and Ites hot on their heels

Ramsgate made it five wins from five- and a two point lead at the top- with a comprehensive victory over Ashford United at Southwood. The opening goal arrived just before the quarter hour mark, Roarie Deacon with his first goal for the club, but the majority of the damage was done in the opening quarter of an hour of the second half. Aaron Barnes made it two-nil two minutes after the restart, Jay Leader got the third on fifty six minutes, and just before the hour Joe Taylor got his customary goal, his eleventh of the season coming in only his ninth match. 

Beckenham Town won a seven goal thriller against Sevenoaks Town, and kept up the pressure on the Rams at the top. The first half was so one sided it looked as if the match was won by the break, Robert Carter, Isaac Goodyear-Thompson and Freddie Nyhus making it three-nil to Becks, but a warren Mfula goal just after the start of the second half gave Oaks hope, and a red card for the hosts Jack Holland increased that. Jefferson Aibangbee pulled it back to three-two from the spot, but the ten men restored a two goal cushion with twenty minutes left, Jamarie Brissett’s sixth of the season surely ending Oaks resistance? Far from it- Michael Hagan pulled it back to four-three nine minutes from time, but sadly for the travelling faithful that was as good as it got. 

Sheppey United maintained their one hundred percent record with a win over Erith Town. The Ites went ahead on seven minutes, Danny Leonard with his first of the season- and four minutes into the second half Gil Carvalho made it two. Within a mater of seconds the Dockers had responded, Ollie Milton halving the arrears, but the Ites third goal was a clincher, and it arrived twelve minutes from time, Victor Aiyelabola scoring it. Image from Marc Richards. 

Sittingbourne are fourth, after a comprehensive defeat of Phoenix Sports. Ryan Kingsford got the Brickies underway on twenty eight minutes, and two minutes leater came a second, this one Mitchell May’s seventh of the season. At this point the visitors still had hope, but that ended thirteen minutes from time when Henry Sinai added a third, and it seemed the Brickies liked their goals to come in groups, as their fourth and final one arrived four minutes later, Liam Smith up from the back to score for the third time this season.

Margate picked up their first league win of the campaign- they’ve three in knockout competitions- after coming from behind to defeat Deal Town. Aaron Millbank has a Deal scoring record of around a goal every two matches, but he got his first of the season when putting them ahead six minutes after the break. The hosts levelled within two minutes, however, as Ibrahim Olutade scored his third of the campaign, and, with the match seemingly about to end in a draw, Louie Atkins got the winner, delighting the Hartsdown faithful six minutes into added time. Three draws and a win so far for Gate, who are ninth, whilst Deal are fifth. 

Merstham came from three goals down to draw with AFC Croydon Athletic in the shadow of Croydon crematorium. The hosting Rams charged into a three goal lead within twenty four minutes, Cian McCarthy Richard Pingling and Brandon Pierrick finding the back of the Moatsiders net, but Aidan Brown quickly got one back for the visitors. Perhaps the pivotal moment arrived three minutes into added time at the end of the first half, a red card for the hosts Gus Sow, and the ten men couldn’t hold onto their lead, Ben Senior on sixty four minutes and Olu Lawal on seventy one earning the visitors a point. 

Lancing are still looking for a first point of the season, their latest defeat coming at the hands of Burgess Hill Town in a Sussex derby at Culver Road. The winning goal- the only one of the match- arrived just before the break, and it went to Dan ‘Hitman’ Perry for the Hillians, his fourth in three matches sending Hill into eighth. 

Broadbridge Heath are five unbeaten in all competitions, and their fourth win of that run came at East Grinstead Town. Matthew Hay gave the Bears the lead just after the half hour, but the Wasps thought they’d grabbed a point when Omar Folkes levelled half an hour later. In added time at the end of the match, howeber, Heath grabbed a winner- Charlie Parmiter scoring for the second game in a row.

Hythe Town had lost four in a row in all competitions as Herne Bay came to call, but the Cannons came from behind to defeat their visitors. Michael Salako’s fifth goal of the season gave Bay the lead on thirty three minutes, but Lex Allan levelled six minutes into the second half and with twenty two minutes to go Bruno Tavares kept his cool from the spot to deliver a home victory. 

Steyning Town travelled to Littlehampton Town still searching for their first league win of the season, and they delivered it in style. Lloyd Francis put the visitors ahead on eighteen minuets and they doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, Charlie Meehan making it two. With eighteen minutes to go Alfie Rogers added a third from the spot, and although Scott Faber pulled a goal back with a penalty four minutes from time, there was still time for Lucas Murrain to score a fourth for the visitors.