Unbeaten Gate end Becks unbeaten run- and Oaks defeat the Rams

Leaders Beckenham Town put their unbeaten record on the line as Margate came to call, aware that three more points would give them a four point lead at the top- but they had to settle for the one point gap they had at the start of the evening, as Gate coasted to victory. 

We suspected that this would be Becks biggest challenge to date. Margate made the journey unbeaten in both League and Cups- nine matches without defeat- and they completed a fifth successive win with a third clean sheet in four (and seventh of the season). Harvey Brand was the chief architect of victory, opening the scoring on twenty three minutes and completing it five minutes into the second half. Margate are up to seventh.

Burgess Hill Town are up to sixth, after winning a five goal encounter with Littlehampton Town. Hill were two up at the break- indeed they were two goals up within seventeen minutes, Ben Pope with both of them- and the match looked over when they scored a third eleven minutes from time, Oli Davies seemingly making the points safe. They weren’t quite safe, however, as Matthew Storm quickly hit back, and then, four minutes into added time, scored another- but there wasn’t time for an equaliser and three-two was the final score. 

Velocity Cup

Deal Town won a Kentish South East derby against Hythe Town. They went ahead after only seven minutes, Ife Oni opening the scoring, and within two minutes of the start of the second half doubled their advantage, Jack Penny ensuring that they eased through. That’s Deal’s first home win since opening day, whilst the Cannons are still looking for an away win. 

Erith Town are in fine form, and they hit Sittingbourne for four at The Stanmore Stadium. They had to come from behind to do it, Anthony Martin putting the Brickies ahead just before the break, but the second half was one way traffic, Hayden Bullas, Thomas Ash, James Dyer and Raheem Kareem each finding the net in a twenty one minute spell midway through the half. The fourth goal arrived eighteen minutes from time, and it effectively ended the contest. 

Sheppey United and Herne Bay met at Holm Park, and the two sides couldn’t manage a goal between them, so off we went to a shootout, which brought all the excitement that was lacking during the first ninety minutes. The Ites triumphed, by five goals to four. 

Ramsgate had to play most of their match against Sevenoaks Town with ten men, Lee Martin seeing yellow and then red on the twenty five minute mark. It was, then, perhaps unsurprising that they eventually fell behind, Ayomide Majekodunmi opening the scoring for Oaks with nineteen minutes remaining- but the visitors were ahead for only two minutes before the ten men hit back, Vance Bola with the equaliser. Off to a shootout we went, and it ended with a first Rams defeat of the season, Town eventually coming through seven-six. 

A round behind the rest, Steyning Town played host to Broadbridge Heath. Town haven’t had the best of starts to the campaign, and it didn’t get any better as the Bears won four-one. Sean Terry got the opener for the visitors just before the break, and although Charlie Meehan levelled with twenty six minutes to go that just inspired the Bears to new heights. Lewis Croal quickly restored their advantage, and the win was confirmed when Sam Lemon and Salvatore Marino added a third and a fourth. That’s the second time that Heath have defeated Town on the road this season.