Ramsgate’s lead at the top of the South Eastern Division was cut to just two points after a shock home defeat as Chatham Town keep pace with leaders Hornchurch in the Premier Division on a nervy afternoon for leading Clubs in both of our Isthmian League divisions. 

The Rams lost 2-0 at home to lowly Merstham and despite being held to a goalless draw by Chichester City at Badgers, Steve McKimm’s Cray Valley PM side closed to just two points of Ben Smith’s Rams – and Valley have an all-important game in hand ahead of the two sides’ potential titanic showdown at Southwood on April 13^th. 

Elsewhere on Saturday, Sevenoaks Town did their neighbours at the top of the table a favour by seeing off fourth-placed Lancing 4-2 with two goals in each half. Dan Bennett and Eman Mensah put the home side two up and after being pegged back, two goals in the last eight minutes from Dan Carr and Kieron Cadogan sealed the Oaks the points. 

The most amazing game of the day saw Hythe Town travel to Littlehampton after their surprise midweek defeat to Erith & Belvedere at Reachfields but Steve Watt would have been frustrated to see his side share eight goals! It was 2-2 after 16 minutes – Johan Caney Bryan putting the Cannons ahead on two minutes and then equalising on sixteen – and a Frannie Collin penalty gave Hythe a 3-2 half time lead. Jake Embury restored the visitors’ lead after the home side levelled at 3-3, and it was a 90^th minute goal that denied Hythe the three points.  

Although they still have games in hand, Hythe are now 13 points behind fifth placed Herne Bay, whose impressive 2024 continued with a 3-1 win over Broadbridge Heath courtesy of Michael Salako’s hat-trick. 

Sheppey United stay sixth and Ashford United 11^th after their games were called off, whilst at the bottom, Beckenham Town stay rooted whilst Merstham’s win at Ramsgate was bad news for Phoenix Sports who are now just outside the relegation zone on goal difference. 

Sunday’s game saw Sittingbourne cement third place at Erith & Belvedere’s expense as the Brickies ran out 4-0 winners at Park View Road. Ryan Maxwell’s side were in dominant first half form with the game being over as a contest as the away side raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 22 minutes courtesy of Luke Woodward’s first goal for the Club, Harry Hope and Mitch May’s thirteenth goal in his last ten starts. The only real surprise was the Brickies did not add a fourth until the final minutes when sub Donvieve Jones netted. 

In the Premier Division, Chatham Town heaped more misery on Mark Stimson at Margate as the former Gillingham boss’ return to Medway ended in disappointment. On a strange day when only the top two out of the top ten won, the Chats were ahead in the first half through Jamie Yila. Tyrone Sterling did draw the Gate level just before the hour only for Rowan Liburd to poach what proved to be the winner on sixty-two minutes. Stimson remains winless in his ten games as Margate now find themselves a point from safety – their massive relegation six pointer at Cheshunt on Tuesday fell foul of the weather. 

Elsewhere, Folkestone were another victim of the weather but because of Cray Wanderer’s point against Concord Rangers on Sunday, the two Kent sides swap places with Neil Smith’s side now sixteenth with thirty-two points and Andy Drury’s Folkestone Invicta one place and one point worse off – both though have a nine-point gap between themselves and Margate who occupy the final relegation place. 

In midweek, congrats to both Chatham Town and Ashford United for reaching the last four of the Velocity Cup with shoot out wins at Billericay Town and at home to Hastings United respectively. Joining the Kent sides in the last four will be either Whitehawk or Haringey Borough and either Hashtag United or Bagshot Lea. 

Picture supplied by Chatham Town.