Chatham Town served the rest of the Isthmian Premier Division a real notice of intent at the weekend with a crushing win over one of their Play Off rivals whilst it was a good day for the three sides leading the way in the Southeast division.

None of them played because of the inclement weather, yet none of the chasing pack really took advantage! 

The Chats still trail Hornchurch at the top of the table as they lined up to face third placed Billericay Town. More than two thousand packed into the Bauvill and were stunned when the Essex side took the lead. The home faithful need not have worried however as Jack Evans levelled before Kareem Isiaka netted twice and netted a fourth ten minutes before the break. Billericay did pull a goal back before the break, but Isiaka completed his hat-trick after the break and a penalty from Jamie Yila made it 6-2 before the visitors pulled back a third late on. 

Although Hornchurch went nine points clear at the top winning in midweek, Kevin Hake’s side are now ten points ahead of Billericay who stay third and fifteen points ahead of sixth placed Horsham. The way things are looking at the moment, it appears that anyone wanting to go up through the Play Offs, their path will have to go through the Bauvill, at least at the moment! 

At the bottom, Cray Wanderers won their third game in a week to move into mid table – nineteen points now clear of the drop zone. An Anthony Cook goal on the hour was enough for Neil Smith’s side to beat Kingstonian on Saturday. 

A 2-0 defeat Whitehawk on Tuesday night however brought Neil Smith’s side’s unbeaten run to an end.

Folkestone Invicta were left kicking themselves after goals from Eddie Allsopp and David Smith gave them a two-goal lead with twenty minutes left at Whitehawk. But home striker Charlie Walker then hit a hat-trick including a penalty in stoppage time to win the game for the home side! After returning home on Tuesday for a goal-less draw with Potters Bar, Andy Drury’s side find themselves now ten points ahead of fourth bottom Cheshunt. 

Closer than that are Margate as they remain just two points outside the relegation zone after losing a relegation six-pointer to Haringey Borough by the only goal of the game. Mark Stimson side are nineteenth with 25 points but now have four sides within four anxious points of them. 

In the Southeast, Cray Valley PM, Ramsgate, and Sittingbourne all were washed out leaving the way clear for the rest to try to reduce the points to them.  

Lancing though lost 4-1 at Three Bridges who seem to have re-found some form of late, Herne Bay needed an injury time equaliser to grab a point at Erith & Belvedere – Cameron Andrews thought he had grabbed the Deres a vital win at the bottom scoring two minutes from time only for Gil Carvalho to grab an equaliser six minutes later. 

Sheppey United lost ground as they were beaten at home by lowly Merstham, whilst Chichester City boosted their own hopes by denting Sevenoaks Town’s own with a single goal win. 

Phoenix Sports were left ruing their luck as they were denied three vital points in their fight to stay up as Burgess Hill Town levelled at 2-2 in stoppage time. Ryan Hayes put the home side ahead at half-time, and after the visitors equalised, Adejola Lehan looked as if he had given Sports three vital points. But then the visitors grabbed a point which leaves Phoenix now just a point in front of Erith with Beckenham Town (whose game with Cray Valley was called off) becoming adrift at the foot of the table. 

Elsewhere a second half fightback saw Ashford United beat Horndean 3-1. A goal down at the break second half goals from Bradley Ryan, Tolulope Jonah and Harvey Brand sealed the points that leaves the Nuts and Bolts eleventh. 

Picture supplied by Chatham Town.