Chatham Town lost ground at the top of the Isthmian Premier in midweek when they suffered a shock home defeat to Hashtag United as Mark Stimson’s wait for his first win as Margate boss goes on. 

The Chats led their Essex visitors early on through a thumping Rowan Liburd header before a couple of defensive mistakes gave the visitors the lead and when a third goal on the break left the Chats chasing the game, the home side were looking at defeat.

Simon Cooper’s last minute bundled effort gave the home side hope, but the home side could not level. After beating Canvey Island 5-1 at the weekend, Kevin Hake will have been disappointed to slip nine points behind leaders Hornchurch who celebrated Darryl McMahon’s first game in charge by winning 2-0 at Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday.  

At the weekend, an incredible start at Cheriton Road saw the home side and Carshalton level at 2-2 after just 19 minutes with Seidou Sanogo and Tom Derry netting for the home side. Derry put Folkestone 3-2 ahead at the break before the visitors levelled with just eleven minutes left to seal the 3-3 draw. 

An early Gary Lockyer goal was enough for Cray Wanderers to move six points clear of the drop zone with a 1-0 win over Play Off chasing Wingate & Finchley, whilst Margate were beaten 4-2 at Lewes despite goals from Vinnie Bowman and top scorer Steve Cawley. Then on Tuesday, the Gate returned to Sussex but were beaten 4-0 at fourth placed Hastings United. 

In the South East Division, Ramsgate’s charge to the title continued despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Sheppey United who dropped out of the Play Off places as a result. The Rams stay eight points clear after Cray Valley dropped points in midweek after they were held at home by Horndean after beating Ashford United at the weekend – an Adam Coombes penalty and a second from Lyle Della-Verde whilst they needed a second half goal from Danny Waldren to salvage a point and maintain Steve McKimm’s side’s unbeaten League record.  

Sittingbourne took six points out of six with two tricky away trips. In midweek they came from behind to win 2-1 at East Grinstead through Chris Harris and Mitch May’s nineth goal in his last seven starts to move third above Lancing who did not play.

That win came on the back of a performance that boss Ryan Maxwell praised as the Brickies ended Herne Bay’s unbeaten 2024 run with a three-nil win at Winches Field. Skipper Bagasan Graham put the visitors in front before May won and scored a penalty. Stefan Ilic’s late magnificent free kick sealed the points and maintained the visitors unbeaten away League record.

Bay missed out on a game in midweek when Hythe Town’s pitch problems saw them lose another home game to the weather after Steve Watt’s side had drawn 0-0 at Sevenoaks Town at the weekend.

Hythe are now nine points off the Play Off places but have only played seventeen of thirty-eight League games, whilst the Oaks are seven points from the top five having played the same games as fifth placed Three Bridges. 

At the bottom, Beckenham Town have had a good few days as goals from Harry Griffin and Finlay Roberts beat relegation rivals Merstham at the weekend whilst Erith & Belvedere were heaping more misery on Phoenix as Ernie Cheesman’s first half strike meant the bottom two had closed the gap on Phoenix and Merstham to four points ahead of Erith’s trip to Beckenham in midweek.

The home side looked like they had got the points as Alfie Bloomfield’s first goal since his return from Sittingbourne put them in front, only for Erith to deny through Cheesman to deny them two points which leaves Beckenham three points adrift of Erith and six from safety.