On Tuesday evening Merstham host Deal Town in the Isthmian League South East Division.

As things stand Merstham occupy the final play-off place, five points ahead of Beckenham Town who have played two games fewer and it would appear that it is between those two teams to decide who will take the last post season football spot. Meanwhile Deal are in a comfortable mid-table position with the play-offs and relegation both almost ruled out mathematically.

Surrey based Merstham suffered a blow on Saturday when well beaten at Ramsgate. Jay Leader put the Rams ahead in just the third minute and Tijan Jadama made it two shortly before half time. Matt Drage pulled one back four minutes before half time however, Billy Munday restored the hosts’ two goal lead twelve minutes after the break. Josh Ajayi rounded the scoring off with a fine strike in stoppage.

Also on the road, Deal had a better time when winning at Sheppy United. Veteran striker Daniel Bradshaw put the Ites ahead in the second minute but Josh Vincent levelled for the visitors five minutes later. Ben Chapman’s brace plus a Rory Smith goal put Deal well in command at half time. Although Bradshaw pulled one back midway through the second half, the Hoops were not to be denied.

At home, Merstham have a strong record of ten wins, five draws and just two defeats whilst away from home Deal have won six, drawn one and lost ten.

When the two teams met in Kent in October it was a tussle full of incident. Munday, before his move to Ramsgate, opened the scoring for the Hoops but Andy Somo equalised midway through the first half. The game then took a different complexion when Merstham’s Olu Lawal was dismissed.

Munday scored again shortly before half time and completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second period. Drage pulled one back three minutes later but within sixty seconds, Chapman scored Deal’s fourth. Although Korrey Henry scored for the Moatsiders in stoppage time, they were unable to find a leveller.

Despite the fact that the upcoming game at Merstham could be considered to be a ‘nothing to play for’ game for Deal, manager Steve King will not allow them to just cruise their way through it so the hosts can expect to be made to work hard in order to maintain their challenge for possible promotion.

Picture supplied by VJT Photography.