This weekend sees the busy holiday schedule come to an end for Kent’s sides, meaning the run-in towards the end of the season starts now.
All four Kent teams in the National League are still in with a chance of playoff football come the end of the season. Dover Athletic, who start the weekend fourth in the table, host second placed Aldershot Town in arguably the game of the weekend. Both sides are looking to stop high flying Macclesfield Town running away with the league.
Bromley also sit within the playoff places and, following their televised win over Ebbsfleet United, Neil Smith’s side will be in high spirits when they host Fylde on Saturday. New loan signing Omar Bugiel is expected to be available for the fixture.
Bromley’s opponents for that New Year’s Day BT Sport game, Ebbsfleet United are also at home this weekend when they Welcome Chester to the Kuflink Stadium. Daryl McMahon’s squad will be looking for a better result than the reverse fixture, which saw the two sides play out to a 1-1 draw.
Despite sitting in 12th position, Maidstone United are only six points away from the top seven in the league. They are the only of Kent’s National League sides to be playing away from home this weekend when they make the short trip to Woking.
There is also a local side pushing for promotion in the second tier of the non-league game. Dartford currently sit two points ahead at the top of the National League South and could extend that to five on Saturday with a win at Concord Rangers.
Also in the division are Welling United who have had a busy week with Anthony Acheampong and Harley Willard arriving at Park View Road. They host fellow mid table club Eastbourne Borough this weekend at home knowing a win could send then as high as ninth.
The surprise of the season continues to come from the Kent coast with Neil Cugley’s Folkestone Invicta. Following their 3-1 win at Margate, they went to third in the Bostik Premier Division and will look to build on it this weekend. However, it’ll be a tough ask with Invicta travelling to first place Dulwich Hamlet, who have only lost two home games all year.
Tonbridge Angels and Margate also have an outside chance of making the playoffs this season. Both sides currently sit eight points behind fifth and will need an impressive run of form to really mount a challenge as the season reaches its most exciting point. The Thanet club make the tough trip to Billericay on Saturday afternoon whilst the Angels host Lowestoft Town.
In the Bostik South it is Cray Wanderers who have the best chance of silverware out of the County’s sides in the fourth tier. They go into their game on Sunday against Walton Casuals with the highest goal difference in the league whilst remaining just two points behind Lewes.
Unusually for the division, there are no all Kent fixtures this weekend. Ashford United host Chipstead at Homelands whilst Sittingbourne make the trip to Carshalton Athletic. Herne Bay and Hythe Town are both at home against Corinthian Casuals and East Grinstead respectively.
Faversham Town head west to face first placed Lewes and VCD Athletic are also on the road for their game against Horsham.
The final three matches see Kent teams at home. Guernsey travel to the north of the county to face Phoenix Sports, Ramsgate host Shoreham in Thanet and Thamesmead Town welcome Whyteleafe to Dartford’s Princes Park.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.