With the season’s conclusion edging closer, plenty of Kent’s teams will be looking for three points this weekend for a variety of reasons.
In the first of Kent Sport News’ featured games on Saturday, Gillingham host promotion chasing Scunthorpe. The Lincolnshire side travel south in third place, knowing a win will keep them above Bolton. The Gills have only lost once in their last 11home matches including their last game at Priestfield, a 2-1 win over Southend. Ady Pennock’s side could secure their second successive victory for only the third time this season if they can pack up three points against the Iron.
Moving into non-league and another of KSN’s featured games this weekend come in the form of Bromley vs North Ferriby. The mid table ravens are now simply battling for league positions with very little chance of either promotion or relegation this year. You can read a full preview of the game here.
Due to their opponent’s FA Trophy commitments neither Dover nor Maidstone will be in action this weekend but it has been a busy week for the seaside club. The whites will be without Nicky Deverdics as his loan deal with his old club is now over, allowing him to return to the North East with Hartlepool.
The title race in the National League South remains as tight as ever thank to Maidenhead’s win in midweek. That result meant that Ebbsfleet dropped back down to second but Daryl McMahon’s side will look to return to the top spot when they travel to St Albans. Following their 6-1 win last weekend, the Fleet will hope for a repeat of the 3-1 win against the Saints earlier in the season.
Dartford, who remain third in the same division seem to have their playoff spot all but confirmed thanks to their 2-0 win against Bath last weekend. They travel to 17th placed Concord Rangers tomorrow knowing that avoiding defeat will keep them unbeaten for four consecutive matches.
In another of our featured matches this weekend, Welling welcome Poole to Park View Road. The Dorset club have been the surprise package of this season as they sit in the final playoff spot despite only being promoted last season. A full preview of the game is available here.
The county’s best chance of success in the Ryman Premier will need to come from Tonbridge Angels. Steve McKimm’s side currently occupy fourth place in the league and face mid table Staines Town tomorrow. Whilst draws with Leatherhead away and title contenders Havant & Waterlooville at home were creditable enough, back to back defeats against promotion rivals Needham Market on Saturday and Leiston on Tuesday evening have brought about doubts at Longmead.
Angels’ promotion push isn’t helped by injuries to Damian Scannell , Alex Akrofi, Jack Parter Luke Allen and keeper Tony di Bernardo mean the squad is stretched at the moment, but they have welcomed Jonny Henley on loan to replace Di Benardo for a month’s cover.
Elsewhere in the league, Folkestone Invicta need to be careful not to be pulled into a late season relegation scrap. They currently sit in 17th but remain just two points above the drop zone. They face a tough home game against fifth placed Wingate and Finchley this Saturday.
If they do go down, they’ll be back where they were last season and could potentially be replaced by Hythe Town. They face Carshalton in another featured game this weekend knowing that a win could propel them back into the playoff places. They haven’t lost in six matches at Reachfields, including 6-1 and 8-1 wins in consecutive games.
In the other fixtures this weekend all Kent teams are on the road. Ramsgate travel to Three Bridges, Faversham face South Park, Hearne Bay are away to Horsham, Chatham make the trip to Walton Casuals and Cray Wanderers travel to East Grinstead, a game which you can read our preview for here.
This week one of the County’s sides in the northern section of the Ryman League had some major news. This came from Thamesmead where they announced they’ll be leaving Bayliss Avenue in favour of a groundshare with Dartford at Princes Park. The deal will begin at the start of next season and last for five years. Their first game since this news comes this weekend when they host fellow Kent side VCD who are just six points below the home side in the table in our final featured game of the weekend.
Elsewhere in the north, Phoenix Sports host Bowers and Pitsea who are still looking to force their way into the playoff places.