Cray Valley PM moved back to the top of the Pitching-In Isthmian South Division on Saturday following their 2-1 win over Herne Bay. 147 people saw Marcell Barrington and Connor Dymond score the goals for The Millers to register a very important three points for Kevin Watson's side. The South London side have a number of very experienced players this season with many having played at a higher level - Barrington, a full International with Guyana, was a professional with Stoke City and Leicester City as a youngster and has also played for Welling United, Dartford, Concord Rangers, Braintree Town and Margate. Dymond was with Crystal Palace from 2013 to 2016 and has also played for a number of clubs in the Vanarama National League South Division.
The depth of the playing squad at The Badgers Sports Ground is indicated in the fact Nathan Green (former clubs include Lewes, Bromley, Billericay Town, Tonbridge Angels, Dagenham & Redbridge, Dartford, Margate and Dulwich Hamlet), Paul Semakula (Billericay Town and Maidenhead United), David Ompreon (Cheshunt, Sutton United, AFC Wimbledon and Fulham) and Joseph N'Guessan (Stevenage, QPR and Maidstone United) were on the sub's bench for the game versus Herne Bay.
Cray Valley PM have only lost one league game this season which came at East Grinstead Town with the home side winning 5-3. The Wasps are struggling in the relegation zone with only one other victory to date so it was a real shock result.
Herne Bay have dropped down to sixth place following Saturday's result which was their third league defeat of the season so far.
Ashford United are in second place but lost at Chichester City on Saturday by 3-2 with Roberto Ratti scoring both goals. The former Dover Athletic and Tonbridge Angels striker was recently signed from Combined Counties League Premier Division side Guildford City. The Nuts and Bolts other two league defeats have come at title rival's Haywards Heath Town and Cray Valley PM. Jay May, who was most recently with Romford but has played for a number of mainly Kent based non-league clubs, was red carded in the defeat to Chichester City. United are managed by former Tonbridge Angels, Cray Wanderers and Thamesmead Town boss Tommy Warrilow.
Haywards Heath Town are currently in third place having been promoted to Step Four in 2018. They finished in fifth place in their first season losing to Horsham in the play-off semi-final and look set to push for the play-offs or maybe more following the two curtailed seasons. The Blues also lost at the weekend at Whitstable Town by 3-2 which was their third defeat in six league games which has somewhat put a dent in their title aspirations.
Ramsgate and Hastings United make up the remaining play-off spots at present and are the only sides to play in Step Three in recent times. The Rams played in the Isthmian Premier from 2006 to 2009 and made the play-offs in 07/08 losing to Staines Town at the semi-final stage. The U's were in the Premier from 2007 to 2013 and have been pushing to get back ever since qualifying for the play-offs three times.
Hastings United won 5-0 on Saturday in home game against East Grinstead Town. There were five different scorers in the game in front of 801 people at The Pilot Field. The Rams drew 0-0 at Sittingbourne who included Tyler Christian-Law (former Wingate & Finchley, Margate, Hanwell Town and Braintree Town player) in their line-up. The Brickies also included former Maidstone United, Margate and Dartford winger Alex Flisher on their bench having recently signed from Hythe Town. Alex's brother Sam is also currently playing for Sittingbourne.
Flisher's former club Hythe Town were expected to go well this season under the management of former Maidstone United defender Steve Watt but things haven't gone to plan for The Cannons with the loss of a sponsor and cuts to the playing budget at Reachfields Stadium. Former Dartford, Dover Athletic, Maidstone United and Margate player James Rogers has taken over as Interim Manager.
Noel Leighton, Scott Doe, Frannie Collin, Nathan Gordon and Darren Oldaker have all departed the club along with Flisher. Oldaker, who made 8 League One appearances for Gillingham between 2016 to 2018, has moved to Vanarama Naitonal League South Dorking Wanderers. Gordon has moved to South-Cental Division side Tooting & Mitcham United.
Phoenix Sports are somewhat adrift at the bottom of the table with just one league victory so far which came in their second game of the season at Burgess Hill Town. They have since only picked up two draws in fourteen league games against VCD Athletic on Monday 30th August and in their most recent game against the new look Hythe Town on Saturday which ended 1-1. Emmanuel Shoderu scored in the 89th minute on his debut for the club to rescue a point for the South London side who have recently re-appointed Stephen O'Boyle as manager for his second spell with the club following the departure of Paul Bryon - O'Boyle faces a tough task to keep the Barnehurst based club at step four of the non-league ladder.
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