Isthmian League round-up: Margate deep in relegation trouble despite away win, Chatham lose at newly-crowned champions Hornchurch, Ramsgate and Cray Valley both win
Published: 20:43, 06 April 2024
Margate remain six points from safety in Isthmian Premier despite winning 3-1 at relegated Kingstonian on Saturday.
It took just six minutes for Margate to take the lead when Steve Cawley set up Jeremiah Pinder to put the visitors in charge.
Ben Greenhalgh doubled the lead just before half-time by rounding off a brilliant move which saw Toby Stevenson and Pinder combine to cross for Greenhalgh.
Nasim Regragui pulled one back on the hour mark before Greenhalgh converted a penalty four minutes from time to make the points safe after Destiny Oladipo was fouled in the box.
Margate have four games left but Cheshunt ensured they remain six points above Mark Stimson’s men and hold a superior goal difference after winning 4-0 at home to mid-table Lewes.
Second-placed Chatham were unable to prevent Hornchurch wrapping up the league title with an injury-time winner at Bridge Avenue.
Hornchurch took the lead through Femi Akinwande just past the hour but substitute Rowan Liburd equalised with two minutes remaining.
Chats substitute Khale Da Costa then picked up a red card before Hornchurch scored the winner when Akinwande set up former Gillingham striker Liam Nash to fire home.
Folkestone celebrated boss Andy Drury being given the job for next season by easing to an impressive 3-1 home victory against Horsham.
Ian Gayle put Invicta ahead, an own goal doubled the lead and Eddie Allsopp made it 3-0 early in the second half. A disputed penalty saw James Hammond pull one back late on for the visitors.
The top two in Isthmian South East were up against teams in the bottom half of the table so there were no shocks that both teams picked up three points.
Cray Valley took just 37 minutes to make sure their game against Burgess Hill was not going to be a problem, Adam Coombes bagging a first-half hat-trick. They led 4-0 at the break with Lyle Della-Verde also netting.
Kyrell Lisbie added a fifth with 11 minutes remaining for Steve McKimm’s men.
Ramsgate took nearly an hour before finding the breakthrough at Phoenix Sports courtesy of Joe Taylor. Lee Martin added a second to ensure Ben Smith’s side remain three points behind with four games left to play.
Ramsgate are due to visit East Grinstead on Tuesday night, meaning the teams could be level on points when they meet in a potential title decider at Southwood next weekend.
Third-placed Sittingbourne went down to three second-half goals at Three Bridges.
Herne Bay got back to winning ways after a 2-1 victory at Littlehampton Town. Goals from Frankie Smith and Scott Heard in the first seven minutes of the second half proved decisive, Scott Kirkwood’s penalty on 73 minutes reducing the arrears.
Jerson Dos Santos scored two goals for the second successive home game as Sheppey ran out 5-1 winners over Ashford at Holm Park.
A crowd of 817 saw Richie Hamill give the Ites a fourth-minute lead but Ian Draycott equalised before half-time. Dos Santos scored twice in the second half before substitutes David Johnson and Dan Bradshaw added late gloss to the scoreline.
Beckenham moved off the bottom of the table after a 5-2 home win over Hythe, although they are seven points from safety with four games to play.
Louie Theophanous’ brace put Becks in charge before Aaron Barnes replied just before half-time. Theophanous completed his hat-trick after the break and Steven Townsend and Finley Roberts also netted before Frannie Collin scored a late spot-kick for Hythe.
Erith & Belvedere are now bottom after a 6-1 humbling at Chichester while Sevenoaks went down 5-0 at Merstham, who scored four goals in the first 33 minutes.
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Matthew Panting