The weather was the undoubted winner last weekend in non-League football in the county with the SCEFL being particularly hardest hit!
Of all the games scheduled, only two took place and both resulted in 3-0 away wins for Play Off chasers.
At Homelands, Corinthian stayed second in the table as Michael Hagan gave them the early lead against Kennington and when Charlie Clover added a second just before the hour, the points were effectively won, and they were sealed in the last ten minutes when Conor Driscoll added a third.
Deal Town moved third with their own 3-0 win at Oakwood against VCD Athletic but Steve King’s side left it late with all three coming in the Final fifteen minutes. Billy Munday opened the scoring on seventy-six minutes and further goals from Tom Chapman and Wes Hennesey sent the Hoops third in what was the second of just two games completed on Saturday.
Things have been a little better in midweek, as Deal won on the road as they prepare for their Isuzu FA Vase last eight tie at Lincoln United this weekend. It was a relatively short trip to Ashford to face Kennington, and unlike the weekend, they went ahead early on through Jack Penney.
Jamie Kennedy and Josh Byford added further goals in the final twenty minutes as Steve King’s side closed to within a point of Corinthian and are now “just” five points behind leaders Glebe (whose weekend trip to Lordswood was amongst the weather casualties) still with six games in hand.
Faversham Town are now fourth after their midweek win at Stansfeld, but Tommy Warrilow’s side left it late as after a scrambled effort put the Lillywhite’s in front ten minutes from time, Stefan Payne’s 29th goal of the season sealed a 2-0 win.
Erith Town’s great recent run continued as they hauled themselves into the final Play Off place with a 5-2 win over Fisher. Darnelle Bailey-King twice put the Fish in front but a first equaliser from Harry Taylor and then a second from Jake Lovell left the game all square at the midway point of the second half.
But three late strikes from Taylor again, James Dyer’s 19th of the season from the spot and Calum McGeehan lifted the double Cup Finalists above Bearsted and Whitstable Town into the cherished Play Off places as the race for post season really begins to hot up.
Going into this weekend, the Dockers hold fifth place with 53 points from 28 games; next are the Bears who also have 53 but from 29; next are the Oystermen with 51 from 30; next are Snodland with 50 from 28; then come Punjab with 48 from 27; Lydd with 47 from 28 ahead of their Wednesday night game with Corinthian, and even Lordswood in eleventh place are only seven points off the top five with 46 points from 28 games played. The next few weeks are going to be a real battle to make post season…
Down in Division One on Saturday and AFC Whyteleafe extended their winning run at the top by beating K Sports 2-0 to 14 points over Staplehurst who were held to a 0-0 draw at Meridian.
Canterbury City were beaten at Faversham Strike Force in their bid for a Play Off place, and that defeat could prove very costly as in midweek, City came from behind to themselves beat K Sports, a result that leaves them a point off the top five behind Larkfield and New Hythe, but they have played five games fewer than City.
Whyteleafe are fourteen points clear of the rest at the top with 57 points. Staplehurst are next on 43 two points in front of Rochester United with same games played (20). Lewisham Borough come next with 37 points from nineteen games and Larkfield are fifth with 36 points from 18 games. It looks like being between these five and Canterbury although both Elmstead and Croydon could still challenge the Play Off places because of games in hand.