After an eventful seven days, weekend football returns to Kent with plenty of opportunities for teams to improve their league standings as the season continues.
Following their 2-2 draw against Wimbledon in midweek, Gillingham remain at Priestfield to host Southend. They’ll be without Jackson Emmanuel Thomas who returned to QPR this week. There is better news for Gills fans though as Zesh Rehman is available following his move to North Kent on Thursday.
The 3pm kickoff at Priestfield is one of KSN’s featured matches this weekend and we’ll be offering social media updates throughout the afternoon. You can also read a full preview of the game here.
Dover Athletic’s promotion hopes remain in their own hands after a 2-1 win at North Ferriby last weekend. Sitting 5th in the National League table, they’ll have a chance to close the gap on Forest Green Rovers when they host Eastleigh at Crabble. The visitors have had a troubled week with former Martin Allen being relieved of his duties following their third successive loss in midweek.
At the other end of the National League table, Maidstone will look to back up their impressive 4-2 win against Chester last week with victory at Braintree. The Stones haven’t lost in their last two matches and Jay Saunders’ men will hope this is the start of a revival. Victory for the visitors would bring them to within a point of the Essex side.
Further up the table, Bromley will look to return to winning ways against Aldershot. After losing their last two games the Ravens will be hoping to avoid slipping further down the table. Their trip to Hampshire is another of KSN’s featured matches this weekend.
A number of Kent clubs are looking for promotion to the top level of non-league this season, and one of the main contenders are Ebbsfleet United. They slipped down to second in midweek following a draw against Hemel Hempstead but travel to Bath on Saturday knowing a win could mean they regain top spot.
Just one place and four points below the Fleet are their main rivals, Dartford. Tony Burman’s side travel to Oxford City having lost just one of their last matches and will hope for a repeat of the home tie which saw them finish as 1-0 winners. The squad are not at their fittest, but the return to fitness of Lee Noble offers hope for Darts fans.
Another of KSN’s featured games this weekend is Welling vs Wealdstone in a mid-table clash at Park View Road. The Wings have lost just twice in their last eight matches and three points on Saturday could see come within two points of their opponents. You can read a full preview of the game here.
At the foot of the table, struggling Margate host fellow relegation candidates Whitehawk. It’s been a tough week at Hartsdown Park; two tight losses have shown improvements within the side, but the Thanet based squad are still struggling to obtain points.
On Thursday manager Nikki Bull resigned from his post. Just one day later Steven Watt was announced at the Gate’s new manager, bringing in former Chelmsford and Ebbsfleet left back Aiden Palmer who is available for Saturday’s fixture.
Looking to return to the National League South are Tonbridge Angels. They currently sit in fourth place in the Ryman Premier and they travel to struggling Leatherhead on Saturday. The Angels welcome the Surrey based side in good form, having lost just one of their last 11 matches, including a thrilling 4-4 against their opposition this weekend.
Elsewhere in the league Folkestone Invicta welcome Harlow Town to the Kent coast following a 2-2 draw between the two sides in midweek.
Continuing down the pyramid, Thamesmead’s home game against Romford is another featured game this weekend. Boosted from a 3-2 comeback win during the week, Terry Spillane’s team will look to kickstart a good run of form. Kaka Dembele, on loan from Dartford, is expected to make his home debut on Saturday after scoring in Mead’s midweek game.
Staying in the Ryman North, Phoenix Sports host Witham Town and VCD will travel to Wiltham Abbey in search of some much needed points.
In the southern portion of the league Hythe Town will look to return to winning ways against Sittingbourne in a Kent derby. The cannons have fallen out of the playoff places after failing to win either of their last two matches. Other matches in the Ryman South include Chipstead vs Cray Wanderers, Dorking vs Ramsgate, Greenwich Borough vs Faversham, Hastings vs relegation threatened Chatham and Walton Casuals vs Herne Bay.
We also have coverage from the Southern Counties East League this weekend. Hollands and Blair vs Rochester is our final featured game of the weekend. Elsewhere Deal Town, who are still not safe from relegation, host Erith and Belvedere at the Charles Ground. The hosts have picked up an impressive seven points from their last three games and hope to continue against the Dere’s who have struggled in comparison.
The title race in the fifth tier of non-league has been reduced to a two horse race. Just one point separates Ashford from Crowborough. The Nuts and Bolts travel to Cray Valley on Sunday whilst the Crows host Erith Town one day earlier.