Sunday, January 13, 2008 16:14
Despite the heavy rain on Friday all the scheduled Premier Division games took place on Saturday and it’s ‘as you were’ at the top as the leading pair both enjoyed 3-0 wins.
Leaders VCD must have been worried after manager Paul Foley was awarded the December Manager of the Month award, but they still emerged victorious from a potentially tough trip to Croydon with goals from Leroy Huggins and a Kane Rice brace either side of half time.
Second placed Beckenham took the lead at home to Tunbridge Wells as early as the fifth minute through Tom Youle and had extended their lead to three before half time thanks to a double from Kane Rice. That was theend of the scoring though, as Tunbridge Wells mounted a damage limitation exercise in the second half.
The ‘match of the day’ was at Hythe where the home side, in fifth and many people’s ‘dark horses’ for the Championship, entertained third-placed Thamesmead. Curtis Williams gave the visitors the lead on 72 minutes and in a tight game must have thought it would be the winner but with only two minutes left Gavin Ransley equalised for the home side to make the final score 1-1.
At the other end of the table Sporting Bengal picked up their second win in two games with a 2-1 win at home to Greenwich Borough, coming from behind to do so. Peter Smith gave Borough a 40th minute lead but second half strikes from Benjamin Schmitt and Prince Pipin secured the points which ensured that, despite our win at Lordswood, we remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
Erith and Belvedere were the day’s top scorers, notching up five without reply at Slade Green, in front of the biggest attendance of the day, 172. Chris Hill put the ‘Deres one up in the fifth minute and Aiden Purseglove and skipper Steve White had increased the lead to three by half time. Nick Smith further extended the lead on the hour before Andrew Browne, on as a substitute for Lee Morgan, completed the scoring in the 86th minute. Former Town player Richie Radbourne made his debut for the ‘Deres, coming on as an 80th minute substitute.
The other game resulted in a 3-2 win for Deal Town at home to Herne Bay. Aaron Firth grabbed both Bay goals to take his season’s tally to 21, while Roy Godden, Pollard and Jones were the Deal scorers.
The weather took more of a toll in the lower divisions with only one game taking place in Division 1 and two in Division 2 including the match at Salters Lane. The other Division 2 game saw a fairly predictable 2-0 win for Dover at Greenwich Borough as the leaders maintained their 100% record.
Well that’s it for another week but before I finish I would like to pay tribute to Sid Medley, ‘Brentford Dave’ and Ray Mills for the work they have put in on the pitch this season. With games being cancelled all round us we arranged an early inspection of the pitch before the game with Ashford but one look at the pitch was enough to convince the ref that the game was in no danger and I’m sure you will agree that the pitch still looks remarkably good despite the pounding it has taken.