Whitstable Town FC

So as predicted the top sides start to spill a few points as the end of season pressure mounts and the better placed sides should need no more motivation. On Saturday Sporting Bengal United play at the Belmont ground against a Whitstable Town side who hanker for points after coming away empty handed in the last two against in form sides. Goals will be the order of the day as goal difference is beginning to look more and more important as the fixtures run dry. Sporting will of course want to spoil the day, and they can, but they have poor away form having lost the last eight, failing to score in the last three. Marc Seager will still need to treat them with respect as they are always unpredictable. Three points will do nicely, anything close to the seven nil result at their place on Guy Fawkes day would be icing on the cake.

Top billing will of course go to the Maidstone United v Beckenham Town match. Becks are three points behind the leaders with a game in hand and it looks as though the title fight will go down to the wire. The Stones have had the odd wobble lately and are clearly beatable and having been beaten in added time in previous encounters this season Beckenham will do well to keep their concentration to the bitter end and make sure of their retribution. In any case I don't think the result will prove decisive which ever way it goes, as there are still some tricky fixtures left for both sides.

One point for Maidstone will add Deal Town to the also ran list. While they would still have the potential of matching the 57 points they would need to win their last eight games, starting at Lordswood on Saturday, with an eight goal margin in each. Lordswood, already out of touch with the top three places, will be looking to play a spoiling game from here on in. They still have to play Thamesmead and Whitstable at the Lordswood Sports Club both of which could prove pivotal fixtures.

3rd spot Erith and Belvedere play a local derby against Erith Town who surprised some pundits by drawing against the Stones last weekend. The Dockers have been playing some good football for a while now and have at last started to get some lucky breaks as well. The Deres showed again last week how to win by the odd goal and with the wind in their sails they could do it again, but I just have this feeling Erith will be up for it and steal their thunder.

Still both in with a chance of a place finish Thamesmead Town travel to Herne Bay. The Blues will want to produce better form than Tuesday nights draw with Tunbridge and probably will raise their game against better opposition. Mead have recently beat Beckenham, squeaked past Erith, been hammered by Maidstone and then hammered Deal last week. Both sides displaying erratic form, I think Thamesmead should have the edge on the day although it won't be the spectacle that their league positions should merit.

VCD Athletic will be looking to extend their terrific run of form at Hythe Town. Vickers continue to convert their games in hand into points. Still on a high after their Vase escapades they now have to keep up their momentum through a heavy schedule that includes nine further league games, the PDC final and the KST final. If Fordy can keep his squad fit he could have his most successful season to date, they shouldn't break stride in turning over an inconsistent Hythe.

The remaining Premier Division match is Sevenoaks Town at Slade Green. Three points to the home side should add to the Oaks misery now firmly planted at the foot of the table.

Additional KOFL Premier games are scheduled for Monday night (27th) they are Deal Town v VCD Athletic and Erith Town v Beckenham Town. Perhaps a harder test for Vickers fitness coming so soon after the Hythe game, Deal could carry the day by virtue of not having to travel the length of the county on a Monday evening. No easy task for Erith to raise their game again either, but if they can pull it off on Saturday why not Monday as well?

There are no games for the reserves this week, but I should like to add my congratulations to Simon Kay and the squad for getting to the Divisional Cup Final. Well done Ressies!

Come on you Reds!         Peter Albin, 22nd March