Whitstable Town FC

Saturday the 11th sees a welcome return to league competition for most Kent sides after much cup football. Whitstable Town play at the Belmont against an improving Erith Town. Erith's only win in the league was away from home at Slade Green in late August, by contrast Whitstable have a 100% home record in the league and have only been beaten at home by Isthmian Premier side Margate in the FA Cup. The Oystermen shouldn't be complacent though as the Dockers new player/manager Mark Tompkins will ensure his side give a good account of theirselves, consolidating a couple of good cup performances with late wins against Thamesmead Town and Brimsdown Rovers. A dangerous time to meet, Marc Seager will therefore need to ensure the team remain focused for the full 90+ minutes in this game, which has produced clean sheets for the Reds in recent years.

Top games elsewhere include a trip for Faversham Town to VCD Athletic, strangely Vickers only have a 50% win rate at Oakwood (P4W2D1) which matches Faversham's away success record (P6W3D1) so, superficially, an evenly balanced game in prospect. However, recent form would indicate Vickers will dominate the proceedings and do nothing to interrupt the early season leaders slide into a mid table comfort zone.

Table toppers Thamesmead Town travel to Lordswood for what could be a tricky encounter. In the league Mead are unbeaten in seven, have clean sheets in the last three and have only lost away from home once (Faversham) and will start clear favourites. Lordswood do have an awful home record against top opposition so far this season and so the outcome for Saturday looks clear. But I can easily envisage an upset, Erith may yet have set a precedent, all said and done I think Mead could get mugged.

Fourth placed Greenwich Borough host Croydon, currently ninth. This should be a really good game with both sides well matched, Borough have had their best start to a season that I can remember and one hopes that the shenanigans at committee level don't upset the players. Croydon have quickly come to terms with Kent League football and compete well against sides and players that they might not have played before. Bodes well for the game which for the few that witness it should be good news. For me the visitors can just shade the result in a close game.

Another good fixture should be Hythe Town at Sevenoaks, good starts from both sides impressed and promised much. Poor away form for Hythe and some tough fixtures for the Oaks means they both lay in the twilight zone just below the main contenders for the league. A win will be an important boost for two sides that need to push their win rate over the 50% mark and kick start a faltering campaign. Not for the want of trying by either side, I think a score draw is probably the most likely result.

Beckenham Town are the best of the rest and they travel to Herne Bay. Beck's league position looks less impressive now other sides are catching up their games in hand, only seventeen points from a possible thirty-nine are not league winning statistics and it's hard to see how they can finish abve mid-table. The Blues are making heavy weather of it this season and lost at home 2-0 to Erith & Belvedere in their last league match which gave them a negative goal difference, I can't remember that happening for a long time which is an indicator of their problems this year. They need to find the net soon if they want to maintain their healthy crowds, Beckenham's visit can only pile on the misery with the league hotshots in their front line, GD +13, +15 at five o'clock!

Sporting Bengal United will be trying to go above Deal Town, who do not play, by beating Erith & Belvedere at the Mile End Stadium. Sporting will never have a better chance of winning against an out of sorts Deres. New management installed, the visitors will be expecting to turn things around. The result will hang on which side the Bengali's field, various team combinations have been played this season some of them of the required standard. The Dere's faithful will be hoping Sporting have an off day.

Bottom of the league Tunbridge Wells travel to Slade Green who need a point to ensure Sporting Bengal don't jump them as well. Yet to record a win in the league Wells won't find it easy to meet opposition as inconsistant as Green and this could be a rare opportunity to find their winning ways. Pressure off Wells as with only one win at home the pressure will be all on the home side to produce three points and climb towards the respectability of double figures in the points column. Never goalless at the Small Glen, Green are likely to prevail on the day in a high scoring game.

In division one third place Whitstable Town Reserves travel to sixth spot Ramsgate Reserves, if your in the area drop in and lend your support.

Wherever you watch your football, enjoy it to the full!