Whitstable Town FC

To complete a mouth watering week of Oyster football Town travel to Reachfields on Saturday in the Kent Football League. As those who know me will be aware, I find the matches against Hythe some of the most entertaining in the calendar. Always competitive and played with great spirit, these games are for the non-league purists. Hythe have made a better fist of it this year and are currently fifth, at the tail of the chasing pack. Some terrific results this side of Christmas have seen them maintain pressure on those above them, three wins and a draw. If you've never travelled farther than Winch's Field then I recommend you make the trip down Stone Street to sample a real atmospheric venue. As a bonus the football is sure to be sizzling.

Hythe also feature in the other PDC quarter-final played this evening (Wednesday) at Beckenham Town. Form favours Hythe at the moment, but this is cup football and Becks could have a strong squad available mid-week which would paint a different picture. Reds to win… Okay, okay, if I have to, the coastal variety.

The Chef's Special this weekend is an FA Vase fifth round match served up at Oakwood, featuring VCD Athletic and Bideford. Good luck to Vickers, flying the banner for Kentish football. No games are easy at this stage of the competition and Bideford are tough opposition though possibly vulnerable so far away from their west country roots. Winners go into the final eight, quarter finals played on March 3rd.

Thumbing through Saturday's menu I can also recommend the Croydon v Greenwich Borough. A top table delight, with a sweet aftertaste for the victors. Croydon can't afford to lose sight of the Oystermen and Greenwich can't afford to slip off the chasing pack, could be a real turning point for both sides this one. The Trams won out two-nil at Harrow Meadow, only adding to the needle, and they will need to play extremely well to overcome Boro's speed and stamina. Great spectacle and I favour the visitors to spring a surprise. (Match postponed - Broken pipe at Croydon. Pete 9/2)

An improving Herne Bay side are at home against Lordswood. Bay are now in seventh spot and will be ruing their poor form in the first half of the current campaign. Notable wins of late include Vickers and Mead and, providing they approach this one in the right frame of mind, should win comfortably. Lords have little to drive on for, 3-3 at Lordswood another point against an in-form side away from home is unlikely.

Faversham Town will host Tunbridge Wells, a well matched and good standard game not reflected in league positions. Everyone that plays Wells wonders how they can be just off the basement positions playing such skilful, well organised football and there it is. Faversham to take the points no matter what an unlucky Tunbridge Wells side do in the game. Maybe some Angels supporter has a voodo doll?

A mid-table game at Slade Green who welcome Deal Town for afternoon tea and a piece of cake. Which is exactly what Deal will find this game, a piece of cake and three more points head eastward. Sorry Green, but matches against Deal aren't the ones to start a revival in.

Down in the dark underbelly of the league Erith Town travel to Sevenoaks, hope the weather stays nice for them, a spot of thin sunshine likely to be the highlight of the Dockers day. Oaks are another side who are better than their league position would lead you believe, just others are a bit stronger, and they should beat Erith comfortably at home.

Having said that anyone who travels to Erith Town with the Whitstable Town Reserves on Saturday should deny knowing me when speaking to the locals. Good luck Ressies, keep the pressure on those Bromley chaps, they've got a toughy down at Folkestone Invicta a good week to reap maximum points

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