Whitstable Town FC

Vickers are one of the two other contenders but they realistically need to win their last three games including this one. The teams last met on Easter Monday at Oakwood where VCD were easily the better side on the day being first to most loose balls in midfield, perhaps one of Town's most lack lustre games. Since then of course Whitstable have collected the Kent Senior Trophy and put in a terrific performance last Tuesday evening posting four past Slade Green with no reply. A win yesterday evening (Thursday) at Oakwood puts Vickers six points behind Whitstable. Both with three to play it seems unlikely that Town could fail to collect the points currently required to take them over the finishing line, but how sweet would it be to clinch it in front of their home fans. Not the first 'Roy of the Rovers' script to be emulated by the Reds this season and definitely not a match to miss, I'll see you there.

Croydon are also in the hunt for promotion to Ryman Division One South and they are at home for their penultimate match against Faversham Town. Five points behind Town with only six more on offer their chances are slim at best. Whether Faversham can come away from Albert Road with a result is down to the attitude of both sides, my guess is the Trams will be full on in the quest for runners-up spot, a creditable springboard for next season.

Thamesmead Town are also chasing a runners up spot, and take their challenge to Erith Town. A fixture that doesn't normally cause much excitement outside of the Dartford area is now a meeting of the teams with the best current form. Mead couldn't pick a worse time to face the Dockers who are now on a run of three wins. Home advantage is likely to count for little in this derby meeting. Not a pretty game to watch I fancy Thamesmead to nick it by a single goal.

Lordswood entertain Greenwich Borough, what a contrasting season for both sides. Greenwich have been in the title chase with just a few results against the top six sides finally putting them out of the running while Lordswood have stuttered their way through the year without finding any consistant form. On the back of four defeats in a row it's going to be hard for Lords to turn the ship around, Borough's points all day long.

No respite for Slade Green who follow up their midweek game against Whitstable with a home game versus Hythe Town. A cosy atmosphere at the Small Glen makes it a comfortable venue in which to play and the other 'Reds' are likely to eat up those Greens in similar style even though a recent lapse in form has produced four draws in the last six outings, putting them, finally, out of contention for the title.

Hoping that result will be otherwise are Erith & Belvedere who host Beckenham Town. Still looking for a top six finish after a poor start to their footballing year the Deres have found vein of home form which has dragged them up from the depths. Becks have gone in the opposite direction after being in contention early on they now look certain to finish in the bottom half. They rode high early on, playing more games than the teams around them, an advantage which has now panned out to show their true position. Unlucky to lose to VCD in a ten minute spell midway through the second period they will need to be more vigilant to bring anything away from Park View Road where the home side must be favourite.

'If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be more trade for tinkers', or so the old adage goes. If only Deal Town had got on the pace earlier how good could this year have been? They travel to Sporting Bengal United on Saturday on a run of seven (7!) away wins in a row and are sure to finish in the top half of the League. Great stuff and surely soon to be eight in a row. This will be the last game for Sporting, not what they would have hoped for, and they can't now get out of last place. Providing they don't lose by twelve they can keep their goal difference to two figures, does that count as motivation? I'm not so sure. Next year Bengal, there's always next year.

Finally,Tunbridge Wells v. Herne Bay. What to say, creditable performances in recent months mean this will be a great game of football between two sides that underperformed early on by their own standards. However, Bay have had the better results against top class opposition and should win on the day, good luck to both.

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

Peter Albin - 19/04/07