Whitstable Town FC

No change at the top or bottom of all three Divisions on a day when 75% of the League programme survived the wet weather with just eight postponements. 

Five Premier Division matches were lost, but it was a full programme in Division One South.

Chelmsford City extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to nine points, whilst Dart ford top Division One North by four clear points, and Tooting & Mitcham United are three points clear in Division One South.

Ware were the afternoon’s top scorers with five at Wivenhoe Town, whilst Margate, Kingstonian, Walton & Hersham and Whitstable Town all hit four.  Seventy six goals were scored in twenty five League matches, which saw thirteen home wins, eight away wins and four draws – two of them goalless.

No hat-tricks, but three own goals and three successful penalties – all in Division One South.

Top gate of the afternoon was at Chelmsford City, watched by 1,258, whilst Folkestone Invicta had a crowd of 924 for the visit of AFC Wimbledon.

 Premier Division

 Division One North

Chelmsford City were able to stretch their lead at the top of the table to nine points as second placed Hendon lost their game to the weather conditions, whilst their biggest rivals AFC Wimbledon lost at Folkestone Invicta.

Two goals from Folkestone Invicta skipper Kevin Watson and one from Tom Bryant sent high-flying AFC Wimbledon crashing to defeat in front of a 900+ crowd at the Buzzlines Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Even a late consolation for the Dons could not dampen the home fans' spirit.

Two more goals from Bertie Brayley early in the game eventually saw Chelmsford City claim the points from bottom club Leyton, but not before a second half scare was administered by the East London outfit.  Captain Des Thomas bundled home a 55th-minute reply for the Lilywhites as Chelmsford struggled to secure the game and were eventually holding on during the closing stages, head coach Glenn Pennyfather claiming: “The points were the most important thing.”

Fourth placed Staines were also victims of an unfit pitch, but Ramsgate, who were level on points in fifth place were unable to take advantage as they lost 3-1 at AFC Hornchurch, allowing the Essex side to move up to sixth place, just a head on goal difference of Margate and Harrow Borough, 4-2 and 3-1 home winners against Carshalton Athletic and Boreham Wood respectively.

In the final match of the day, where the start was delayed due to a traffic accident, Maidstone United lost by the only goal of the game to visitors Billericay Town.

Dartford opened by a clear gap at the top of Division One North with a safe 2-0 win at Great Wakering Rovers, as second placed AFC Sudbury went without a game as their match at Witham Town was lost due to the weather.

Up into third place, their highest position of the season, are Ware, 5-1 winners at basement club Wivenhoe Town.  Edgware Town sit in fourth place following their 1-1 draw at Canvey Island, but fifth place Enfield Town crashed 1-2 at home against Waltham Abbey.  They are being closely chased by Redbridge, 2-1 winners at Maldon Town, with Redbridge just three points behind and game sin hand.

Ilford, in 21^st place, won their first match since the last Saturday in November with a 2-1 home win against Potters Bar Town, with the club just five points above them, Tilbury, lost 0-2 at home to Northwood.

Division One South

Tooting & Mitcham United stretched their lead at the top of Division One South to three points as they drew 1-1 at home to Ashford Town.  Second placed Dover Athletic were losing 3-1 at Chatham Town when the floodlights failed in the 94^th minute.  Consequently this match has not been included in the tables this week, until the Board have investigated the matter in due course.

Third placed Cray Wanderers finished goalless at home to Worthing, and are now followed by Kingstonian, 4-0 winners at home to Chipstead, and Metropolitan Police, despite the men in blue losing 1-0 at Burgess Hill Town.

Just outside the play-off places are Walton & Hersham, 4-1 winners at home to Croydon Athletic, followed by Dulwich Hamlet and Sittingbourne, both losers away at Whyteleafe and Eastbourne Town on Saturday.

At the foot of the table, Horsham YMCA in 21^st place, lost a critical home match by the only goal to Walton Casuals, leaving the Sussex club three points adrift Corinthian-Casuals, Eastbourne Town and Whitstable Town, the latter two clubs both home winners.