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Breaking sports news from Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Kent Cricket on Friday, April 11

09:00, 11 April 2014

Refresh this page regularly for live sports updates during the day. Leave comments below or get in touch with us via Twitter and Facebook.

16.00 - CLOSE

That brings Sportsday to an end for this week, but the sporting weekend is just around the corner. We'll have reports, reaction and pictures right here on kentonline.co.uk so make sure you stay with us and don't miss a thing.

15.45 - RUGBY

Gravesend could be celebrating promotion back to the National Leagues on Saturday evening. The Gs are level on points with Chichester at the top of London 1 South but they've got a superior points-difference - and a game in hand.

They travel to Hove tomorrow, while Chichester are in action down the road at Brighton. For the West Sussex side, the season finishes there, but Gravesend have got another game to come - at Haywards Heath - seven days later, so the title is very much within their grasp.

15.30 - FOOTBALL

The question is, what's the 'mega fixture' in the Kent football world this weekend? With the Gills away at Leyton Orient, the biggest game in the county is probably at Princes Park, where Dartford's bid to pull off the Great Escape continues with a home game against Forest Green Rovers. A second win in less than 48 hours could lift the Darts out of the Skrill Premier relegation zone for the first time since November.

I'll be covering the game and you can follow me on Twitter.

For those of you in east Kent, Dover are at home to Staines in Skrill South and promotion-chasing Folkestone Invicta entertain Corinthian Casuals in Ryman League Division 1 South. A win there would all but secure a play-off spot for Neil Cugley's men.

Elsewhere, Tunbridge Wells v Whyteleafe is 3rd v 2nd in Southern Counties East.

15.10 - RUGBY

The 'mega fixture' in question is Canterbury's penultimate game of the season in National 2 South. Promotion isn't beyond them - yet - but they certainly need to win on Saturday to keep their slim hopes alive.

Here's Alex Hoad to explain.

15.00 - FOOTBALL

I can't think of a team that's been in better form recently than Chatham Town, who have now won 11 of their last 13 games in Ryman League Division 1 North.

And after three wins and three clean sheets in the last week, Chats boss Kevin Watson is a very happy man. His side entertain Maldon & Tiptree tomorrow.

14.45 - FOOTBALL

14.25 - FOOTBALL

Sutton United v Ebbsfleet United is one of the more eye-catching fixtures this weekend, with both sides looking likely to feature in the Skrill South play-offs.

Here's what happened when they met on a truly filthy day at Stonebridge Road back in December.

14.00 - FOOTBALL

Good to hear, Keds...

13.50 - FOOTBALL

Jack Gilby (holding trophy) joins Maidstone's League Cup celebrations Picture: Steve Terrell
Jack Gilby (holding trophy) joins Maidstone's League Cup celebrations Picture: Steve Terrell

A team-talk from young cancer patient Jack Gilby inspired Maidstone to League Cup glory on Tuesday.

This is how 13-year-old Jack's story touched Stones manager Jay Saunders, who invited the teenager into the dressing-room before the game.

13.40 - FOOTBALL

13.25 - FOOTBALL

Dover Athletic climbed back into the Skrill South play-off places last night with a 2-0 win away to Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels. That result leaves the Whites sitting fifth, although Concord and Havant - the two sides just below them - both have games in hand.

At the other end of the table, time is running out for Angels to save themselves from relegation. They're two points from safety and about to play their fourth game in eight days, although manager Tommy Warrilow says there's no point moaning about the relentless schedule.

Angels go to Maidenhead tomorrow (that's 19th v 21st, by the way) and Dover host Staines (5th v 9th).

13.00 - VIDEO

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? I'm afraid that fate befell our very own Martin Apps, who was on photographer duty at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday night.

Maidstone United have just won the Robert Dyas League Cup and their players are about to run to the fans to celebrate. And poor old Martin finds himself in between.

The You've Been Framed moment comes at 10:20...

LUNCHBREAK

The weekend is so close, you can taste it. Or at least you can taste your packed lunch.

Here are the big stories we've been feasting on this morning:

Gills are short of defensive options but Charlie Lee is ready to ride to their rescue at Leyton Orient

Max Cornhill risked losing his job by playing for Dartford last night

Cornhill scored as the Darts beat Grimsby 1-0 and Tony Burman praised his players afterwards

Ebbsfleet face a striker dilemna - but manager Steve Brown is coming up with the answers

Jay Saunders believes maximum points from Maidstone's last four games will get them in the play-offs

11.50 - FOOTBALL

It's the same story right across Kent tomorrow, with football games kicking off slightly later than normal to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Play in the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was stopped at 3.07pm on that fateful day.

11.45 - FOOTBALL

It's high time we heard from Dartford manager Tony Burman, who was clenching his fist and grinning like a Cheshire cat at about 9.30pm last night. Why? Because he'd just watched his team pick up three priceless points with a 1-0 win over Grimsby.

Here's what Burman said in his post-match interview.

11.20 - FOOTBALL

Maidstone United dropped out of the Ryman League Premier Division top-five this week but manager Jay Saunders reckons they can still make the play-offs. Speaking to Craig Tucker, he said four wins from the Stones' last four games would be enough. What do you think?

11.00 - COLUMN

I reckon Gills assistant manager John Schofield is one of those 'glass half-full' types. In his latest exclusive column for us, Schoey says he's looking up the League 1 table, not down it, ahead of Gillingham's trip to Leyton Orient tomorrow.

10.50 - FOOTBALL

Ben May stretches to control a high ball Picture: Andy Payton
Ben May stretches to control a high ball Picture: Andy Payton

While we're talking Ebbsfleet, here's my piece looking at the striker rotation conundrum facing manager Steve Brown at the moment. Billy Bricknell, Ben May and Michael Thalassitis are vying for two places in the Fleet team, and even the most basic maths tells you someone has to miss out.

10.35 - FOOTBALL

A quick injury update on Ebbsfleet defender Yado Mambo, who's been out of action with a knee injury lately. Fleet manager Steve Brown had feared the former Charlton man might miss the rest of the campaign but he's told the club's website today: "Yado's injury is settling down nicely and hopefully we will see him involved in some capacity before the end of the season."

10.20 - FOOTBALL

Charlie Lee Picture: Barry Goodwin
Charlie Lee Picture: Barry Goodwin

So, who will play at centre-half for Gillingham at Leyton Orient tomorrow?

Midfielder Charlie Lee has told Luke Cawdell he's ready to do a job there if needed.

10.00 - FOOTBALL

Max Cornhill playing for Dartford against Grimsby Picture: Andy Payton
Max Cornhill playing for Dartford against Grimsby Picture: Andy Payton

Non-league football throws up some terrific stories and this is one of them.

Fashion designer Max Cornhill was due to be in Holland on a work trip last night but he managed to re-arrange at the last minute so he could play for Dartford against Grimsby.

Guess what? He only went and scored the winner.

09.45 - FOOTBALL

Gillingham are pretty low on defensive options ahead of tomorrow's trip to Leyton Orient in League 1. Leon Legge and Ryan Inniss are both injured and Callum Davies can't be recalled from his loan spell at Dover for another two weeks.

So what is Gills boss Peter Taylor going to do?

09.30 - MOTORSPORT

It's that time of year...

09.10 - FOOTBALL

Jim Stevenson tries to dispossess Andi Thanoj Picture: Andy Payton
Jim Stevenson tries to dispossess Andi Thanoj Picture: Andy Payton

Do you know what, it only feels like a few hours ago that I was pitchside at Princes Park watching Dartford beat Grimsby Town 1-0 in Skrill Premier. That's because it was - Thursday night football came to north Kent and the Darts picked up a win when they needed one most.

Read my match report as Tony Burman's men moved to within a point of safety.

09.00 - WELCOME

Good morning. I've got some fantastic news - it's Friday.

That means the weekend is just hours away now and I've got some cracking sports stories lined up to help you through the last day of your working week. Don't go anywhere.

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