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Breaking sports news from Gillingham, Charlton Athletic, Kent Cricket and more in Kent Sportsday on Friday, April 25

08:00, 25 April 2014

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16:35 - CLOSE OF PLAY

It's been a busy Sportsday, but hopefully we've all learned a little something from it.

Masses of intriguing football sub-plots to come tomorrow afternoon, be sure to join my colleague James Black for Match Centre from 2.30pm to ensure you are first to know about all the goals and stories as the football season reaches its climax.

Click here to set yourself a hand reminder.

Sportsday will be back on Monday with a round-up of all the weekend's action and reaction from players, managers and fans.

Enjoy your weekend.

16:25 - CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE

And not one of those words out of place, Steve. He'll be back to bring us all we need to know about Fleet's play-off programme during Sportsday next week.

16:15 - CRICKET

Plans for the weekend sir? Day of sports watching on the Saturday is it? But what about the Sunday? Got to spend time with the family y'say? Well why not combine family and sport all into one big bundle of fun day.

11am-1pm on Sunday is the Kent cricket players open day at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, in Canterbury. And it is free.

Ever dreamed of playing kwik cricket alongside the likes of Darren Stevens, Daniel Bell-Drummond or Adam Riley? If not, why not? Here's your chance.

There's also the opportunity to meet Doug Bollinger and Sam Billings who will be running competitions in the Banner Zone. Sounds like something off the Crystal Maza but there you are.

The Cricket Factory allows you to test your skills alongside the likes of Geraint Jones, Robbie Joseph, Brendan Nash and Charlie Hartley while Alex Blake and Adam Ball will be racing all-comers over an assault course.

James Tredwell, Sam Northeast and Matt Hunn will let their other senses take over when they don their simulation goggles to experience visually-impaired cricket while Rob Key will be the foreman on the day, overseeing everything and signing team posters to boot.

The day will be MCed by MC and FC. Mitch Claydon and Fabian Cowdrey. Sure to make interesting listening.

Should be fun.

15:50 - EBBSFLEET

You know which team we haven't heard from in a while? Ebbsfleet of course.

Now that they've done the deed and sealed the deal (see... well pretty much all day) now boss Steve Brown can rest his troops for the clash with already-relegated Dorchester tomorrow.

Click here for Steve Tervet's preview.

15:30 - SKRILL SOUTH

Always a shame to see a manager leave a job, let's be honest, it's very seldom they're leaving for a good reason, right?

Even more of a shame when they're a stand-up bloke and have always been good to work with. That's the case with Tommy Warrilow who leaves Tonbridge Angels tomorrow after more than six years at the helm.

Wish him the best wherever he ends up and hopefully Angels can finish the season on a high, which might help Dover out, as it happens.

Click here for Warrilow's words.

15:10 - RYMAN LEAGUE

Not just Premier Division we're interested in. Matters still to be resolved in Division 1 North too.

VCD Athletic led for pretty much the entire season, but sit a point behind Witham going into the final day, though with a one-goal superior goal difference.

VCD are home to Romford while Witham visit Cheshunt, two teams with nothing to play for but pride. Going to be interesting. Don't forget Match Centre will take care of all your non-league needs from 2.30pm.

If the season had begun a couple of months later then there's little doubt Chatham would be right up there fighting for the title.

As it is they visit Needham Market tomorrow seeking to secure 11th place.

Click here to see what boss Kevin Watson thinks he needs to do this summer to ensure a promotion-push next season.

14:50 - RYMAN LEAGUE

It seems only 50 minutes ago that we were talking about the Ryman League promotion race. Mainly because it was.

Who knows where Maidstone's promotion chances would be without hitman Frannie Collin up-top, but the man himself has an idea of where they'd be if he's been a little more consistent infront of goal this term.

Click here for Collin's view.

14:30 - CHARLTON

Go on then, while we're on the subject.

Sure there will be plenty of Addicks fans hoping Brighton can do them a favour and sew-up at least one of the relegation places by defeating rock-bottom Yeovil at the Amex tonight (7.45pm).

Of course Blackburn visit the Valley tomorrow afternoon (3pm) with Charlton seeking the three points which could secure their Championship survival, even before their game in hand against Watford on Tuesday night.

Definitely squeaky bum time at the bottom with just two points separating 18th-placed Charlton from 22nd-placed Barnsley.

14:20 - BREAKING NEWS

Charlton Athletic prospects Morgan Fox and Dillon Phillips have both committed their future to the club.

Left-back Fox, who made his Addicks debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup 5th Round in January, has signed a contract until the summer of 2017.

The 21-year-old academy graduate has also made Championship starts against Bolton and Wednesday.

Phillips, 18, meanwhile, has extended his stay until the end of 2015/2016.

The keeper has been named on the Athletic bench six times this season.

14:00 - RYMAN LEAGUE PROMOTION/RELEGATION PICTURE

Let's have a look, shall we? Maidstone are three points outside the all-important fifth-place in the Premier Division and it's sure to be an incredibly tense final day of the season.

The seventh-placed Stones need to beat Grays Athletic and hope that sixth-placed AFC Hornchurch fail to win at home to Met Police while one of fourth placed Lowestoft (home to Harrow Borough) or fifth-placed Dulwich Hamlet (home to Kingstonian) lose.

Still with me?

At the other end Thamesmead look doomed to relegation, needing to beat Bury Town at home, hope East Thurrock United lose at home to Bognor Regis Town and also require a 12-goal swing in their favour.

13:35 - RYMAN LEAGUE

Full preview of the final day of the regular season to come later, but first we've news from the Gallagher Stadium.

Maidstone might have their work cut out to make the Premier Division play-offs this weekend, but they've already enjoyed success off the field this week as they've signed Tom Mills and Alex Flisher to new two-year deals.

Click here to read Jay Saunders' thoughts about the left-sided duo's extended stay.

LUNCHBREAK

This afternoon we'll preview the massive Charlton clash with Blackburn, have more from Kent cricket, look ahead to the final day of the Ryman League season, stop in at Maidstone United and I'm sure we can find room for a bit more Ebbsfleet reaction.

For now though, cucumber sandwiches with no crusts and a mug of builder's. Back in a bit.

12:15 - EBBSFLEET

Sorry Dover fans, more Fleet reaction, this time from former Whites man and match-winner himself Daryl McMahon.

Click here to see what he had to say to Steve Tervet post-match.

One thing not touched on in Steve's fine piece is the revelation from twitter last night that McMahon's late goal earned one lucky punter a win of more than £4,000. Alright for some.

11:50 - CRICKET

Plenty more football to come today, but even though Kent are two days into a 10-day break from Championship action, let's have a little bit of cricket chat shall we.

Nobody at Kent has started the season better with the bat than 20-year-old Daniel Bell-Drummond and there are murmurings around the ground already that we might be watching an England player of the not-too-distant future.

In an interview with our Kent cricket correspondent, err, me, DBD admits he's in 'brilliant' form but wants to turn his big scores into massive ones.

Click here to see what he had to say.

More Kent news to come this afternoon, with a look ahead to Sunday's open day, when you can take on the players at all kinds of activities to show them who's boss.

11:30 - EBBSFLEET

Not quite done with the Fleet reaction yet (see pre 09:00).

Preston Edwards has been the hero for United more than once, and proved so again last night with a late save from a controversial penalty and Martin Keown-style celebration, which ensured Fleet a place in the play-offs.

Here he tells our man Steve Tervet how he's at his best when he's angry.

Angry. Wears green. Let me be the first to coin the phrase The Incredible Goalk.

11:15 - HOCKEY

Holcombe's Barry Middleton is set to win his.. wait for it.... 300th combined cap for England and GB when England take on Argentina in the opening game of the Four Nations Challenge in Glasgow at 5pm.

Where does he keep them all?

Belgium and Scotland are the other teams taking part in the Commonwealth Games warm-up event.

Middleton's Holcs teammate Dan Fox and Kent's own Ashley Jackson are also set to feature for England, who face the Auld enemy tomorrow at 3pm and Belgium on Monday (11am) before the medals are decided the following day.

Have to agree with what the England team manager said....

11:00 - POLL

It's not a toughie, promise...

10:30 - GILLINGHAM

Steering Gills to safety in League 1 was pretty much the only challenge leveled at Peter Taylor when he returned to Priestfield. Well mission 99.62% completed.

The goals of Cody McDonald have gone a long way to ensuring Gills avoid the drop, and at the same time that Taylor remains at the helm. An idea which McDonald is happy to support.

Click here for Luke Cawdell's interview with the frontman.

Cody McDonald prepares to enter the fray
Cody McDonald prepares to enter the fray

10:00 - GILLINGHAM

Just two games left this season, but even though the specter of relegation has all but disappeared, manager Peter Taylor insists the League 1 finale is important.

He says strong showings at Preston and then at home to Shrewsbury next weekend will give Gills fans hope for next season and beyond.

Just one win in seven on the road before the trip to Deepdale, can Gills finish on a high? Look out for our poll later this morning.

Click here for Taylor's views on the climax of the League 1 season.

09:30 - GILLINGHAM

Yes as Bayo informs us, the Gills squad are on their way to the north west for their final away game of the League 1 campaign.

Now I haven't got a hidden camera on the Gills coach, but if I did I'd no-doubt see assistant boss John Schofield bouncing up and down the aisles, turning round and leaning over his seat-back to talk to his mates and generally just being super enthusiastic about the trip to Preston.

Click here to find out why, in his own words.

09:25 - GILLINGHAM

KOL legal disclaimer - viewer discretion is advised. (Though it really is very good!).

09:15 - SKRILL SOUTH PLAY-OFF PICTURE

Plenty of Gills and Charlton news to come this morning, plus a look ahead to the final games of the non-league season, however let's wrap up the Conference South reaction first shall we?

We know the win at Concord last night means Fleet are assured of a place in the play-off semi-finals, almost certainly against Bromley.

Fleet finish their campaign at home to rock-bottom and already doomed Dorchester Town tomorrow while Bromley visit Gosport Borough.

Dover Athletic are a place outside the play-offs, two points adrift of Havant & Waterlooville, who travel to already-relegated Tonbridge Angels, and need to win themselves at Hayes & Yeading to have any chance of a play-off semi-final, almost certainly against Sutton.

Nice to see such a lot of Kent involvement in the end-of-season shake-up in the sixth tier of English football eh?

You can follow all the day's action in the final Kent Football Match Centre of the season, right here on KentOnline from 2.30pm.

08:50 - VIDEO

Want to see what pure drama looks like? Check out the controversial last-gasp penalty for Concord last night. Make sure your volume is turned down low though.

Preston Edwards was literally jumping for joy it seems. He has since tweeted 'Martin Keown is my hero.'

08:30 - FLEET REACTION

You know it's hard work summing up the emotion of a victory like last night, and a season like this one in a story, let alone in 140 characters, but to be fair to the Fleet boys, they've given it a good go.

Feel free to share your views with us via twitter, Facebook or the comments section below.

08:05 - THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Nowhere else to begin this morning other than a trip to Canvey Island.

Never let it be said that following Ebbsfleet is dull. Steve Brown's side produced another dramatic evening to fray the nerves of their long-suffering fans.

Despite that, the 2-1 win at Concord Rangers - replayed last night after a floodlight failure last week - eventually proved enough to secure Fleet's place in the Skrill South play-offs, meaning no prospect of last-day heartbreak tomorrow.

Click here to read an action packed report from Steve Tervet, and stay tuned to Sportsday for more reaction from players, staff and fans.

08:00 - KICK-OFF

Good morning and welcome to a soggy Sportsday on Friday, April 25.

Throughout the day we'll bring you all the breaking sports news from our clubs, bring you up to date on all the mid-week news and preview the weekend's action, all right here.

All you have to do is keep a tab open for us, or take us with you wherever you go on your handheld device, just remember to keep checking back and hitting refresh regularly.

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