Isthmian League round-up: Chatham Town finish second in Isthmian Premier, Gary Lockyer scores four goals for Cray Wanderers, Cray Valley win Isthmian South East title
18:15, 27 April 2024
Chatham twice came from behind to secure runners-up spot in Isthmian Premier – and home advantage in the play-offs.
Chats will host Horsham at Maidstone Road on Wednesday night in the Semi-Final stage and will be at home if they progress on Bank Holiday Monday.
They were made to work hard for that advantage by hosts Enfield Town, who had to settle for a point and third spot.
Oliver Knight put Enfield ahead but Kareem Isiaka levelled on the half-hour. Knight restored Enfield’s lead but a Sam Robins own goal midway through the second half ensured it was honours even.
Margate’s fate was decided before their trip to Billericay, who had to win to have any chance of a late play-off place but their 5-3 win was ultimately in vain.
There was to be no final-day pride for the Gate who trailed 4-0 in just 33 minutes as Alfie Cerulli, Ollie Peters, Richard Asamoah and Bradley Stevenson all scored.
Stevenson made it 5-0 on the hour before goals in the last 20 minutes by Mo Kamara, Ben Greenhalgh and Vinnie Bowman ensured Margate bowed out of step 3 football with a small measure of respectability in the final scoreline.
Gary Lockyer stole the show as Cray Wanderers signed off the season with an impressive 6-2 win at Dulwich.
Lockyer scored four goals for the Wands, who took the lead through Anthony Cook’s spot-kick. Tom Beere added Cray’s sixth goal in the last minute.
Cray finish the campaign in 17th place, one spot behind Folkestone on goal difference.
They nearly overtook Andy Drury’s men after 10-man Invicta were stuffed 4-0 at Bognor.
Folkestone trailed to a first-half Jasper Mather brace before Will Moses was red-carded on the hour mark.
Mather completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot and Oliver Downs rounded off the scoring.
Swapping places with Margate will be Cray Valley, who won Isthmian South East after a 2-0 victory at Horndean on the final day of the campaign.
Denzel Gayle scored on 18 minutes and Danny Waldren wrapped up the points for Steve McKimm’s side with 20 minutes left.
That meant Ramsgate could not catch the Millers, regardless of their result at home to Three Bridges. Read the match report from Southwood here.
Joining Ramsgate in the play-offs are Sittingbourne, who went down 4-1 at home to Littlehampton. Boss Ryan Maxwell fielded a much-changed side to rest his charges ahead of Tuesday night’s home Play-off Semi-Final with Three Bridges.
Two goals in three first-half minutes by Javaun Splatt and top scorer Jacob Lambert ensured Sheppey finished seventh, as they won 2-1 at East Grinstead.
Herne Bay were eighth after coming from 2-0 and then 3-1 down to hold play-off bound Chichester to a 3-3 draw at Winch’s Field. Michael Salako scored twice with Archie Burnett also netting.
Sevenoaks scored the quickest goal of the day through Kieron Cadogan but couldn’t hold on at home to Phoenix Sports, Leo Mazzone scoring their winner with seven minutes left.
Already-relegated Beckenham lost 1-0 at Burgess Hill while bottom side Erith & Belvedere finished with 10 men but held on to defeat Merstham 3-1, Ross Morley bagging a brace.
Ashford came from 2-0 down to go into the break level at home to Broadbridge Heath. Lanre Azeez and David Ozobia scored for the Nuts and Bolts but Callum Dowdell struck with 11 minutes left as the visitors ran out 3-2 winners.
Hythe ended a run of 11 straight league defeats by holding Lancing to a 1-1 draw, Liam Smith’s 88th-minute penalty giving new boss Sammy Moore his first point since taking over earlier this month.
Latest news
Features
Most popular
- 1
Terrorists who planned to bomb Bluewater are freed from prison
38 - 2
‘A pub, diner or restaurant? Either way, the carpets were minging’
8 - 3
Large chunk of M20 shut due to ‘police incident’
1 - 4
‘Big dog’ brings motorway traffic to a halt
- 5
‘This rat-run bridge isn’t wide enough - someone will be killed soon’