Ashford United and Phoenix Sports win in Isthmian South East; Margate and Cray Wanderers victorious in Isthmian Premier – but Folkestone Invicta lose
17:54, 04 November 2023
updated: 10:00, 05 November 2023
Player-assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh starred for Margate in their home Isthmian Premier win against play-off chasing Lewes on Saturday.
Greenhalgh delivered a corner for defender Tyrone Sterling to put Reece Prestedge’s charges ahead on 25 minutes in front of a crowd of 372 at Hartsdown Park.
The 31-year-old playmaker made it 2-0 with Gate’s second on the hour mark. It proved a great day for football in Thanet, Ramsgate making the Second Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history as they came from behind to stun National League Woking 2-1.
Folkestone were beaten 3-1 at Carshalton in the same division.
Invicta confirmed the arrivals of defender Toby Byron and striker Luke Holness ahead of the match.
Both started but Folkestone found themselves two goals behind and, although experienced centre-half Jake Goodman pulled one back in first-half stoppage time, a second-half strike by winger Mark Marshall sealed the points for the hosts.
Cray Wanderers are two points clear of the Isthmian Premier relegation zone as they won 3-1 at 10-man Wingate & Finchley.
Striker Gary Lockyer put Neil Smith’s side ahead, only for Ruben Carvalho to level in the 37th minute.
Home defender Alkeo Bani was then sent off three minutes later, though, and Cray Wanderers made their numerical advantage count through goals from Frankie Raymond and Anthony Cook after the restart.
Ashford edged past Burgess Hill at home to move up to fourth in Isthmian South East on an emotional afternoon for the club.
Forward Vance Bola got the only goal at Homelands as the Nuts & Bolts dedicated the win to Mark Reed, a much-loved steward who died on October 16 after a short illness.
It was Ashford’s first match on their new 3G pitch at Homelands this season. They had been using Chatham’s Maidstone Road ground as a home venue previously, with delays in getting their surface ready.
Phoenix Sports won 1-0 against Horndean at home to move out of the relegation places.
Forward Jaevon Dyer claimed the game’s only goal on 40 minutes.
All other matches involving Isthmian League clubs from Kent - including Chatham’s trip to Canvey Island, the Isthmian South East derby between Hythe and Herne Bay, Sevenoaks’ trip to Broadbridge Heath, Sittingbourne’s journey to East Grinstead and Erith & Belvedere’s home encounter against Littlehampton - were called off due to the wet weather.
Chats, instead, played a friendly against Erith & Belvedere and won 3-1. Captain Jack Evans, substitute Kareem Isiaka and Ashley Nzala got their goals.
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’
9 - 3
‘Big dog’ brings motorway traffic to a halt
- 4
Large chunk of M20 shut due to ‘police incident’
1 - 5
‘This rat-run bridge isn’t wide enough - someone will be killed soon’