AS the Surey Mirror went to press, Chipstead boss Mark Tompkins was praying Sittingbourne's fixture pile-up would do his side a favour.

Tompkins planned to watch Sittingbourne's Kent Cup tie at Cray Wanderers on Tuesday night.

But the spying exercise was likely to have been in vain ahead of the Chips' trip to Bourne Park on Wednesday.

At the time of Wednesday morning's Mirror deadline, Chipstead needed three more points to guarantee avoiding the relegation zone of the bottom two.

The Brickies also had a Ryman Division One South game lined up for tonight (Thursday), so their team for Wednesday was unlikely to be full strength.

Last night's game therefore gave lowly placed Chipstead a great chance to capture the win that would secure their Ryman League future.

"I hope it goes to extra time and penalties and they are worn out by Wednesday," said Tompkins of the Brickies' Tuesday night fixture.

The High Road outfit took a point at home to Ramsgate last Saturday, in a game that was far less one-sided than the opposition reported, leaving Tompkins perplexed.

"It wasn't the greatest of games, but I looked on the Kentish football site and they must have been at a different game."

Kent-based reports said Chipstead barely made a chance.

Tompkins countered: "We hit the post and had three or four good chances, so I don't know how they worked that out. It was a good, hard-earned point."

Alec Brown was the player to strike the woodwork, in a side ravaged by injuries.

Without Sean Rivers (broken shoulder) up front, Chipstead now go into the next game with defenders Jason Thompson and Louis Hollingsworth doubtful.

Lee Coburn, a recent recruit at the back, will definitely be out, after fracturing his cheekbone and breaking his hand.

All featured against Ramsgate, a game in which Sanchez Ming made his first start, having scored in Chips' last victory, a 2-0 home win over Horsham 12 days ago.

Against the Rams, Craig Pitterson pushed forward as a makeshift striker to join Liam Wright up front.

Tompkins believes his side would be able to gain points at Dulwich if necessary, but added: "Hopefully after Wednesday it will be academic.

"I'd like to use some of the reserve players, but wouldn't be able to throw them in if we still needed points."