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CLOSE OF PLAY
One of the most packed Sportsdays I can remember is at a close.
Thanks for joining us today, I'll be back from 9am tomorrow to bring you all the latest from the Crucible, keep you up to date with Gillingham's preparations for the final game of the season, more build-up to the Skrill South play-off semi-finals and of course some more Kent cricket. Phew.
16:40 - BREAKING NEWS - CRICKET
He might be playing in a friendly for Folkestone this weekend, but James Tredwell has been named in a 13-man England squad for the Royal London One-Day International against Scotland in Aberdeen on Friday, May 9.
The squad will meet with new coaches Peter Moores and ex-Kent supremo Paul Farbrace for two days of ODI preparation in Loughborough before flying to Scotland and therefore 32-year-old Tredwell is unavailable for the LV= County Championship Division 2 clash with Surrey, which begins at Canterbury on Sunday (11am).
16:30 - FOOTBALL
The Ryman League season may be over, but don't think for one minute that the managers are on the beach yet.
Whitstable boss Nicky Southall is doing his best to persuade striker Ashley Miller (remember him Gills fans?) to stay with the club after an eight-goal burst to end the season.
Meanwhile Faversham manager Ray Turner says he's not in any rush to start assembling his squad for next season. He hinted there might be changes to come this summer, but doesn't regret keeping faith with players with whom he enjoyed such success the previous season.
Herne Bay meanwhile are digging deep to try and improve the playing surface at Winch's Field. (Though the rain mentioned at 12:00 and 16:00 doesn't help matters there!). The club have decided on pitch improvements, rather than a complete overhaul, with that expected to follow next summer.
16:15 - SNOOKER
It's 6-2 to the Rocket after an absorbing frame with safety battles and misses. Hawkins looked so good in the first half of the session but the break seemed to reinvigorate O'Sullivan.
The pair are back on the Crucible floor at 10am tomorrow, with an evening session also scheduled at 7pm to decide the place in the World Championship final.
16:10 - KENT CRICKET
Mitch Claydon made such an impact on Kent after his arrival from Durham on loan last summer that he earned a permanent switch.
He's hoping to repay the faith with a bumper haul of wickets this season, and to make it happen he's tinkered with his mechanics and also shortened his run-up.
Click here to see what the likeable Australipom had to say.
16:00 - FOOTBALL
Remember 12:00???
The wonders of a sponge, eh?
15:50 - SNOOKER
Quick as a flash, O'Sullivan rattles in a century and it's 5-2. Can the Kent man find an answer?
15:40 - SNOOKER
That's a big blow for Hawkins, he looked a strong favourite to take the sixth frame after a superb blue off the spot which brought one of the last remaining reds off the side cushion and into play, however a thick connection sent the subsequent pot into the jaws and allowed O'Sullivan to nip in and polish-off the leftovers.
The deficit is now 4-2 and Hawkins will be looking for at least one of the last two frames today.
15:30 - FOOTBALL
Nothing like going to a game of football, is there?
The waft of frying onions, the warmth of the burger in your hand, the splat of your pint slopping on the ground as you try to check your programme.
I'm not sure that Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi will have experienced that kind of night at Stonebridge Road yesterday, but Fleet's Kuwaiti owner said it was better than any night spent watching the beautiful game on the box.
Click here for more from the busiest man in Kent, Steve Tervet.
15:15 - SNOOKER
Ronnie rockets into a 3-2 lead with a blistering display in the first frame of the second-half of the first session. Still with me? Good. Three frames to come today.
15:10 - ATHLETICS
Pride of Kent Adam Gemili will renew acquaintances with the second fastest man in history at a Diamond League meeting in the UK this summer.
The Dartford ace, 20, finished just behind Jamaican Yohan Blake in the London 2012 Olympics 100m semi-finals but will get a chance for revenge at the Sainsbury's Glasgow Grand Prix in July.
Blake's 9.69secs time in Lausanne in 2012 is only bettered by compatriot Usain Bolt, while Gemili himself has set his sights on breaking the 10-second barrier this summer.
World Championship 200m finalist Gemili will line-up alongside Blake, World Indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty and former World 100m Champion Kim Collins at Hampden Park.
Gemili said: “Last year was a great year for me, dipping under 20 seconds in Moscow, and now I will be looking to make similar progress in the 100.
"The Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix will present me with the opportunity to go up against the best in the world and give me a springboard for the championships ahead this summer.
“The UK always brings together the best field of athletes and I’m sure this will be no different to what we experienced at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games last year.”
14:40 - SNOOKER
It's mid-session interval time in Sheffield and Ronnie O'Sullivan takes advantage after Hawkins misses a pretty simple red with the rest to rally to make it 2-2. Thrilling stuff.
14:30 - FOOTBALL
It's that time of year, sadly....
The Deres did finish bottom of Ryman League, Division 1 conceding 137 goals this season so I'd go so far as to say it's not completely out of the blue.
14:15 - MOTORSPORT
If you walked up to the till in a hardware shop with a kitchen sieve, a long stick, two smoke bombs and a mobile fan, the manager would probably invite you to explain yourself.
Well Ashford racing driver Bill Richards has the perfect reason for needing those items - his very own homemade wind-tunnel to test the aerodynamics of his bright blue mini. Of course.
This is one of those occasions where words don't do justice to the image, so check out the pictures, and the full story from Dan Wright, here.
14:10 - SNOOKER
O'Sullivan is the first to make inroads in frame three but a slip allows Hawkins back to the baize and the Ditton dynamo rattles in a fine break of 76 to go 2-1 ahead. He looks good.
13:55 - EBBSFLEET
Post-lunch lull for you Fleet fans? Well hopefully this will perk you up.
Steve T caught up with goalscorer Joe Howe after the 4-0 first-leg victory over 10-man Bromley, but even though it was his first of the season, guess what gave the defender even more satisfaction? The clean-sheet, you're right. Gold star.
13:50 - SNOOKER
Pretty scrappy second frame but Hawkins eventually gets his hand on the table and pulls away with a break of 96 to level the scores at 1-1. Classy break and one that will surely settle him down.
13:30 - SNOOKER
Ditton's Barry Hawkins has lost the opening frame of his World Championship semi-final against Ronnie O'Sullivan. First to 17 remember. Long way to go.
LUNCH-BREAK
Gosh we've got through a lot so far this morning. Time for a deserved break.
Plenty more to come today though, we've more play-off reaction from Ebbsfleet to come, I'll keep you up to date with Barry Hawkins' progress at the Crucible and there's more reaction from managers and Kent cricket too.
12:45 - BREAKING NEWS
Spinner Adam Riley is expected to keep his place in the Kent side for the visit of Surrey to Canterbury on Sunday (11am).
12:40 - MOTORSPORT
Ahhh, Portugal. Picture it now, white sands, clear water, the sun beating down with nothing to disturb you except the revving of engines and the smell of petrol and burning rubber.
Yes the FIA World Rallycross Championship gets underway this weekend and Kent's own Liam Doran has his sights set on fun in the sun and some silverware to bring back in his carry-on.
Click here for an interview by the KM's motorsport devotee Dan Wright.
12:15 - BREAKING NEWS - RUGBY
Three Kent players have been included in the England Counties under-20s' 25-man squad for the international against Georgia on Saturday, May 24 (2pm).
Canterbury's Kwaku Asiedu, Medway's Ryan Redman and Blackheath's Seb Nagle-Taylor have all been chosen ahead of the match at Cambridge.
12:00 - FOOTBALL
It might be the first day of May, but incredibly we have a waterlogged pitch on our hands.
Herne Bay under-18s were due to take on VCD Athletic at Winch's Field tonight, however...
They have decided to give it until 3pm before officially officially calling it off, but the forecast isn't great.
11:50 - DARTFORD
More Fleet to come later, but for now we'll look at a team who will definitely be playing Skrill South football next season... Dartford.
In a reflective mood, boss Tony Burman says the loss of two Toms during last summer had a massive impact on Darts' relegation from Skrill Premier.
Click here to see what he had to say.
11:15 - KENT CRICKET
Kent are nearing the end of their enforced 10-day break from action and attention has already turned to landing a first win of the Championship campaign when Surrey visit the SGSL on Sunday.
Rob Key is back at the helm, but is yet to make a mark with the bat this season. He says the best is yet to come from both him, and the team.
10:55 - DARTFORD
If you've never been to see Dartford's Academy side, then this is what you're missing.
Well that's partially true. One of the stars of the new Nike advert is Kaka Dembele. With a name like that you just know he's going to make it as a player. Let's hope it's with the Darts, eh?
10:25 - SNOOKER
To say Barry Hawkins gave us a scare is an understatement, but the Ditton ace is through to the Crucible semi-finals.
At 1pm he will take-on some up-and-comer named Ronnie O'Sullivan for a place in the World Championship Final.
Rest assured I'll keep you up to date Hawkins progress in the best of 33 frame affair throughout the afternoon.
10:10 - CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Don't worry Addicks fans, when I tell you two Charlton players are battling it out for awards in League 2, this isn't some cruel premonition of seasons to come.
Infact Charlton duo Danny Hollands and Nick Pope face a battle against one another to land the League 2 Player of the Month Award for April.
Midfielder Hollands has impressed on loan at Portsmouth while keeper Pope excelled for York City during the past month
10:00 - FOOTBALL
Missed the Fleet v Bromley game and yearning to see what the bumper night looked like?
Well especially for you here are a selection of shots from our man at Stonebridge Road, Andy Payton.
Click here for the picture gallery.
09:45 - DOVER
Whites manager Chris Kinnear blanked the media after the first-leg of the play-off semi-final against Sutton, seemingly in protest at a radio coverage in the run-up to the game.
However assistant Jake Leberl spoke to my colleague Kevin Redsull after the 1-1 draw and says he's confident that with their superb away form this year, that they can seal their place in the final.
09:30 - EBBSFLEET
Steve Brown was proud of his players after their dismantling of Bromley, but hand on heart, he'd surely admit that winning the first leg 4-0 exceeded even his wildest expectations.
Click here to read Steve Tervet's piece with Brown, reflecting on one of the great Fleet nights.
08:55 - DOVER PLAYER REACTION
Whites striker Nathan Elder battled on despite being unwell last night, and told fans on twitter that Dover are confident of booking their place in the final when they travel to Sutton on Saturday.
He said (and spelled): "With the way our away record is the confidence is so high right now. Absolute SHIFT put in against a good side 2nite. Role on Saturday."
08:45 - FLEET PLAYER REACTION
Very professional of them too...
08:30 - FOOTBALL
As the song says, 'neighbours should be there for one another, that's when good neighbours, become good friends.'
The dream scenario of a Fleet against Dover play-off final is very much on the cards after Whites earned a draw in their first leg against Sutton at Crabble last night.
The clubs, and their coaching staff, might not be as close as they once were, but maybe a good old fashioned winner takes all play-off final date is all it will take to bring them closer.
The KM's Kevin Redsull was at Dover to capture the action in the form of words, right here.
08:10 - FOOTBALL
I'd imagine there are a few sore heads this morning up Gravesend way, and who could blame the Fleet fans for celebrating.
Last night's 4-0 demolition of long-time Skrill South leaders Bromley in the first leg of the Skrill South play-offs pretty much ensured they have one foot (plus arms, legs, head and torso) into the play-off final.
Play-off junkie Steve Tervet was there to enjoy the occasion, click here for his match-report from Stonebridge Road.
08:00 - KICK-OFF
Good morning and welcome to Thursday's Sportsday. It's May, but it's grey and miserable.
That won't really matter to fans of Ebbsfleet this morning. Full reaction to the Skrill South Play-off semi-finals coming up shortly, while we'll also have some news from our other non-league football sides today, and we'll stop into The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence later on too for the latest on Kent Cricket.
Stick with us throughout the Sportsday and remember to keep hitting refresh to ensure you get the breaking news as soon as possible.
