A good night for our promotion fighters- a bad one for those at the bottom

By Ian Townsend

It's our round up of Tuesday night's action


Folkestone Invicta came from behind to beat Lowestoft Town and move into second place in the Premier Division, whilst Staines Town leapt back into the playoff places.

The Trawler Boys have been unable to find a win recently, and their poor form continued at The Fullicks Stadium last night- but they will undoubtedly feel that they deserved something from a game in which they took a first half lead; a lead which they held until eight minutes from time. Harvey Hodd’s goal in the 44th minute was eventually cancelled out by Joseph Taylor, and then right at the death Adam Yusuff stepped up to take the points and see Invicta move into second place- and to the top of the ten match form table. Staines Town started the night just outside the playoff spots, and they also had to come from behind as Josh Gould gave visitors Brightlingsea Regent an early lead. Wadah Ahmidi equalised for the Swans six minutes before the break, however, and Max Worsfold scored his fourth goal in his last six games to hand victory to the home side. Hendon drop to sixth, a point behind.

Dorking Wanderers hosted Leatherhead for the first time ever at Westhumble in front of a crowd of 1014, and came from behind to earn a draw. Tom Derry gave the Tanners a tenth minute lead from the spot, whilst Lewis Taylor equalised just before the break. Taylor was later sent off, but Wanderers were able to hold on with ten men, a result which leaves them 14th, whilst the Tanners are eighth.

Victory at Merstham would have lifted Burgess Hill Town off the bottom of the table for the first time in months, but they were unable to replicate their strong showing at Lowestoft at the weekend and crashed 4-2 at the Specsavers Stadium. Connor Tighe gave the Hillians a twentieth minute lead, but that stung the Moatsiders into a response, and they were ahead by half time, Tom Kavanagh and Charlie Penny with the goals. The home side then scored two more, both from Reece Hall, before Tighe got his second a minute from time. Hill remain three points adrift of Tooting & Mitcham United, with two matches in hand.

The other match in the Premier Division was a five-goal thriller, and saw Metropolitan Police come from behind to defeat Needham Market. Luke Ingram gave the Marketmen the lead, which Jonny Wright cancelled out just before the interval. Two goals in three minutes through Sam Williams and Liam Enver-Marum then gave the boys in blue some breathing space, and although Brendan Ocran reduced the arrears it wasn’t enough, and Police held on for the win which lifts them to tenth.

In the North Division Potters Bar Town’s away match at Ware became a home match, Wodson Park being waterlogged, whilst the Easter Monday fixture between the two sides will now be played at Ware. Confused? Luckily the Scholars weren’t, and they moved level on points with second place Bowers & Pitsea courtesy of a single goal from Sean Grace in the fourth minute.

Dereham Town slipped out of the playoff places against promotion rivals Maldon & Tiptree despite taking a two goal lead. Rhys Logan and Jay Eastoe-Smith put the Magpies ahead, but the Jammers found form in the last half hour and a double from George Brown was then capped by a Rhys Henry winner four minutes from time- a result which leaves Maldon in sixth place. A place and two points behind are local rivals Heybridge Swifts, who must be running on empty after playing their seventh match in fourteen days, but once more recorded a victory- this time at Cheshunt- to leave themselves very well placed with three matches in hand. Luke Callander got the all-important goal.

Brentwood Town came from behind three times to grab a last minute point at home to Tilbury. Goals from Jack Carlile, Tom Anderson and Kurt Smith- taking time off from Tears for Fears- put the Dockers ahead, but each was cancelled out by Luke Foster, Tony Stokes and Harry Cuthbert. Hertford Town moved up to eleventh with victory at Waltham Abbey, going two goals up- Luke Illsley and Phillip Lowen- in the first thirteen minutes before Nathan Koranteng pulled one back for the Abbots.

In the other matches, Witham Town superfan James Beardwell will have been left happy after his side won 2-1 at AFC Sudbury- Lewis Payne with both Town goals, Phil Kelly striking back for Sudbury, whilst Mildenhall Town and bottom side Romford played out a 0-0 draw which leaves the Borough five points adrift at the bottom.

South Division leaders Lewes went eight points clear with a clinical 4-0 win at second-bottom Molesey, scoring two in each half. Ronnie Conlon and Jonte Smith sent them into the break looking comfortable, whilst Billy Medlock and Marcus Elliot added two more in the last eight minutes. The Moles seemingly have no need to look over their shoulder, however, as bottom side Shoreham did even worse, going down 6-1 to Faversham Town at the Shepherd Neame Stadium. A Mo Dawadu double was added to by Renford Tenyue, Danny Walder, Luke Griffiths and Harry Stannard, Alex Laing getting the consolation for the Musselmen.

Greenwich Borough moved above Cray Wanderers into fourth place. Prolific Jack Barham gave the away side the lead at Sittingbourne, before Dan Parkinson drew the Brickies level. Omari Hibbert then sent all three points back to London thirteen minutes from time.

Herne Bay moved up to twelfth with a 4-1 walloping of South Park, Miles Cornwell, Thomas Carlton and Jake Embery (2) with their goals whilst James McElligott replied for Sparks, whilst Horsham are thirteenth courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 win over Ashford United at Culver Lane, George Landais, Curtis Gaylor and Henry Watson with the goals.

We have one match tonight, as Billericay Town host Harrow Borough at Aveley FC.

Where next?

Transfer news from the play-off chase Jammers and Cannons bring in reinforcements- Gulls and Bay lose attackers
Another match moves- this time it's Billericay! Town match moved to Aveley on Wednesday

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