Billericay get six- and Whyteleafe do even better- in a day of drama across the Bostik League

Billericay Town cut the gap at the top of the Premier Division to two points- with a massive seven matches in hand- on a day when rivals Dulwich Hamlet were victims of the weather as their game at Leatherhead was called off. The Blues suffered an early scare as Morgan Griffiths put Tooting & Mitcham United ahead after six minutes, but from that point six was anything but a lucky number for the Terrors as the away side dominated the match. Danny Waldren brought them level ten minutes later, and after two further minutes Town were ahead through Rob Swaine. Afterwards it became the Jake Robinson show, the prolific striker hitting his sixth hat trick of the season- and his fortieth, forty-first and forty second goals- and whilst Tooting did get one back through Peter Wedgeworth Billericay made it six-two in stoppage time, Danny Waldren with his second.

Tooting drop into last place after previous bottom side Burgess Hill Town earned their second win of the week, an Aaron Smith-Joseph strike early on bringing them a deserved three points at Tonbridge Angels, whilst Worthing sit 21st, three points clear of the Terrors, after coming from behind to win at home to Wingate & Finchley. The away side took the lead at the Bibby Financial Services Stadium as half time approached, Sean Cronin firing home a disputed penalty, but Worthing drew level on the hour through Kieron Pamment before a newly returned Zak Newton put them ahead with ten minutes to go. There was still time for Wingate & Finchley to implode, with Jake Eales and Ahmet Rifat sent off during stoppage time as the Worthing Away Boys -who would like to point out, incidentally, that they’d rather be a Rebel than a Rock- celebrated the latest step in their sides resurgence.

On Friday we described the match between Hendon and Folkestone Invicta as ‘perhaps the most attractive of the day,’ and the two sides did their best to prove us right, sharing six goals in a thriller at Silver Jubilee Park as both made it fourteen points from their last seven matches. Invicta will feel that their tally should be sixteen, however, as with twenty minutes to go they were three goals up- Ian Draycott and a double from Callum Davies leaving them in a dominant position. But this year’s Greens don’t know when they are beaten. Joe White pulled a goal back almost immediately, and three minutes later Zak Joseph reduced the arrears again with a beautiful chip over Tim Roberts in the Invicta goal. The drama wasn’t over, and in stoppage time Casey Maclaren snatched what had looked like an unlikely point for the home side.

There was a comeback on the Essex coast, too, and in this one it was the away side who triumphed, Dorking Wanderers taking the points at the Taydal. Billy Hunt put Brightlingsea Regent ahead on the half hour, and it took another thirty four minutes for Wanderers to equalise through Lewis Putman. Gareth Chendik then put Dorking ahead with eighteen minutes to go before Regent seemed to have grabbed a point through Jake Gould in the very last minute, but there was still time for Chendik to get the winner in stoppage time. Needham Market took the points at Donkey Lane, goals from Adam Mills and Dan Morphew giving them an unassailable first half lead- although they were undoubtedly helped by the dismissal of Enfield Town keeper Joe Wright, which necessitated Town putting centre back Mat Mitchel-King in goal.

Andre McCollin made the difference as Kingstonian travelled to Harlow and left with all three points courtesy of a 1-0 victory, whilst Margate travelled to Harrow Borough and walloped four goals without reply in front of the Bostik League Show cameras. Jordan Chiedozie got two of those, sandwiching strikes from Kane Haysman and Frannie Collin as Steve Watt’s side moved into third place.

Staines Town are in fifth, but were made to work hard for the points at Lowestoft Town. Max Worsfold and Elliott Buchanan seemed to have made the game safe in the first half, but the Trawlerboys were to draw level after the interval, Rory McAuley and Shaun Bammant doing the damage. Buchanan, however, put the Swans ahead again on the hour, and ten minutes from time Mo Bettamer finally made sure of all three points.

Metropolitan Police and Leiston sit sixth and eight, two first half goals through Gavin James and Jack Ainsley earning them a point a piece at Imber Court, whilst the final match saw Merstham coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Thurrock. Remi Sutton opened the scoring for the away side on the half hour, but the lead lasted only eight minutes as Charlie Penny equalised after excellent work from Ryan Hall. In the 54th minute Alex Addai put the Moatsiders ahead, and that’s how it stayed as Merstham moved up to sixteenth.

In the North Division AFC Hornchurch ended Norwich United’s seven match unbeaten run to extend their lead at the top of the table to ten points- as second place Bowers & Pitsea lost. The Urchins were made to wait by a stubborn United defence, and only clinched the points with two minutes to go, George Purcell once more earning victory. Bowers were at Potters Bar Town, and the Scholars continued their fine recent form to make it ten points from their last twelve, Eoin Casey earning the victory with the only goal of the game five minutes from time.

Canvey Island are third after a 2-0 win at Romford, Mitch Gilbey and George Sykes with the goals, whilst Dereham Town drop below Potters Bar into fifth, after losing 1-0 in Barking- a Billy Jones penalty the difference between the sides. Maldon & Tiptree are in the final playoff place, earning one of six 1-0 victories in the North Division today, with a goal on the hour from Kieron Bailey seeing off Waltham Abbey.

The other one-nil victories went to Ware and AFC Sudbury, who defeated Witham Town and Heybridge Swifts respectively, whilst the big victors of the day were Mildenhall Town, who travelled to Tilbury and scored five. Even more remarkably four of their five were scored by one player, Thomas Debenham- three in the first half. Soham Town Rangers also had a day to remember, Craig Gillies, Callum Russell and Joe Carden with the goals as they defeated Haringey Borough 3-0.

Cheshunt closed the gap at the bottom, leaving it until the last five minutes to come from a goal down at Bury Town to earn a 2-1 victory, whilst in the other match Grays Athletic and Hertford Town shared two goals at Parkside.

The South Division looked as if it was going to have new leaders midway through the second half, Lewes behind at the Dripping Pan whilst second place Cray Wanderers were ahead at Herne Bay- but it was as you were by full time. Walton Casuals took the lead at Lewes through Josh Kelly- and looked as if they were going to be able to see the game out before conceding yet another late, late goal, Frankie Chappell forcing the ball home to earn a point at the death; whilst at Altira Park Herne Bay turned the form book- and the match- on its head, second half goals from Jake Embery and Ben Gorham more than cancelling out Wanderers first half lead, which had been given to them by Charlie McDonald in the tenth minute.

The big winners of the day were Whyteleafe, and goodness what big winners they were, firing EIGHT goals at nine-man East Grinstead Town. Leafe took the lead- and doubled it- in the 23rd minute, with goals from Scott Day and Lanre Azeez, and by this point the hosts were already down to ten men as Andrew Cooney had been sent off. Sam Clayton made it 3-0 on the stroke of half time, before Leo Mazzone joined Cooney in the stands, earning two yellow cards. Clayton, Josh Adusei and Scott Day took advantage to make it six, Marcus Elliot got one back, but Tommy Hutchings and Antonio Simeone made it eight in the eighty-seventh and eighty-ninth minutes. Leafe move up to tenth, and finally seem to be recapturing their early-season form.

Carshalton Athletic are third, their first match since the departure of Mickel Miller ending in a 1-1 draw at Phoenix Sports, whilst Greenwich Borough continued their good form with a 4-0 victory over basement club Shoreham. Corinthian Casuals are sixth, but they left it very, very late to beat Faversham Town, the winning goal coming in the 90th minute when Jordan Clarke fired home a penalty.

Hythe Town in eighth came from behind to defeat South Park 3-2 at Reachfields, whilst Hastings United continued their recent good form with a 3-0 victory over Molesey, all the goals coming in the second half. There was drama at Woodstock Park, as Horsham’s 3-1 victory over Sittingbourne prompted the resignation of Brickies manager Nick Davis, whilst Thamesmead Town are just behind the Hornets in twelfth after a three-two victory at Ramsgate. The Rams must be wondering how that one got away, given they were two-one up until the ninetieth minute, but late, late goals from Danny Parish and Harvey Brand sent the points back to Princes Park.

Chipstead were the other winners of the day, earning a 3-1 victory over VCD Athletic at High Road, whilst in the Channel Islands Guernsey and Ashford United played out a 1-1 draw.