Blues have one hand on the title- but Bowers slip up

By Ian Townsend

Billericay go four points clear, Swifts all but confirm their playoff place, whilst Cheshunt hit five- it's our Thursday night round up.

At the end of October Needham Market came from behind to take a deserved point against Billericay Town, and last night fans of the Marketmen- as well as those from Dulwich Hamlet- were undoubtedly hoping for a similar performance. The Blues, however, had other ideas, going four points clear at the top of the Bostik Premier Division with a scintillating display dominated by that man Jake Robinson.

Robinson, who also scored in the previous match between the two clubs, went two better on this occasion, notching a hat trick which took his total for the season to 57. He also has so many match balls from this season that he could open his own sports shop- this was his seventh hat trick of the campaign. But he wasn't the only scorer, Sam Deering and Jamie O'Hara also finding the net as Harry Wheeler's side ran out 5-0 winners, and opened a four point gap on Dulwich Hamlet at the top of the table- with only three matches remaining.

Elsewhere, on the day it was announced that manager Drax Hippolyte was to leave the club at the end of the season, Staines Town's playoff challenge looked to have finally petered out as they fell 4-2 to Metropolitan Police at Imber Court. Liam Enver-Marum and Jay Gasson gave the boys in blue a two goal cushion only for Mo Bettamer and Elliot Buchanan to level the scores with only twenty minutes remaining, but Met weren't to be denied, and Gasson found the net once more before Shaqille Hippolyte-Patrick made the points safe. The result leaves the Swans five points off a playoff spot but with a game in hand- but also four points behind the two sides immediately outside the playoff places, Leiston and Leatherhead, who have played the same number of matches.

At Westhumble, Dorking Wanderers and Wingate & Finchley shared four goals equally to take a point each. Tom Tolfrey and James McShane gave the home side a two goal lead, but goals from Layne Eadie and Ned Clarke drew the away side level after the break.

In the North Division, the big match between Bowers & Pitsea and Heybridge Swifts saw Jody Brown's side confirm their playoff place barring a mathematical miracle, whilst giving Potters Bar Town hope in the race for the second automatic promotion place. Bowers took the lead through Ben Sartain in the 29th minute, but an equaliser from Juan Luque was followed by an 88th minute winner from Kreshnic Krasniqi as Swifts moved nine points clear of seventh place Maldon & Tiptree with only three games remaining.

Elsewhere, Brentwood Town are still not mathematically safe from relegation after a 2-1 loss at Witham Town. Harry Gibbs gave them the lead with only 27 minutes left, but an own goal and a last minute winner from Correy Davidson ensured that the points remained at the Village Glass Stadium- and undoubtedly that Beardwell was on fire! Cheshunt are in a similar position, eight points ahead of Romford who have with three matches remaining, but they recorded a 5-2 victory over Hertford Town, in a match where three players- Ricky Sappleton and Kyle Roberts for Cheshunt, Charlie Cole for Hertford- scored two goals. The other goal for the Ambers was scored by Emiel Aiken.

Bury Town and AFC Sudbury scored a goal each at Ram Meadow- Cemal Ramadan and Phil Kelly finding the net- as an impressive 421 turned out to watch.

There was one match in the South Division, and South Park recorded their second victory in two days with a 2-0 win at Chipstead. Josh Gallagher and Daniel Stone were the scorers.

Where next?

Young Rooks win the Isthmian Youth League Cup! A second trophy in a week for Lewes Under 18's
Cheap as chips Cannons, mid-price Marketmen Greenwich Borough and Needham Market slash admission costs for Saturday

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