Every Leader Loses!

Leiston yesterday became only the second club to defeat league leaders Billericay Town in the league this season- the first since the opening day- and they did it in some style, coming from behind to score three goals. When Adam Cunnington put the visitors ahead in the eighth minute it looked like more of the same, but in the battle of the Glenn’s it was Driver who was soon in the driving seat, Joe Jefford equalising for Leiston just before half time before Darren Mills put them ahead. Chris Henderson made it three with just under a quarter of an hour remaining, and in truth the gap could have been wider as the Suffolk Blues dominated the closing stages. Billericay joint manager Tamplin described the performance as ‘embarrassing'- and stated that ‘it won’t be suffered again’ whilst apologising to travelling fans, whilst his co-manager Harry Wheeler stated that it was ‘the poorest I’ve seen us all season.’ Leiston manager Driver stated on social media last night, ‘Overwhelmed with all the messages and support my team have received today, it’s not about me it’s about my players, they deserve all the credit, to all connected with Leiston enjoy the result and weekend but remember this is all part of our journey together.’

Billericay have two matches this week, the first tomorrow as they host Corinthian-Casuals in the semi-final of the Velocity Trophy, before on Wednesday they travel to a Folkestone Invicta side who yesterday thrashed five goals past Wingate & Finchley. Ade Yussuff put the stripes ahead from the spot in the first half, but almost an hour had gone before their lead was doubled, through Johan Ter Horst. Away skipper Sean Cronin then picked up his second yellow card, and that was the cue for Invicta to go late goal crazy, Ter Horst scoring his second in the eightieth minute, Joe Taylor getting the fourth with five minutes to go, and debutant Tom Walmsley heading home the fifth right at the end. That result puts Invicta three points clear of Staines Town in the final playoff position.

Two of the three sides between Billericay and Folkestone recorded victories too. Margate took advantage of Dulwich Hamlet’s failure to secure all three points by leapfrogging them into second, and in doing so made Burgess Hill Town’s position at the bottom a little worse. The Gate have been rather remorseless of late, and yesterday ground out their seventh successive victory with some ease, goals from Frannie Collin- a thirty five yard free kick- and Jordan Chiedozie making the difference as Ian Chapman’s Hillians struggled to conjure a reply. Hamlet are now five matches without a win, and although Ash Carew put them ahead midway through the second half against Enfield Town yesterday they were unable to hold out for more than a quarter of an hour, a deflected shot from Sam Youngs earning Enfield Town a point at Champion Hill.

Hendon are fourth, and you can see just how they managed their victory over Thurrock on the Bostik League Show later, but in brief after a goalless first half at Ship Lane Ashley Nathaniel-George gave the greens the lead seven minutes after the restart, and they were able to hold on to claim all three points despite conceding a penalty, as keeper Tom Lovelock was able to save from Jordan Clark.

The Swans hosted Needham Market, and when Mo Bettamer scored from close-in after six minutes the home fans at Wheatsheaf Park must have sensed a big victory, but they couldn’t add to their lead and John Sands scored the equaliser- and his two hundred and fiftieth career goal- in the second half. Congratulations John!

Met Police are four points off a playoff spot, and yesterday defeated Harrow Borough by a goal to nil. It took them sixty five minutes to find the net despite a plethora of chances, and when the goal did come it was an own goal. Harrow did react, but they couldn’t find the net despite their best efforts. Police sit seventh, Borough in eighteenth.

Leatherhead recorded their third victory in four matches with a win over Brightlingsea Regent yesterday, but they left it late to earn all three points. Jack Midson scored both the Tanners goals, but there was rather a long gap between them, the prolific striker putting them ahead in the twentieth minute before confirming victory with a penalty two minutes from the end. Just before that penalty Regent looked to have earned a point as Sam Ashford equalised with only seven minutes to go, but it wasn’t to be and the away side headed back to Essex rather disappointed.

Eleventh played twelfth as Tonbridge Angels travelled to Merstham, and by full time the gap between the sides was six points as it was Angels who took the spoils, a Daniel Thompson strike in the second half proving decisive, whilst in thirteenth Kingstonian brought Dorking Wanderers recent good run to an end at Westhumble, coming from behind to score three second half goals and take all three points. Giuseppe Sole gave Wanderers the lead from the spot, but after the break Michael West equalised before two goals from Nic Ciardini made the game safe.

Harlow Town sit two points above Burgess Hill Town at the bottom of the table, and yesterday came from two goals down at Worthing to earn a point. Zak Newton and Reece Myles-Meekums put the home side two up within twenty seven minutes, but new Hawks striker Matt Foy pulled one back four minutes before the break before equalising early in the second half. Finally, Lowestoft Town- for whom, incidentally, Foy scored two goals earlier this season- sit in twentieth, whilst Tooting & Mitcham United are just above Harlow in twenty second, and the Terrors now have a six point cushion over Burgess Hill after yesterday earning a point in a nil-nil- draw at Crown Meadow.

The big news in the North Division came at Kings Marsh, as AFC Sudbury shocked league leaders AFC Hornchurch to take all three points and move up to ninth. The only goal of the game came in the seventy-fourth minute, and it was a penalty converted by Joe Whight. The gap between first and second is still a seemingly unassailable thirteen points, however, as Bowers & Pitsea also fell to a surprising defeat, in their case the victors being perhaps even more unlikely, given that they were visiting second bottom Cheshunt. The Ambers have been a much better side since the arrival of manager Craig Edwards, however, and yesterday showed strength to come from behind, Kyle Roberts and then Jack Lampe completing the turnaround after David Knight’s twenty-first minute opener.

Canvey Island moved into third, James Walker giving them an early lead against Maldon & Tiptree yesterday before Ryan Charles made it 2-0 before half time. Joe Ellul halved the arrears just after the break, but despite more Jammers pressure the Gulls held on to claim all three points. Potters Bar Town sit fourth, only managing a 0-0 draw at Mildenhall Town, whilst Dereham Town are fifth, an enthralling match against Aveley earning them only one point after the Millers grabbed a stoppage time equaliser to make it 2-2. Rhys Logan had put the Magpies ahead, Alex Stephenson equalising, before Sam Borrer had seemingly earned the home side all three points; but seven minutes into added time a deflected shot from Myles Keizer-Burrows found the net to send the Aveley travelling fans- on a free bus provided by the club- home happy.

Haringey Borough move ominously to within one point of the playoffs, a goal from Lawrence Yiga enough for all of the points at Hertford Town, whilst Barking sit in eight a further five points back, goals from Adem Ramadan, Abs Seymour and Kemo Darboe giving them an unassailable lead before Tommy Robinson was able to pull one back for Bury Town. Grays Athletic are eleventh, a brace from each of Tommy Wade and Kieran Bishop putting them four-nil up at Parkside, before Witham Town made the scoreline slightly more respectable- but only slightly- Shamido Pedulu pulling one back at the end.

Heybridge Swifts are up to twelfth, three first half goals from Luke Callendar, Ryan Henshaw and Harrison Chatting earning all three points despite a late goal from Brentwood Town’s Luke Foster. That leaves Swifts sixteen points off the playoffs, but with eight matches still in hand. A Shad Ngandu hattrick for Waltham Abbey consigned Romford to last place in the league and left the happy Abbots in thirteenth- Andrew Tiranhu scoring for Boro- whilst Tilbury in sixteenth recorded a 2-0 victory over Soham Town Rangers, Kurt Smith (no, not from Tears for Fears) and Jack Carlile with the goals.

Finally, in the battle between 22nd and 21st it was the visitors, Norwich United, who came out on top- an Adam Hipperson hat trick giving them victory over Ware, for whom Ahmed Abdullah scored a consolation.

The South Division has new leaders, the Rooks of Lewes soaring back to the summit courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Greenwich Borough, after Cray Wanderers fell to a 2-1 home defeat by Carshalton Athletic. Lewes took the lead at the Dripping Pan in the third minute, Charlie Coppola finding an empty net following a defensive mistake, and although Borough worked hard the Rooks were able to make the points safe through Lloyd Cotton; whilst at Hayes Lane Wanderers lost their lead in the match and the division after Athletic came from behind to win. Aaron Rhule had given the side in orange the lead, but Jordan Cheadle equalised in the seventy-second minute and Christie Patterson gave the Robins all three points three minutes later, the away side now one point behind Wanderers in fourth place.

Between Cray and Carshalton are another two c’s, those of Corinthian-Casuals, who yesterday went to Chipstead in an attempt to wear out the third letter of the alphabet, coming from behind to earn all three points. Leon Lalor-Del gave Chipstead the lead, and it looked like the home side would take all three points, but in the very last minute Casuals managed two goals of their own, Shaun Brown and Max Oldham giving them victory before Oldham was sent off. Walton Casuals are in fifth, a hard fought victory over South Park leaving them two points ahead of sixth place Greenwich, but perhaps more importantly seven points clear of seventh place Hythe Town. Youseff Bamba and Josh Kelly scored for Anthony Gale’s men, with Chris Smith getting on the scoresheet for the Sparks.

Hythe closed that gap on Greenwich Borough with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Hastings United at Pilot Field, Ryan Palmer, Darren Oldaker and Zak Ansah with their goals- Jack Dixon and Dajon Golding replying for the home side. Whyteleafe are eighth, Scott Day and Tom Pearson at the beginning and end of the match securing the points at Faversham Town, whilst Phoenix Sports in tenth went down 2-1 at Culver Road, Horsham delighting the home fans with victory, goals from George Landais and Tom Tolfrey taking the spoils despite an effort from Kweku Ansah.

Thamesmead Town sit between Sports and Horsham in eleventh place, and they earned a 3-1 victory over Ashford United yesterday. Solomon Taiwo opened the scoring, and a Paul Vines double saw them comfortable winners despite Dean Grant reducing the arrears for the Nuts and Bolts. Herne Bay moved up to fifteenth, Jake Embery putting them ahead against Ramsgate, and despite Alfie Paxman equalising for the away side just after half time further goals from Danny Rumbol and Junior efosa Aikhionbare made the points safe.

Sittingbourne slumped to sixteenth, losing to twenty first place East Grinstead Town despite Kane Rowland giving them the lead midway through the first half- Tim Cook equalised and Ricardo Thompson got the winner for the Wasps right at the death- whilst VCD Athletic and Guernsey played out a 2-2 draw at Oakwood, Alfie Cue and Temitope Eweka pulling the home side level after two goals from Dave Rihoy had given the Green Lions the lead.

Finally, Shoreham won the clash of the bottom two, Sean Roddy giving them a twenty third minute lead at Molesey, for whom Ron Sobowale equalised. There was late drama, however, as Roddy (according to Shoreham) or Andrew Mensah (according to other reports) gave the Musselmen all three points right at the end. They still sit thirteen points behind the Moles at the bottom, however.