Hammers win our first trophy of the season, whilst Borough charge back to go fourth

Aveley FC last night hosted the Final of the Women’s Cup sponsored by Goodmove.co.uk, and West Ham United lifted the trophy after defeating Charlton Athletic 2-1. Charlton took a fourth minute lead through Kit Graham, but the Hammers were level before half time, a long distance beauty from Andria Georgiou doing the damage, and a Molly Clark free kick gave them the spoils with twenty minutes left on the clock.

Back in the League, Haringey Borough travelled to Waltham Abbey in the North Division having lost only one game in nine- but with an hour on the clock it looked odds on that that record would soon read two in ten, as the Abbots were two goals up and seemingly home and dry. Aron Gordon and Nathan Korantheng had both found the net, the latter from the spot, and Borough looked down and out- but it turned out that nothing was further from the truth. Within a minute of Abbey’s second goal Rakim Richards reduced the arrears, and with eighteen minutes on the clock Andre McCollin got the equaliser- his third goal in three games since moving to Coles Park from Kingstonian. But that wasn’t enough, and Borough took all the points, moving up to fourth place when Ralston Gabriel grabbed his twenty eighth goal in all competitions for the season.

In the South Division Guernsey managed their eighth match unbeaten, but they had to do it the hard way, coming back from conceding an early goal at home to Faversham Town to score three of their own, all in the first half. Ashley Miller put the home side ahead in the seventh minute, but the lead lasted only eight minutes before Sebastian Skillen levelled, and two minutes later the same player gave the Green Lions the lead. They went further ahead on twenty five minutes, Harry Tobin the scorer, and ended the day in nineteenth place, one above their visitors. In the other match Thamesmead Town defeated sorry Shoreham 4-1, goals from Jake McIntyre (2), Danny Parish and Richard Pacquette putting them out of sight before the Musselmen grabbed a consolation just before the end, Nana Baah with it. That result leaves Shoreham fourteen points behind second-bottom Molesey with only seven matches remaining.

There are a number of matches tonight across the Divisions. In the Premier Division leaders Billericay Town can extend the gap at the top to five points if they win at Brightlingsea Regent, and Burgess Hill Town can escape the relegation place if they manage to win at home to Wingate & Finchley. Dorking Wanderers host Enfield Town at Westhumble.

In the North Division there is an Essex derby between Brentwood Town and Grays Athletic, and another as Heybridge Swifts entertain Aveley. Mildenhall Town host Norwich United, and the match between Ware and Soham Town Rangers is awaiting confirmation of venue. It is hoped that Wodson Park will be fit to use, but if it isn’t then the game will move to Haringey Borough’s 3G pitch on White Hart Lane. South Park host Herne Bay in the South Division, and that match has already been confirmed as moved- to Merstham FC.

Image courtesy of Stuart Fuller.