Heartbreak for Hillians- and honours even in the Kentish derby

By Ian Townsend

A round up of all the action from Tuesday and Wednesday evenings


Burgess Hill Town remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division table despite taking the lead at Fetcham Grove last night, Leatherhead breaking their hearts with a late winner. Jake Brivio gave the Hillians an advantage ten minutes after the restart, before Sammy Moore’s men hauled themselves level twelve minutes later through Sean Clohessy. It seemed as if the away side had earned the point which would have hauled them out of the basement, but then with five minutes remaining Lee Minshull found the back of the net to send the Tanners up to ninth place- four points away from the playoffs. The Hillians travel to second bottom Harlow Town on Saturday for a match which now has even more significance.

In the South Division Thamesmead Town and VCD Athletic shared four goals equally. Danny Parish put the home side ahead at Princes Park just before the quarter hour mark, but only for five minutes as Warren Mfula grabbed the equaliser. Things got worse for mead, Alfie Cue putting Athletic ahead thirteen minutes later, and VCD held that lead for another thirty three minutes before Bode Anidugbe grabbed the leveller. Town move up to twelfth, whilst VCD remain in eighteenth place.

The big winners on Tuesday night were Billericay Town, the Blues killing yet another giant in defeating National League North Harrogate Town in an FA Trophy replay at New Lodge. Ricky Modeste and Jake Robinson put the home side two goals up before Town reduced the arrears through Simon Ainge, and that’s how it remained at the interval. In the second half Billericay extended their lead through Adam Cunnington, and although Town made it 3-2 with two minutes remaining the home side held out to go through to the Quarter Finals, where they will host Wealdstone.

Whilst Billericay were being roared to more cup success there were two matches in the Premier Division. A double from Jake Reed, sandwiching an effort from Robert Eagle, gave Lowestoft Town a 3-0 victory over Enfield Town, a result which takes the Trawlerboys up to 18th, whilst in North London Tooting & Mitcham United came from behind to earn a point at Wingate & Finchley in the battle of the ampersands. Marc Charles-Smith opened the scoring for the home side just before half time, before an own goal drew the Terrors level six minutes later, and that’s how the scores remained.

There were four Tuesday night matches in the North Division, and the biggest winners were Brentwood Town and Heybridge Swifts, who each recorded 3-1 victories. The victims at the Brentwood Arena were Waltham Abbey. Town took the lead through Alfie Hilton in the 34th minute before Shad Ngandu got the equaliser five minutes after the restart, but the Blues weren’t to be denied and a Tony Stokes double midway through the half gave them all of the points.

Swifts were taking on Norwich United and showed some of their early season form. Harrison Chatting gave them the lead on thirty two minutes, and whilst they were only able to hold it for four minutes- Adam Hipperson with the equaliser- second half goals from Joan Luque and Matthew Price made the points safe.

In the playoff places Dereham Town hosted Canvey Island at Aldiss Park, and Matthew Castellan gave the home side an early lead before George Sykes equalised five minutes before half time. The Magpies went ahead once more early in the second half, David Hinton with the goal, but another George- Craddock this time- gave Canvey a share of the points nine minutes later, a results which keeps the sides fifth and fourth in the table.

In the South Division there was a victory for South Park at East Grinstead, two first half Chris Smith goals making the difference, whilst Chipstead got three- through Matthew Males, Michael Campbell and Allan Tait- without reply at Shoreham. Hythe Town conceded an early goal at Herne Bay, but managed to find two of their own in the second half to earn all of the points. Jake Emery found the net for Bay, Kieron Campbell and Zak Ansah for Town.

Where next?

Wanderers made to wait Meadowbank opening delayed
Six new signings- and one new badge! New singings for Hythe, Grays and Regent- and a new badge for AFC Sudbury

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