Guy provides the fireworks

By Peter Butcher

JAMIE GUY played the key role as Ryman North leaders Maldon saw off second-placed visitors Grays 2-1 and opened up a five-point gap at the top of the table.

Guy set up the opening goal for Ollie Berquez after 37 minutes and added the second himself ten minutes after the break. Grays had Jake Hall sent off shortly afterwards and it would have been 3-0 but for a penalty miss by James Robinson. Harry Agombar’s long-range strike gave Grays hope with five minutes left but Maldon were worthy winners.

It was a good day for the town of Maldon as its other club, Heybridge, took over second place with a 2-1 victory at Aveley. The hosts had Luke Wilson sent off before the half-hour mark but took the lead through Jordan Cox shortly afterwards. They held it until the 70th minute, when Luke Callander rifled home his 12th league goal of the season, the best tally in any division. A foul on Callander then allowed Michael Cheek to win it with an 83rd-minute penalty.

Callander had been caught briefly by James Gershfield, who netted his 11th with a 63rd-minute penalty to give Potters Bar the lead at Romford. Lewis Francis made it 1-1 with another penalty in the 75th minute and Nick Reynolds converted a Joe Oates free-kick two minutes into added time, earning Romford a 2-1 win which lifted them to sixth place while their victims slipped from third to fourth.

Sudbury dropped four places to 19th after they were thrashed 4-0 at home by Brentwood. Alex Read opened the scoring after three minutes and went on to complete his second successive Saturday hat-trick with a late penalty. His second goal came eight minutes before half-time and Daryl Robinson was also on target for Blues in the 54th minute.

Brentwood were among several lowly teams to pick up morale-boosting victories, among them Harlow who pulled off a welcome 2-1 win at Cheshunt. Piers Wixon put them ahead after 12 minutes, following up after his penalty was saved, and Jeff Hammond added an insurance goal with 11 minutes left. Hawks needed it, as Dave Greene pulled one back for the hosts four minutes later.

Chatham came out on top by the same margin at home to Redbridge, who remain in 21st place. Lee Hales put Chats ahead after 14 minutes and Redbridge missed a penalty before Lee Newton levelled the scores right on half-time. Player-manager Kevin Watson netted the decider five minutes after the break.

It was the same scoreline at Witham, too. John Watson’s close-range effort gave them the lead against Waltham Forest on the half-hour and Rob Whitnell added a 56th-minute penalty after a foul on Sam Taylor. Adrian Clifton pounced on a loose ball to give Forest hope with ten minutes left, but in vain.

Forest had won 6-1 at Needham Market in midweek and the Marketmen continued their bewildering form by hitting three unanswered goals at Thamesmead, who boasted a 100 per cent home record. Headers by Duane Wright and Ollie Fenn in quick succession midway through the first half put the visitors in control, and Kieran Leabon made sure just after the hour. Yet to win at home, Needham have dropped only two points in five games on the road.

Soham also rattled up a 3-0 away win, at Ware who remain four points adrift at the bottom without a league victory to their credit. Michael Simpson opened the scoring on 19 minutes and Matt Robinson added a double, converting a loose ball just before the interval and firing home from 20 yards in the 77th minute.

Ilford started the season with a 2-1 victory at Soham but have not won, or scored more than once in a game, in any competition since then. Their latest setback was a 3-1 home defeat by Wroxham, who took the lead through Ross Durrant after 15 minutes. Matt Daniels added a goal in each half before Joel Etienne-Clarke replied.

Danny Francis twice gave Tilbury the lead at Waltham Abbey, scoring after 20 and 55 minutes. Louis Bristow’s 36th-minute goal made it all square at the interval and James Peagram salvaged a 2-2 draw for the hosts with a long-range rocket two minutes from time. (A Tilbury corner is pictured by Elliot Mercer: no doubt that it's autumn!)

Where next?

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