Hayes show their six-appeal once more, whilst Merstham and Hawks provide the shocks!

If Haringey Borough win one more game, then we’ll need to build a new form guide. Ten matches is the maximum it can cover, and yesterday Borough picked up their tenth consecutive league victory as Ralston Gabriel scored his fourth goal since returning to the club to defeat Potters Bar Town 1-0 at Coles Park.

Making it an even happier Christmas for Borough, the gap between them and the second place club has widened to five points. Dorking Wanderers could have kept it to three with victory at Merstham yesterday, but as our Bostik Matchday feature will explain, it didn’t work out that way- as Hayden Bird’s men followed up their defeat of Lewes by taking out a second member of the top four club. They’ve got Borough and Kingstonian up next, and you can read about yesterday’s victory- and you will want to- HERE.

Kingstonian took advantage of Dorking’s slip to go second, and they did it by winning the King George’s Field derby with Corinthian-Casuals. James Daly gave the K’s a first half lead, and a late own goal made it two. There was still time for Gabriel Odunaike to pull one back, but it was the only one as the K’s held on for victory. They weren’t the only winners, however- charity won, too, as the clubs were co-hosting an event for local charities and collecting donations of food and clothing for the homeless.

Worthing could have jumped back into the top five with victory over Bognor Regis Town, but they lost what is perhaps the most important game of the season for their fans at Woodside Road. The Rocks have been struggling to find a win of late, but they scored two second half goals through Dan Smith and Mason Walsh to head back along the A259 with the points. But Worthing still had a victory of sorts, as they had our attendance of the season so far- one thousand, eight hundred and fifty three turning up to watch. When you compare that to the size of the crowds they were attracting just a few short years ago, owner George Dowell is without doubt the nearest thing the Mackerel Men have to Santa Claus, and the difference he has made to the club should not be underestimated.

The Rocks climb to tenth, just behind Merstham, and just ahead of Folkestone Invicta, who saw Ian Draycott get a goal in each half as they defeated Leatherhead. Another player who grabbed a double was David Manu of Wingate and Finchley, one in each half the difference as they defeated Carshalton Athletic, whilst to continue the trend Aaron Condon also scored two, as Brightlingsea Regent became the latest club to heap misery on AFC Hornchurch, a 2-1 victory at Bridge Avenue taking them up to 19th. Alex Bentley got the equaliser for the Urchins, but parity didn’t last.

Finally for the Premier Division, a surprise at Hartsdown Park. If Merstham are to take the plaudits for performance of the day they’ll have to fight for it with Whitehawk. The bottom club didn’t have a victory since September but had been showing real improvement of late- although their fans must have thought that their bad luck was set to continue as Ben Swift gave Margate a seventh minute lead. But not this time. Aaron Goode equalised just before the break, and in the second half another double- this one from Jason Williams- saw most of the eight hundred and seventeen present leave the stadium rather unhappy. Gate sit in fifteenth place.

North Division

We had a reduced pre-Christmas programme in the North Division, but leaders Bowers and Pitsea were in action, and they had a seasonal derby at Canvey Island. The Gulls form has been patchy of late, and it continued in that vein as David Knight gave the visitors the lead. Martin Tuohy equalised from the spot, but Bradley Warner had put Bowers in front once more before the break, and that’s how it remained until the end, leaving the away side five points clear at the summit.

Barking and Brentwood Town exchanged red cards for Christmas, with one each in the first half of their clash at Mayesbrook Park, but Barking weren’t otherwise generous, Kemo Darboe, Abs Seymour and Ola Ogunwamide giving them a three-nil victory; whilst Neil Blackburn’s first match as manager of Basildon United didn’t go to plan, Great Wakering Rovers walloping them four-one. Brian Moses, a Shomari Barnwell double and one from Ollie Woodhouse did the damage, whilst Michael Mignot found the net for the Bees.

Felixstowe and Walton United twice came from behind at home to Dereham Town, ensuring that the points were shared. Jamie Forshaw struck in both halves to twice give the Magpies the lead, but Liam Hillyard and then Miles Powell ensured that the home side didn’t end the match defeated.

On Friday night Witham Town and Coggeshall Town played out a 1-1 draw. The image is of the away side with the Witham Town Under 13's before the match.

South East Division

Leaders Cray Wanderers play today, entertaining Sittingbourne, and victory will take their lead to ten points. Whyteleafe have currently narrowed the gap to seven, two goals from Arif Hattabi and one from Bryan Akongo ensuring they got as many points as goals, despite Greg Cundle scoring a late consolation for East Grinstead Town.

Two of the top five played each other, and Horsham experienced a sensation they haven’t felt often this season- the misery that comes with defeat. Sussex rivals Haywards Heath Town were the victors, Karly Akehurst and Callum Saunders scoring the only goals of the game after the break. Heath are having a magnificent first season at this level, and are now fifth, having won five of their last six (drawing the other). It’ll be a happy Christmas in the Saunders household- and at Hanbury Park.

Another Sussex side, Three Bridges, have also been in good form of late- and that continued yesterday, as they silenced most of the seven hundred and forty three at Footes Lane by walloping Guernsey 3-0. Ibby Akanbi (2) and John Ufuah ensured that Bridges bounced back up the steps to their aircraft after the game, before hoping that Gatwick Airport would be drone-free. Bridges are now tenth.

Just above them are VCD Athletic, who after picking up only one point from their previous twelve got back to winning ways in style with a 4-1 victory over Greenwich Borough. Junior Baker put Vickers ahead only for Teshuane Tyreece Walters to equalise, but two from Alex Gaggin (65') and a penalty from Charlie MacDonald ensured that the points stayed at home.

Elsewhere, Hythe Town have now lost four in a row, and Herne Bay were the latest side to make them miserable. Danny Leonard, Nathan Wood and Jake Embery put Bay three goals up, and although Chris Kinnear got a late goal it was no more than a consolation.

South Central Division

Every week we seem to write about an avalanche of goals in the South Central Division, and we’re not about to buck that trend. And, as usual, Hayes and Yeading United lead the way.

Fifteen games have now brought SIXTY goals- that’s an average of four a game- and yesterday was the third time they’ve scored six, and the second time that poor Bedfont Sports had been on the receiving end of that hiding. Sports had only lost one of their previous nine matches, but yesterday conceded as many goals in one match as they had in the previous five. Toby Little got two, Scott Donnelly got two penalties, and Josh Chamberlain and Lee Barney scored the others.

Bracknell Town demonstrated that anything United could do, they could do nearly as well, with six of their own- five in the first half as FC Romania were demolished. Adam Cornell got an awayday hat trick, Liam Ferdinand got a double, and Kensley Maloney grabbed the other, whilst FC Romania got a consolation through Chiduben Onokwai. Onokwai has now scored in seven of their last nine matches, but that won’t be much of a consolation this morning.

The Robins are two points behind United in third place, and in between the two sit Waltham Abbey, who picked up three points at Hertford Town. Two goals in two minutes midway through the first half gave the Abbotts a half time lead, Billy Holland and Daniel Aristidou scoring them, and although Town got a last-gasp consolation through Brett O’Connor it wasn’t enough to earn Town a reward. Abbey are a point behind Hayes, and one ahead of Bracknell.

Cheshunt are in fourth, an Oluwole Akinsanya goal the difference in the derby match at Ware. The Ambers are only two points from the summit, which shows just how tight things are at the top of the Division- indeed, only two points separate the top five!

Former leaders Marlow are now fifth, and they were on the receiving end of an unexpected hiding at Chalfont St Peter. Two from Dan Fleming, and one each from Adam Kirby and Adam Morris made the difference, with a Marcus Mealing equaliser in the first half all that the Blues had to show for their efforts.

Sixth place Ashford Town were on the receiving end of a home hammering by Hanwell Town, for whom Femi Azeez fired a hat trick. Jack Beadle scored for the home side, but an own goal meant that the Geordies left with four goals to their name. Westfield are just behind the Tangerines in seventh place, courtesy of a five-nil walloping of now bottom Egham Town. The start of the second half was badly delayed due to injury to the referee, but the home side, who were already two up by then, were unaffected, walloping three more in the second half. T'Sharne Gallimore, Gregory Hayden, Antonios Kozakis (2) and Adam Bellmaine got the goals.

Great Evans- South Park are off the bottom with their first victory since August, and just like the last time the defeated side were Molesey. Evans got the first, and a Charlie Pitcher double made the points safe, after Antonio Edilson had earlier given the Moles the lead.

Finally, Tooting & Mitcham United are eighth after a 3-1 win at Chipstead, for who Dorking striker Tom Tolfrey made a debut. Daryl Coleman, Isaiah Jones and Saidou Khan found the net for the Terrors, with Sam Bell getting a Chipstead consolation.