Hillians get lift off, Regent slow Billericay rise whilst Swifts steal a march on local rivals

By Ian Townsend

As we were at the top, all change at the bottom- it's our Thursday round up

Billericay Town could have gone five points clear at the top of the Premier Division with victory over Brightlingsea Regent last night, but by full time that lead was only three, as the Blues came from behind to earn a point after Regent gave them a real scare at the Taydal Stadium. That man Billy Hunt found the net once more for the home side, putting them ahead three minutes after the break with his 23rd of the season, and whilst Billericay equalised with thirteen minutes to go- Billy Bricknell with what many outlets are describing as a ‘soft’ penalty- strong defensive performances and some excellent James Bradbrook goalkeeping meant that Regent guaranteed their Premier Division safety in their first season in the division.
That point puts Billericay three clear of second place Dulwich Hamlet, but it also exhausts their reserves of matches in hand.

Perhaps, despite the early season predictions, this title race may yet go down to the wire?

At the other end of the table Burgess Hill Town came into last night’s match against Wingate & Finchley having lost eleven of their previous thirteen- but despite that were only three points behind a Tooting & Mitcham United side whose recent form was also shocking, and knew that a win would lift them out of the basement on goal difference. They were quickly ahead, Hafeez Sanusi chipping home in the twelfth minute, and when Lee Harding made it two with his second goal this week seven minutes after the break those in green really began to hope. Of course, being Burgess Hill, they had to make it difficult, Wingate pulling a goal back nine minutes before time through Irnti Rapai’s third in three matches, but substitute- and debutant- Josh Greenleaf fired home a half volley two minutes later.

Hillians still have two matches in hand over the Terrors at the bottom, and their goal difference is fourteen better.

In the other Premier Division match, Dorking Wanderers took a two goal lead over Enfield Town at Westhumble, Luke Moore and Lewis Putman the scorers, but Enfield got one back eleven minutes from time- and own goal- and Junior Mubiayi was able to earn them a point a minute from time.

In the North Division, Heybridge Swifts continued their remarkable season with a victory which put them three points ahead of local rivals Maldon & Tiptree in the final playoff place- still with two matches in hand. They went ahead over similarly in-form Aveley in the twentieth minute, Luke Callander with the goal, and second half finishes from Joan Luque, in the fifty-fifth and fifty-eighth minutes, made the points secure. At the other end of the table, Norwich United went six points clear of bottom side Romford after a 0-0 draw at Mildenhall Town, whilst Brentwood Town are four points further ahead after a 1-1 draw at home to Grays Athletic, Alfie Hilton giving them an early lead before Adeyinka Cole drew the visitors level.

Ware sit in twentieth, surely safe fourteen points above the drop zone, but couldn’t make that margin bigger as they lost 3-2 to Soham Town Rangers in a match played at Haringey Borough’s Coles Park. Jack Mochalski put the away side ahead just before the half hour, and it was two five minutes later, Lewis Clayton with that one. Ross Elsom reduced the arrears eight minutes after the break, and two goals in the last minute- one for each side- didn’t change the outcome. Josh Mulready got Rangers third before Jordon Watson reduced the arrears once more.

There was one match in the South Division, and that saw James McElligott put South Park ahead against Herne Bay in a match played at Merstham FC. Visitors Herne Bay equalised through Joshua Wisson with ten minutes remaining, and that’s how it ended.

For the first time this week we’re without any matches today- but we do have a full programme on Saturday, weather-willing!

Where next?

Two matches move tonight Ware and South Park visit their neighbours

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