Hornets, Hayes and Borough slay giants!

First hosted second in the Bostik Premier Division yesterday- only it wasn’t in the Bostik Premier Division, it was in the FA Trophy! Many of our sides were in Trophy action yesterday, with only two matches in the Premier Division- but we had an (almost) full programme across the rest of the League. We’ll start our round up with the knockout competition.

Dorking Wanderers are separated at the top of the League by only one goal- and it was the same at Meadowbank yesterday. Jason Prior- is there a better striker anywhere at Step Three- got that goal, his fifteenth of the season, eight minutes before half time, to put Wanderers in the draw for the next round.

At the other end of the A24 (and left a bit), Horsham were continuing their recent habit of defeating Premier Division sides, a late goal from Chris Smith leaving Potters Bar Town with the same sinking feeling experienced by Corinthian-Casuals in the previous round, whilst down in South Devon Wingate & Finchley were taking the plaudits, coming back from a two goal deficit to defeat Tiverton Town, who sit in sixth place in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South, 3-2. Marc Weatherstone and Charlie Cole brought them level, before an own goal two minutes from time gave them victory.

Hayes & Yeading United travelled to Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division Banbury United, and did what they’ve been doing consistently in the league lately- win with style. A goal in each half from Lee Barney and Roddy Collins ensured that United were giant killers. Another to slay a giant were Greenwich Borough, a Laurent Mendy goal thirteen minutes from time enough to despatch Bishop’s Stortford, whilst Brentwood Town were desperately close to joining the same club, only a last gasp equaliser denying them against Poole Town, Kojo Apenteng and Tony Stokes having put them 2-1 up in the dying stages of the match.

In our other all-Premier division clashes, a Billy Hunt double gave Brightlingsea Regent victory over AFC Hornchurch, for whom Leon McKenzie had found the net in the first half, whilst Carshalton Athletic defeated Harlow Town 3-1, Omar Koroma, Danny Dudley and Jordan Cheadle finding the net for the Robins. Mayowa Adaje scored the Hawks consolation.

Folkestone Invicta got back to winning ways in style, Kane Rowland, Ian Draycott and an own goal earning them a 3-0 win over Didcot Town, whilst Lewes- for once- don’t have a midweek replay to look forward to, and it’s probably just as well given it would have been in Wales. James Hammond and Luke Blewden gave them victory over Merthyr Town. Worthing also picked up a victory, despite playing most of their match with Chesham United with only ten men, after Sam Rents took an early bath before half time. David Ajiboye had given them the lead by then, and the depleted side held on to it in front of 802 at Woodside Road.

Chipstead will join Brentwood in having to travel for a midweek replay, and they’ll be heading to Bedford after a late equaliser put paid to their hopes of initial victory. Michak Stanic-Stewart and Sam Bell had given them the lead, but the leveller came two minutes from time at High Road.

Now the bad news. Aveley went down 2-1 at home to Beaconsfield Town, a very late goal from Andrew Freeman nothing but a consolation, and Enfield Town lost by the same score at Basingstoke United, despite Lewis Taafe giving the Towners an early lead. Herne Bay fell 1-0 to Needham Market, whilst Merstham lost 2-0 at Salisbury- but they only went there to see the cathedral, so we’ve no idea how they got involved in a football match. Finally for the Trophy, Bognor Regis Town ended their interest in the competition, falling 2-0 at Walton Casuals.

Premier Division

The Premier Division had two matches, and two 1-0 away victories. Kingstonian ruined Simon Wormull’s first match as permanent manager of Burgess Hill Town, a late goal from Elliott Buchanan taking the points, whilst another late goal, this time from Margate’s Frannie Collins, left Leatherhead to continue their recent slump.

North Division

Bowers & Pitsea went three points clear at the top of the table, goals from Jamie Dicks, Lewis Manor and David Knight giving them a comfortable victory over Mildenhall Town. Coggeshall Town are second, Sam Bantick now having scored in six of his last seven matches since moving from Heybridge Swifts, his effort yesterday enough to defeat Barking 1-0. Third place Basildon United were held 0-0 at AFC Sudbury, whilst Maldon & Tiptree take our comeback of the day award (there isn’t one, we just made that up), retrieving a 2-0 half time deficit at Dereham Town to win 3-2, a double from Oliver Kensdale and one from Jack Cawley sending the Jammers home happy.

Heybridge Swifts are sixth, their impressive form under Julian Dicks continuing as they defeated Canvey Island 2-1. Matt Price and Harrison Chatting got their goals, Jake Jolliffe managing to halve the arrears for Canvey. Grays Athletic sit one place behind Swifts, and goals from Joao Carlos and Kieran Bishop gave them a 2-0 half time lead at Felixstowe and Walton United. Miles Powell was able to get a goal back for the home side three minutes after the break, but Athletic held on for the points.

Soham Town Rangers earned a comfortable 3-0 win over Witham Town, goals from Will Gardner, Ryan Auger and Sam Mulready doing the damage, whilst Cemal Ramadan, back with Bury Town once more, showed just how much they’d missed him with two late goals to defeat Tilbury 2-1. Jack Carlile had earlier given the Dockers the lead.

South Central

Bracknell Town sit on top of the table, but their lead is only one points after they were held at Chalfont St Peter. Seb Bowerman gave the Robins the lead, but the Saints hit back, goals from Dan Fleming and Jack Mullan turning the tables, before Kensley Maloney got a late equaliser.

Marlow, then, could have gone top with victory at Egham Town, but were held 0-0 in this Thames derby, whilst Waltham Abbey could also have gone top with victory, but went down 2-1 at Ashford Town despite taking an early lead through Billy Holland. A Jack Beadle double for the Tangerines saw a home win recorded. Cheshunt could also- technically- have gone top, although they’d have needed a club record win to do it, but the Ambers fell 3-1 at Hanwell Town, a late double from Harvey Killeen earning the points for the home side after Mark Hughes had cancelled out Tom Collins opener.

The goals at Imperial Fields came in the first and last minutes, with both sides getting one each. Albert Adu had given Ware the lead, and they must have thought they’d hold onto it, particularly when Sol Patterson-Bonner received his marching orders with barely a quarter of an hour gone. But when Harry Norman also took an early bath the teams were level in numbers once more, and just before full time they were level in goals, too, as Peter Wedgeworth found the net.

Perhaps the most impressive victory of the day came at Hertingfordbury Park, where Molesey continued their resurgence in find style, goals from Ashby Charles, Dre Grobler, Dariush Heravi and Marley Hamilton gave them a 4-1 victory, Ollie Sharman’s reply for Hertford Town lost in the Molesey avalanche. Finally, FC Romania got back to winning ways, Aurelian Tirca, Chiduben Onokwai and an own goal making it three-nil over sorry South Park, who have picked up only one point from the last twenty seven.

South East Division

The big match of the weekend in the South East Division comes today, when leaders Cray Wanderers host second place Hastings United- but there were a number of impressive victories yesterday.

Fans at Oakwood are certainly getting good value for money at the moment, as VCD Athletic followed up the seven they got last weekend with five this time around. Charlie MacDonald, the Peter Pan of the Bostik League, made it six goals in two matches with a brace, and Ali Fuseini, Courtney Barrington and an own goal made in five for Vickers. Danny Walder and Ashley Miller scored for Faversham Town- and indeed the away side at one point had a 2-0 lead! It seems they simply provoked the savage beast.

Vickers are third, whilst Phoenix Sports came from behind to win at Sevenoaks Town, Kenny Aileru and an own goal cancelling out then surpassing Kenny Pogue’s opener for Town. Fifth place Hythe Town took the lead at Ramsgate, Zak Ansah with the opener, but a penalty for Aaron Millbank meant that the spoils were shared.
Whyteleafe are sixth, but they got nothing from their home clash with Haywards Heath Town yesterday. Town now sit just behind Leafe in the table, and goals from Andrew Dalhouse and Byron Napper gave them the lead at Church Road yesterday, before Harrison Carnegie and Scott Day levelled things up. But Heath weren’t finished just yet, and an own goal three minutes from time sent the points back to Sussex.

Whitstable Town got back to form with a 2-1 win at Sittingbourne. Stuart West gave them the lead, but Ira Jackson levelled before the break- however both sides were then reduced to ten men and it was Whitstable who coped the better, Jordan Wright firing the winner nineteen minutes from time. Finally, Ashford United got back to winning ways at East Grinstead Town, a double from Danny Parish cancelling out and then surpassing George Landais opener for the Wasps.

On Friday evening Haringey Borough suffered a heartbreaking late defeat in the FA Cup against AFC Wimbledon, and you can read about that HERE.