Moone shines as Hampton down Hawks

It was one of many games to attract an excellent Non-League Day crowd, the attendance of 616 being more than double the turn-out for Hampton’s midweek win over Lewes.

A tight game produced few chances, through Hampton’s Joel Ledgister had a goal disallowed and another effort cleared off the line.

A goalless draw would have kept Hawks on top but their hopes were shattered six minutes from time when Charlie Moone grabbed his tenth goal of the season. It was his fifth in the league, where Hampton’s 11 goals in eight games have produced 20 points thanks to their unyielding defence.

Kingstonian moved into second spot, bouncing back from their 5-2 thrashing at Wealdstone in midweek to end the division’s last 100 per cent record with a 3-1 victory in front of 845 at Lowestoft.

A neatly-worked free-kick move allowed Andre McCollin to open the scoring after 11 minutes. Joe Francis equalised for the Trawlerboys in added time at the end of the first half but K’s still departed for the dressing-rooms with a lead as Matt Pattison rifled home a stunning 35-yard drive. McCollin made sure in the 78th minute with his seventh league goal of the season, putting him two clear in the race for the division’s Golden Boot.

Wealdstone, who topped the table for 24 hours earlier in the week, are fourth after being held to a 2-2 draw by bottom club Thurrock, their first away point. Charlie Stimson gave the visitors a 37th-minute lead but a deflected shot by Kurtney Brooks made it 1-1 at half-time and Lawrence Yiga’s 75th-minute own goal put Stones ahead. The majority of the 703 crowd were to be disappointed, however, as Matt Pooley grabbed a late leveller.

Margate suffered a second successive disappointment at home. Beaten by two late Concord goals in midweek, they let two points slip even later when Karl Beckford’s shot in the fourth minute of added time went in off both posts to give Lewes a 1-1 draw. Sam Long’s 35th-minute strike had seemed to be enough for the hosts.

Harrow achieved their first away points of the season with a 1-0 victory at Bury. Nicolai Tararov scored after 11 minutes and John Sands came closest to an equaliser, heading against the bar.

Only two clubs in the division were seeking their first wins anywhere, and both were successful. Two Greg Ngoyi goals got Hendon off the mark with a 2-1 home win over Leiston, the only side in the division yet to collect a point on their travels. Emmanuel Osei pulled one back before half-time but that was it.

Carshalton also banked three points for the first time thanks to a 70th-minute goal by Jordan Clarke which was enough to see off visitors Hastings. Both sides had further chances but were unable to take them.

Cray, who had drawn their three previous away games, improved on that with a 3-1 victory at Enfield Town, spurred on by Jack Clark’s fourth-minute free-kick opener. Alex Stavrinou made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time but it needed a late Leigh Bremner penalty to clinch the points after Adam Wallace revived Enfield’s hopes early in the second half.

A serious injury to defender Steve Sheehan had its effect on East Thurrock, who had dominated their game at Met Police and were 2-0 up after 21 minutes with goals from Sam Higgins and Hakeem Araba. They lost concentration after Sheehan suffered a suspected broken leg on the hour and the Met escaped with a 2-2 draw. Jonte Smith’s 13th goal in eight games reduced the arrears in the 84th minute, Staforde Palmer levelled matters four minutes later and the hosts might have won it in the ten minutes of added time.

Bognor defender James Crane fired his fourth goal of the season (pictured by Tommy McMillan) to give his side a 16th-minute lead at Canvey. Bradley Woods-Garness replied for the islanders six minutes later and it was to finish 1-1.

Two clubs whose defensive records were among the league’s poorest met at Wingate and the result, perhaps inevitably, was a 0-0 draw. Tony Stokes, whose late goals earned Concord that midweek win at Margate, again had the chance to snatch two extra points with time running out but shot over the bar.