Saturday's Ryman North action review

By David Watters

AFC Sudbury increased their lead at the top of the Ryman North table after winning 2-1 away at Thamesmead Town on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

AFC scored in the 34th minute through an unstoppable shot from James Baker, his first of the season, and increased the lead in the 66th minute from a Craig Parker penalty, his 24th goal this term.

Despite having Farai Hallam sent-off, the home side pulled a goal back through Theo Fairweather-Johnson 14 minutes from time, but Sudbury made it safely to the end of the game to take all three points.

With both AFC Hornchurch and Thurrock losing, however, Harlow Town won to climb into second place.

Ryman League

Ryman League

The Hawks beat lowly Heybridge Swifts 2-1 at Scraley Road. George Cole gave the home side a fifth minute lead but Leon Antoine popped up with a 34th minute leveller for the promotion-chasing Hawks.

Swifts, who had won their previous three league and cup games, looked on course for a point until conceding a 75th minute penalty for handball that was converted by Alex Read.

Witham Town pulled off a fine late 2-1 victory at high-flying Thurrock after Garry Kimble’s side had lost nine of their previous twelve games in all competitions and had won only once since November 28th.

Many in the Ship Lane crowd had already made their way out of the ground when Tom Cocklin broke the deadlock to give the visitors the lead from the spot five minutes from time. Two minutes later it was game over when Nathan Koranteng added a second, although David Cowley pulled one back for Thurrock in stoppage time.

AFC Hornchurch went down to a 2-0 defeat at Bridge Road to seventh-placed Cheshunt.

Jason Hallett overtook the home side`s George Purcell at the top of the league goalscorers` chart with his 27th and 28th goals of the season after 24 and 73 minutes.

Fifth-placed Cray Wanderers moved level on points with the team above them, Thurrock, after a 4-2 win at the Oakside Stadium against second-bottom Redbridge.

Charlie Portway gave the Motormen a 26th minute lead that Ben Hunt eventually cancelled out 11 minutes into the second half.

James Duckworth then made it 2-1 to the visitors three minutes later, only for Reside Coxi-Sebastfao to level matters on 63 minutes. But both Duckworth and Hunt added second goals after 77 and 82 minutes respectively to win it for the visitors.

Brightlingsea Regent maintained their play-off charge thanks to a comprehensive 4-1 victory at home to Great Wakering Rovers.

A tricky task for Rovers became even tougher following the third minute sending-off of skipper Stuart Hepburn for an alleged stamp. But Wakering took the lead in the 17th minute when Dan Gilchrist turned in James Pugsley’s cross.

However, Brightlingsea were level two minutes later, thanks to an unstoppable effort from Russell Malton. Josh Gould added the second with a towering header from Ricky Griggs’ corner six minutes later. And a far post header by Phil Kelly made it 3-1 at the break.

Jake Clowsley added his name to the scoresheet midway through the second half, and Wakering’s miserable afternoon was compounded in the closing stages when Max Kent was dismissed for a second booking.

Tilbury`s play-off hopes took a dive as they were beaten 4-2 at Dereham Town.

The home side led through Luke Tuttle`s 10th minute penalty when the Dockers had forward Kurt Smith sent-off five minutes later.

Despite that, the visitors led at the break after goals from Matt Game on 34 minutes and Greg Cundle 11 minutes later. But the ten-men couldn`t hold on and a Sam Borrer hat-trick in the 48th, 57th and 62nd minutes won it for the hosts.

Waltham Abbey and Wroxham swapped placed as the Abbots` 2-1 victory at Capershotts sunk the Yachtsmen into the drop zone.

The home side got off to a great start when Christian Assombalonga gave them a first-minute lead. Jack Garrod equalised from the spot midway through the first half. But Ryan Flack won it for the Abbots six minutes after the break.

Bottom side Barkingside picked up a point from a 1-1 home draw with Soham Town Rangers.

Salim Relazani gave the visitors a 64th minute breakthrough before Michael Spencer levelled 16 minutes from time.

Maldon & Tiptree had a frustrating afternoon in their mid-table clash at home to Aveley, the pair battling out a goalless draw, a feat repeated by Bury Town and Phoenix Sports at Ram Meadow.

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Where next?

Record sponsorship deal extended The Isthmian Football League and title sponsors Ryman, part of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group, have agreed to extend the longest running sponsorship partnership in football until the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
Saturday's Premier Division action review There was a full fixture list in the Ryman Premier on Saturday as the league escaped the worst effects of the wet weather that hit most of the rest of the country, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

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