Stimson stuns Trawlerboys

Manager Mark Stimson must have been overjoyed as his son’s 36th-minute strike proved enough to see off the Trawlerboys, who had the upper hand for long periods but failed to take their chances, with Michael Frew and recent signing Hakeem Araba missing two of the best.

The defeat leaves Lowestoft 15 points behind leaders Whitehawk with five games in hand. A considerably better goal difference means that Hawks will almost certainly be champions if they win their last four games.

Thurrock, meanwhile, moved above Lewes into 19th place and still have games in hand on most of the teams around them as they bid to avoid a second successive relegation.

There was a second surprise result in the division when Concord, hoping to reclaim second spot, went down 2-1 at home to Hendon despite taking a sixth-minute lead through Nicky Cowley.

Dean Cracknell equalised five minutes before half-time and Casey Maclaren grabbed the winner with a couple of minutes to go.

An entertaining game at Hampton finished as a 4-2 victory for the hosts against Enfield Town, who were also unable to make the most of an early goal.

Liam Hope put them ahead after 11 minutes but Joe Turner quickly pulled one back and Mo Bettamer gave the hosts a half-time lead.

James Simmonds made it 3-1 soon after the hour but Hope promptly responded with a penalty and the game was in the balance until Turner scored his second in the last minute.
Heybridge’s Ryman North play-off place is still far from secure after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Wroxham.

The hosts missed several chances before Luke Callander’s deflected shot gave them a 28th-minuite lead and made him the first player to reach 30 Ryman League goals this season.

But Wroxham came more into the game after the break and levelled matters with seven minutes left, Matt Daniels getting credit for the final touch as a crowd of players jumped for the ball.

Heybridge, fourth in the table, have a five-point advantage over the two clubs just outside the play-off spots, Soham and Witham, and all three clubs have six matches left.

Aveley, two points behind Heybridge in fifth place, have two games in hand on their rivals after their home game against Waltham Abbey fell victim to a day of heavy snow and sleet.

That’s particularly bad news for Waltham Abbey. They still have 11 games to play, and there are only ten Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays before the end of the season.