Ten Trawlerboys are enough

The Trawlerboys took an early lead through Scott Mitchell and looked set for a comfortable afternoon when Chris Henderson made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute.

But they were stunned as Tony Taggart and Ryan Moss levelled the scores by half-time, and Taggart struck again six minutes after the break to give Hampton the lead.

It proved to be brief. Jack Defty made it 3-3 two minutes later and, despite the dismissal of Greg Crane with ten minutes to go, Lowestoft netted twice in the closing stages to take the points, with Defty netting his 19th league goal of the season before Michael Frew made sure.

They moved up to third place, still 11 points behind Whitehawk with four games in hand. Winning those games in hand may be another matter as the Trawlerboys face a stiff programme of 13 matches in the last six weeks of the season.

Whitehawk showed their determination to take the title at the first attempt by fielding no fewer than four new signings at Thurrock.

One of them, Reading youngster Charlie Losasso, scored in the tenth minute to set Hawks on course for a 3-0 victory, though not before some confusion because the ball went through a hole in the net.

The hosts fought hard in the first half but were killed off by goals by James Fraser (no.11, pictured by Mikey Cartwright) in the 35th minute and Danny Mills, a thumping header, five minutes later.

The only other side in the top five to play – four matches in the division were postponed – were Canvey, who stayed fifth but suffered a potentially-damaging 1-0 home defeat by Met Police, who are now five points behind them and retain play-off hopes. Dave Knight forced the ball home at the second attempt for the decisive goal ten minutes before the interval.

Margate moved to within a point of the islanders with a game in hand by chalking up a 3-0 victory at Enfield Town. Carl Rook scored with a fierce shot midway through the first half and Kezie Ibe added the second just after the break, nipping in when Tommy Murphy’s shot came back off a post.

Rook struck again on 63 minutes and had the chance to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot, only for Noel Imber to save his effort.

Bury also stayed well in the play-off picture, thre points behind Canvey, with a 2-0 win at slumping Kingstonian. An offside flag denied the division’s top scorer John Sands his 23rd of the season but Bury did not have to wait long for one that counted, Warren Whitely opening the scoring in the 11th minute.

K’s had Wade Small sent off before half-time for arguing with the referee. They came close to an equaliser midway through the second half when Tom Bird’s cross was deflected against the bar but Craig Parker scored the second from the spot a minute later after Matt Pattison brought down Sam Reed.

Only three of the relegation candidates were in action and
Hastings stayed in 21st place, two points behind Thurrock, after going down 1-0 at home to Leiston. Rhys Henry netted after 58 minutes for Leiston, who have steadily come to grips with Premier football and moved into the top half of the table.

Hastings did their best to respond but Danny Ellis hit a post and visiting keeper Jack Dixon earned his clean sheet with several excellent saves.

The team in real trouble, apart from bottom club Carshalton, would seem to be Wingate, who are only five points above Hastings and have played between three and seven more games than their rivals at the bottom.

They, too, went down to a lone goal, at Bognor where Terry Dodd was on target in the 27th minute. It was Bognor’s first league goal at home since January 5.