The 'Beast from the East' Awards!

The weather over the last few days decimated the Non-League programme across Steps 1-4 yesterday. Only four matches were played- and despite this the Non League Paper have managed to put out thirty two pages by imagining what would have happened had the other games gone ahead and writing a virtual newspaper (not really, it may not be as action packed as usual, but it’s well written, insightful and marvellous)! Three of the four matches played happened to be ours- two in the Premier Division, and one in the North Division- so here’s a brief round up of a brief- yet enthralling- day.

The award for ‘Herculean effort resulting in a football match going ahead’ goes to the supporters of Folkestone Invicta. At 8 AM yesterday morning the pitch and surrounds at the Fullicks Stadium were covered in snow, and by around quarter to eleven they weren’t- and that change was entirely down to the horde of fine folk in stripes who turned up and cleared it. Various estimates at the numbers range from 35 to 50 (nobody takes time to count when shovelling), but however many there were, their efforts were both magnificent and greatly appreciated, not least by the players of both Invicta and Harlow Town, who got to play some actual football! Harlow took the lead in the 44th minute through Alex Read, whilst Invicta got back on level terms twenty one minutes later, Ian Draycott with the goal. Invicta remain in fourth place, Town in twenty third- three points ahead of bottom side Burgess Hill Town, although the Hillians have three games in hand.

The award for ‘Best Collaboration between Landlord and Tenant’ is shared between Aveley and Grays Athletic, as between the two clubs and their supporters they worked immensely hard to ensure that Athletic’s clash with Bury Town could go ahead. Grays were doubly busy before the match, manager Jamie Stuart announcing that he had added former Wolves, Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leeds United player Jermaine Wright to his coaching staff, and they were quickly off the mark when Kieran Bishop put them ahead in the ninth minute. Joao Carlos had made it two by the twelfth minute, and it was three in twenty- and game over for Bury- as Bishop hit his second. Cemal Ramadan did manage a second half consolation for Bury, but his side were leapfrogged by their hosts, who now sit in ninth place after losing only one of their last nine matches.

Finally, the award for ‘Most Beautiful Goal of the Weekend’ goes to Worthing substitute Keiron Pamment, for his second as the Mackerel Men saw off league leaders Billericay Town at Woodside Road. We won’t write too much about it as we waxed lyrical in our #Bostikmatchday feature which you can read HERE, but my goodness it was magnificent. The images adorning this round up were sent to us last night by Worthing photographer Marcus Hoare, and one of them shows clearly the moment when Pamment struck the ball. If you’d like an even better view go over to Worthing FC TV and take a look at the highlights- but please note that it was even more special when you were standing behind the goal watching the ball fall into the net, and the camera doesn’t give you that angle!

We’ve an extensive programme of midweek games (fingers crossed) including Billericay Town hosting third place Dulwich Hamlet- so if you missed your football yesterday, hopefully we’ll have some for you by Tuesday.