Three games bring twenty goals!

The Bostik South Division certainly gave its supporters value for money last night, as each match played saw a minimum of five goals. League leaders Lewes went six points clear at the top in defeating Ramsgate 3-2, and you can read more about that in our #bostikmatchday feature here, whilst former table toppers Cray Wanderers also had much to celebrate.

Wanderers, who on Tuesday night had planning permission granted for their new stadium at Flamingo Park, had been on a terrible run of late, with five defeats in their last ten matches, whilst last nights opponents at Hayes Lane, Whyteleafe, had been on a distinctly upward trajectory, with seven victories from their last eight. After ninety minutes the crowd had seen six goals, five of them for the home side.

Lea Dawson and Charlie McDonald put Cray two goals up within nine minutes, before Bradley Simms pulled one back for Leafe. But Wanderers were not to be denied, and another goal from Dawson was followed by two for Junior Dadson, confirming a 5-1 victory which moves them into fifth place in the table.

The game of the night, however, was undoubtedly at Princes Park, where Thamesmead Town were hosting East Grinstead Town. After some heavy defeats the Wasps had improved of late, whilst Mead had lost their last two matches narrowly, so the outcome was difficult to predict. It’s unlikely, however, that anyone predicted nine goals.

Danny Parish broke the deadlock for the home side in the sixth minute, before Richard Thompson and then Alex Gaggin replied for Grinstead, all within the first eleven minutes. The upper hand then returned to Thamesmead, as goals from Laurent Mendy and a second from Parish sent them in 3-2 up at half time.

You might have believed that this was excitement enough, but no- Paul Vines made the gap two goals just before the hour mark and home fans must surely have been sensing that the three points were theirs. The away side felt otherwise.

First, Ainsley Everett almost immediately reduced the arrears, and then in the seventy first minute Charlie Postance drew Grinstead level. Three minutes later Postance was there again, putting the Wasps ahead once more, and despite Thamesmead’s best efforts that’s how it remained, meaning that the final score- in case you’ve lost count- was Thamesmead Town 4, East Grinstead Town 5.

Tonight we’ve a match in the Premier Division, as Billericay Town take on Dorking Wanderers (at Aveley FC), one in the South Division as South Park host Herne Bay, and one in the North Division as Witham Town travel to Heybridge Swifts.