Trawlerboys right on target

By Peter Butcher

THE RACE for the Ryman Premier title remains very much alive after Lowestoft whipped Cray 4-1 last night (Tuesday) in Suffolk and moved into second place.

The Trawlerboys started the night 15 points behind leaders Whitehawk with five games in hand, needing to win those games by an average of three goals to close the goal-difference gap.

So they were bang on target, but looked likely to do better still after Jack Defty, with his 21st league goal of the season, Erkan Okay, Chris Henderson and Curtley Williams gave them a 4-0 lead by half-time.

But they were unable to add to it and Cray, not yet out of the relegation woods, pulled one back with a Michael Power penalty.

It’s surely now a two-horse race after Wealdstone slipped to a 3-2 home defeat by Bury, leaving them 12 points behind the leaders with only five games left to play.

Sam Reed put Bury ahead in the first half but Stones hit back through Chris Moore and Scott McGleish in the first ten minutes after the break.

The visitors were behind for only two minutes before Reed’s floated free-kick found its way into the net and John Sands netted the winner with 14 minutes to go, maintaining his clear lead as the division’s top scorer with his 24th of the season.

The result also revived Bury’s play-off challenge, lifting them to within three points of fifth-placed Margate.

The Kent club’s challenge is faltering. Strongly placed a week ago, they suffered a second successive defeat thanks to a 29th-minute goal by David Bryant which gave visiting East Thurrock a 1-0 victory.

East Thurrock boss John Coventry has been refusing to discuss his side’s play-off prospects but may have to do so now: they are four points behind Margate with two games in hand on them and the other contenders.

The other main contenders are Met Police, in sixth place. But their hopes were severely dented as they became the latest victims of the Thurrock revival.

Mark Stimson’s men won 2-1 at Imber Court to further ease their relegation worries with their third away win in six days. Lewwis Spence put them ahead immediately after half-time and, after Dave Knight equalised on the hour, Danny Green settled it with ten minutes to go.

Canvey’s play-off challenge also suffered a setback when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Bognor. Rob King put them ahead in the 17th minute but Dan Kempson netted twice in the next 14 minutes to turn it round and it needed a 74th-minute goal by Tom Kavanagh to give Canvey the point which leaves them four behind Margate.

Hampton and Leiston fought out a 3-3 draw at the Beveree. Tom Winter scored twice in eight minutes either side of half-time to put Leiston 2-0 up and, after James Simmonds pulled one back, Gareth Heath made it 3-1 in the 56th minute. Gary Holloway reduced the arrears again and Ryan Moss squared matters with 12 minutes to go.

Where next?

Turner eases Bay fears OF THE three league matches played tonight (Wednesday), probably the most significant was in Ryman South where Herne Bay, newcomers to the league this season, needed a win to make almost certain of a second season.
Quickfire Cass downs Chips A QUCKFIRE hat-trick by Brendon Cass strengthened Hythe’s grip on third place in Ryman South as they won 4-1 at Chipstead last night (Tuesday).

The Pitching In Isthmian Football League newsletter

Keep up-to-date with our exclusive email newsletters.

Subscribe