Two top Wanderers, Marlow hit the summit, and the Seed Growers continue to impress

Dorking Wanderers are now three points clear at the top of the Premier Division after victory over Brightlingsea Regent yesterday, whilst Tonbridge Angels continue to struggle for form in second- but Worthing will have their eyes on the prize after coming from behind to grab a late point at AFC Hornchurch, and now sit four points from the summit with two matches in hand.

The last time Wanderers lost a league match we were still in the middle of a glorious summer. Since then they’ve swept all before them, despite suffering from an early season injury crisis, and yesterday was no different- although Regent put up a fight, Billy Hunt getting a goal back just before the break after JJ O’Sullivan had got a brace to put the home side in control. A hard fought second half saw no further goals so the points remained at Meadowbank- as usual.

Tonbridge Angels have now lost five of their last ten matches, with four wins and a draw making up the numbers. They were at bottom side Harlow Town, and although the Hawks are still bottom, their points tally looks far more healthy after a late goal from Laurence Vaughan gave them all three. Worthing, in third, looked to be heading for defeat at AFC Hornchurch after a George Purcell rocket gave the Urchins the lead just before the break, but a spot kick from Callum Kealy levelled matters nine minutes from time.

Bognor Regis Town climbed to fourth, and got back to winning ways despite twice going behind to Wingate and Finchley. Charlie Cole put the away side ahead early on, and then after Dan Smith equalised Rob Laney did the same again- but this seemed to provoke the Rocks, who went on to score three more; Jimmy Muitt, Mason Walsh and Tommy Scutt securing the points in front of 556 at the Nye Camp.

Enfield Town were walloped four-one by Worthing in midweek, and yesterday that blip became a mini disaster as Leatherhead did it again. Travis Gregory, Charlie Wassmer and Shaun Okojie made it 3-0 after only seventeen minutes, and although the shellshocked Towners got one back through Bilal Sayoud ten minutes from time Okojie had already grabbed another by then. Leatherhead climb to eighteenth after two impressive victories this week and will hope to have turned a corner, Enfield slip to fifth.

A Jamie Cureton hat trick saw Bishop’s Stortford also get four, at home to Whitehawk. Luke Callander got the other, whilst two late Nat Pinney goals for the Hawks weren’t too much consolation for a side who haven’t won a match since 1st September and look to be in free-fall. Bishop’s are sixth, the Hawks held off the bottom only by the other Hawks. Lewes are seventh, but yesterday fell to a home defeat in front of 812 at the Dripping Pan, the Haringey Borough cowbell undoubtedly chiming out into the Sussex night as the away side continued their resurgence with a 1-0 victory, Joel Nouble scoring the goal from the spot.

Carshalton Athletic have been in good form of late, but this came to an end at home to Corinthian-Casuals, who just edged a five goal thriller. Jordan Clarke and Warren Mfula put the visitors one-nil and then two-one up, Ricky Korboa and Omar Koroma finding the equalisers, but in the 76th minute Mu Maan got what was to be the winner, lifting Casuals to ninth in the table.

Kingstonian got back to winning ways after their defeat to the Tanners midweek, defeating Margate 2-1 at King George’s Field. Muhammadu Faal and Louie Theophanous got the K’s goals, George Brown replying for Margate.

On Friday Burgess Hill Town announced the signing of three new players, and yesterday they got three goals to match, despite opponents Merstham hitting the woodwork twice before the breakthrough. James Richmond, Ben Pope and Keano Deacon- one of the newcomers- found the net, the last two coming in the 89th and 90th minutes as Simon Wormull’s men climbed out of the bottom three.

Finally, Folkestone Invicta got back to winning ways- but goodness they left it late, the goals in their 2-0 win over Potters Bar Town coming in the last two minutes. The Scholars will think themselves unlucky, having hit both post and crossbar earlier in the game, but if they don’t go in then they don’t count, and Philip Starkey and Ian Draycott found the net rather than the woodwork.

North Division

Leaders Bowers & Pitsea finally lost a match yesterday, and heavily, as Brentwood Town turned on the style at the Arena. James Pellin, Ryan Mallett and Charlee Hughes walloped three goals past a defence that had previously conceded only four goals all season to record a famous victory for the Blues, who are fifteenth. Coggeshall Town took advantage of this slip to go level on points with Bowers at the top of the table, winning a hard-fought match at Bury Town 3-2. Four of the goals came in the first half; Cemal Ramadan putting Bury ahead before Curtis Haynes Brown and Connor Hubble (no, we don’t believe he owns a telescope) turned the match in the Seed Growers favour. Ollie Hughes equalised to send the Ram Meadow faithful off for their half time burgers in a happy frame of mind, but Ross Wall put the away side ahead once more in the 54th minute, and that’s how it remained.

Aveley, in third, defeated Witham Town 3-1 on Friday night- the image of Witham Town’s Under 16’s shown here was taken with their first team prior to that match- whilst Maldon & Tiptree, in fourth, could manage only a goalless draw with Tilbury.

Former leaders Basildon United slipped to fifth, a first half goal for Sam Ford enough to give Felixstowe and Walton United victory, whilst the days biggest victors were Grays Athletic, who went behind at home to Dereham Town when Joe Gatting scored a seventh minute opener but hit back with five! Thomas Wade got two, and Joao Carlos, Mitchel Hahn and Michael Finneran added the other three as Athletic moved to sixth.

Heybridge Swifts lost for the first time under Julian Dicks, falling to a 3-2 defeat at Great Wakering Rovers. Jake Gordon gave the home side the lead only for Odei Martin-Sorondo to equalise for the Terminator’s men, but Billy Johnson and Gordon once more made it three for Rovers, before Kreshnic Krasniqi reduced the arrears. Swifts are seventh, Rovers tenth.

Two first half goals gave AFC Sudbury victory at Canvey Island, Reece Harris and Thomas Monk the scorers, whilst Barking also got two, Joshua Davison and Darelle Russell grabbing those to give them a 2-1 win over Soham Town Rangers, for whom Sam Mulready pulled a late goal back. Mildenhall Town moved level on points with visitors Romford, goals from Emmanuel Osei-Owusu and Abouhadje Kouassi giving them a 2-0 lead which Romford couldn’t retrieve, despite Henry Fisher halving the arrears.

South Central Division

We started the day knowing that any one of four South Central sides could be top of the pile by 5PM, but in the end only one of the four managed a victory, and that came in dramatic style as Marlow grabbed a stunning late winner to defeat Hayes and Yeading United United. You can read about that match HERE, as it was our Bostik Matchday feature.

With three minutes to go it seemed as if Bracknell Town would retain top spot. They were 2-1 up at home to Hanwell Town, Joseph Grant and Seb Bowerman seemingly putting them in control despite an earlier equaliser from Tom Collins for the Geordies. The away side wouldn’t lie down, however, and Kieron Cathline got the equaliser in the 87th minute to give Marlow the chance to rise to the summit.

The other side who could have gone top were Waltham Abbey, but the Abbotts had to come from two goals down just to grab a point at home to Chalfont St Peter. Adam Kirby and Michael Kalu gave the Saints their lead, but two goals in two minutes from Ryan Handelaar and Ross Dedman saw the hosts draw level, and that’s how it ended, leaving the Abbotts fourth and the Saints ninth.

Cheshunt couldn’t take advantage to move above the Abbotts, as a rip-roaring match saw them twice come from behind and then concede a late equaliser at home to Chipstead. Izzy Bademosi put the Chips ahead in the fifth minute, and although Olu Akinsanya equalised Sam Bell gave the away side the lead once more. Mark Hughes drew the Ambers level before the break, and then in the second half an Akinsanya penalty turned the match on its head- but Daniel Moody still had time to equalise for Chipstead.

Ashford Town and Ware shared four goals at Wodson Park, a double for Albert Adu cancelled out by Tommy Brunton and James Cottee for the Tangerines, whilst Molesey and FC Romania also managed two each at Walton Road, the home side coming from two down after Chiduben Onokwai and Gelu Lupu had put the visitors ahead. Joe Pratley-Jones and Marley Hamilton earned a point for the Moles.

Two late goals for Westfield- one deep into added time- saw them come from behind to defeat Tooting & Mitcham United. Isiah Jones had given the Terrors a very early lead, but Aaron Watson and William Efambe made sure that the points remained in Woking. Uxbridge went level on points with Westfield, goals from Mitchell Wiseman, Luke Maguire and Matthew Woods putting them in command at home to Egham Town- who had only Brandon McCarthy’s consolation to show for their efforts.

Northwood and Hertford Town got a goal each and a point each at Northwood Park, Andrew Ofusu striking for the home side only for Ruben Soares-Junior to equalise late on, and South Park are still searching for a second victory, not having won since August Bank Holiday Monday- Scott Harris giving Bedfont Sports the points at Whitehall Lane.

South East Division

Cray Wanderers flew to Guernsey, and could perhaps have fuelled the plane home using only their own adrenaline, after grabbing a late winner to pick up their twelfth league victory of the season- and to remain unbeaten. Bradley Pritchard put the Wands ahead only for William Fazakerly to equalise for the Green Lions, but Archie Johnson found a winner six minutes from time in front of 638 at Footes Lane.

Wanderers remain seven points clear at the top, despite Hastings United celebrating Sam Adams 500th match with a 3-1 win over Whitstable Town at Pilot Field. Adams didn’t score, but Youssouf Bamba, Sam Beale and Daniel Ajakaiye did, and United held onto the points despite Tom Bryant getting a goal back for Town. Five hundred and twelve turned up to watch- and the headline image of Adams being presented with a memento of the occasion comes from United photographer Scott White- whose marvellous work can be found here.

Phoenix Sports are third, and they shared six goals with fourth place Hythe Town yesterday- although will undoubtedly think they should have had more than one point to show for their efforts. Kewku Ansah and a double from Alex Teniola gave the home side a three-nil lead, only for Junior Aikhionbare, Zak Ansah and Nigel Neita to earn the Cannons what had seemed an unlikely point.

Hythe are fourth, and VCD Athletic slipped to fifth place, after they were on the receiving end of the kind of hammering they’ve been more use to dishing out recently. Horsham, who have been in magnificent form themselves of late, walloped four goals past Joe Mant- Chris Smith, Rob O’Toole (2) and Will Hoare finding the net- whilst manager Dom Di Paola celebrated the club picking up our Manager of the Month and Performance of the Month Awards for October, courtesy of Anderson Travel and Supreme Engraving. The Hornets, with their new ground growing by the day back in their home town, are now seventh.

Separating VCD and Horsham in the table are Haywards Heath Town, whose magnificent first campaign in the Bostik League continued with a 1-0 win at Herne Bay, Callum Saunders with the goal. Ramsgate went eight, coming from behind to defeat East Grinstead Town 3-2 at the Southwood Stadium, a Greg Cundle double for the Wasps not enough for a point as Luke Wheatley, Oliver Gray and Tom Chapman found the net for the Rams.

Sevenoaks Town are also having a fine first season, and yesterday came from behind to win at Whyteleafe. Scott Day put Leafe ahead, but William Johnson-Cole, Xavier Vidal and Kenny Pogue then got three for Town, who held on despite Eddie Dsane reducing the arrears to move level on points with their hosts.

Greenwich Borough bounced back after defeat to Ashford United in midweek to deliver a hiding to Faversham Town, Bennet Oliver, Tony Oyugi, Teshuane Tyreece Walters and Bradley Savage finding the net. Renford Tunyue got Town’s consolation.

Finally, Sittingbourne fell to a last minute goal at home to Three Bridges. Joe Tennent got it, as Bridges climbed to sixteenth.