Volunteers make the impossible possible- as most of the programme survives the latest monsoon

With around half an hour of yesterday’s fixtures remaining, this article was in grave danger of being entitled. ‘Much Ado about Nothing- Nothing.’ The Premier Division had but two goals, and both of those at Fetcham Grove, whilst with a few exceptions there had been not too much to shout about elsewhere, either. But whatever happened on the field, the truth is that yesterday’s plaudits shouldn’t go to players or managers, but to the groundstaff and volunteers across our league who turned pitches that started the day looking more suited to water polo than football into surfaces fit for the beautiful game. On which note, let’s head back to Leatherhead, where a number of intrepid volunteers- including some bailing water with milk bottles and pint glasses- made the impossible possible.

The visitors were Billericay Town. Victory for the Blues would have taken them back to the summit, and they got an almost perfect start as Jake Robinson hit goal number fifty for his season on only six minutes, but, helped by new loan signing Nana Boakye-Yiadom (perhaps a Dulwich Hamlet secret weapon) the Tanners were not to be outdone, and Aron Pollock headed home the equaliser- and earned a point- on the half hour. That result leaves Billericay a point behind Hamlet with two games in hand, whilst the Tanners are eighth.

Folkestone Invicta made two of the top three not to manage to get a game after their game at Staines was postponed following Hamlet’s home match against Dorking Wanderers on Friday, but Hendon took the chance to move up to fourth with a 2-0 victory over Metropolitan Police, despite playing for more than 50 minutes with only ten men. Dave Diedhiou took an early bath just before half time, but the ten men weren’t daunted and took the lead just inside the final twenty minutes through Oliver Sprague, before Josh Walker managed a second nine minutes before the end.

Margate, in fifth, also went down to ten men before scoring, but unlike the Greens they could only take one point from Worthing. Tom Mills also walked before the break, but despite this is what Gate who took the lead at Hartsdown Park, Jordan Chiedozie- as usual- finding the net. The Mackerel Men earned the point their endeavours deserved thirteen minutes from time, Joseph Clarke sending them back to Sussex happy.

Seventh place Leiston’s match at Thurrock ended goalless, whilst Merstham missed the opportunity to move up to eleventh, failing to be inspired even by the Easter Bunny as they fell to a Kurtis Cumberbatch effort for Harrow Borough from 25 yards seventeen minutes from time.

The other two matches saw three goals, and each one came in the last minute. First, Needham Market surely guaranteed their own safety whilst making the plight of Tooting & Mitcham United even more precarious as Jamie Griffiths fired home a penalty after a foul on Ryan Gibbs. The Terrors are three points ahead of Burgess Hill Town, but the Hillians have three matches in hand. At Donkey Lane Enfield Town moved up to fifteenth as Ryan Blake and Aaron Blake left it very late against Brightlingsea Regent.

In the North Division the big game was at Bridge Avenue as first took on third, and it was the Urchins of AFC Hornchurch who moved another step closer to seemingly-inevitable promotion as a sixth minute goal from Kenzer Lee proved the difference between them and the Scholars of Potters Bar Town. The most exciting match, however, was at Coles Park, where Haringey Borough walloped Mildenhall Town by six goals to nil. A hat trick from Ralston Gabriel, finding form once more at just the right time of the season, was augmented by goals from new signing Chinedu McKenzie, Ant McDonald and Andre McCollin as Aki’s Achillea’s Republican Army (see pic with flag, which was taken at the Leyton Orient match in the FA Trophy) celebrated on the sidelines.

Borough sit fifth, two points behind Canvey Island who got back to winning ways by defeating Waltham Abbey 3-0 at The Frost Financial Stadium. Frankie Merrifield gave the Gulls a first half lead, before Martin Tuohy and an own goal made it safe in the second half.

Dereham Town, in eighth, needed the points desperately if they were to get their playoff challenge back on track, but sadly they didn’t get them, falling to defeat at Ware- for whom safety is looking almost a certainty. Bradley Frazier put the home side ahead just after kick off, and whilst Ryan Crisp got an equaliser four minutes before the break another goal from Jordon Watson- his fourth in the last six matches- moved Ware twelve points clear of danger.

AFC Sudbury are up to thirteenth after a 3-0 win over Cheshunt, Phil Kelly and Ryan Horne making it safe after a first half own goal gave them the lead, whilst the other matches both ended 1-1, Jack Carlile and Jack Lankester cancelling each other out for Tilbury and Bury Town at Chadfields, whilst Lewis Clayton and Nick Reynolds did the same for Soham Town Rangers and Romford in Cambridgeshire.

The match between Grays Athletic and Barking was abandoned.

The South Division round up starts with a minor shock, leaders Lewes falling 2-0 at Hythe Town. Home striker Zak Ansah has been on a marvellous run of late, and it continued with a goal in each half- goals which means that he has scored in seven of the last eight matches. Hythe continue to look outsiders for the playoffs, sitting one place outside the top six, six points behind Walton Casuals.

Carshalton Athletic moved up to second, five points behind the Rooks with two games in hand, after a hard fought 2-1 victory at Faversham Town. All of the goals came in the first half, and it was the home side who made the initial breakthrough through Renford Tenyue, before Raheem Sterling-Parker and Tommy Bradford wrenched the initiative back for the Robins. Greenwich Borough took advantage of a Corinthian-Casuals postponement to move up to third, a comprehensive 4-1 win over East Grinstead Town moving them to within two points of an automatic promotion spot.

That man Jack Barham scored yet another double, Junior Aikhionbare got the third, and although the Wasps got one back from Leo Mazzone, Nassim Dukali added a fourth as the game ebbed to a close.

Cray Wanderers are fourth, a further point behind Borough, and they broke Chipstead hearts in the very last minute as Aaron Rhule gave them all of the points, whilst Walton Casuals, in sixth, were far more clinical, despatching Horsham at Culver Road by four goals to two. Casuals were two up at half time, Alex Kelly and Youseff Bamba the scorers, but when Alfie Rogers reduced the arrears with 22 minutes to go the Hornets looked to have given themselves a chance. Bamba soon renewed the two goal advantage, however, and although a Curtis Gaylor penalty made it interesting with nine minutes to go, Josh Kelly made the points safe as the match drew to a close.

Tenth took on ninth as Hastings United hosted Phoenix Sports, and they ended in the same places with a point each, Sports taking the lead through Jeff Duah-Kessie before Sam Adams got a second half equaliser for the home side.

Fans at Oakwood saw a five-goal thriller, although many of them would wish they’d kept their eyes closed as VCD Athletic let a two goal half time lead slip to lose at home to Herne Bay. It looked comfortable after Alfie Cue and Jonathan Adebayo struck, but Bay bounced back with a vengeance through Miles Cornwell, Jake Embery and Joshua Wisson to move into 11th, whilst VCD remain seventeenth.

Finally, South Park moved their match with Ramsgate to Whyteleafe, and perhaps looked forward to their own 3G future with a 2-1 victory. Playing with six under 18’s, Sparks took control in the first half through Sam Remfry and Jack Mazzone, and a late consolation from Sam Lawford couldn’t undo their early good work.

We’ve a full programme of fixtures tomorrow- weather permitting. Look HERE for details.

Headline image- taken at Coles Park by Jim McAlwane. Many thanks for sending it, Jim.