Wanderers hit top spot, Bowers march on, Hayes held- and a goalscoring goalkeeper rescues Hythe!

For the first time in what seemed like an eternity we kicked off in the Premier Division with the possibility of having new leaders by 5PM. Second place Dorking Wanderers, two points behind Haringey Borough, travelled to a Potters Bar Town side who had taken only one point from their last eighteen, whilst Borough visited a resurgent Tonbridge Angels. The first forty-five minutes brought no goals for any of the four sides involved in these tussles, but after the break Wanderers found their shooting boots, Lewis Taylor and James McShane putting them two up. Borough were still at the summit, however, but then disaster! In the very last minute Adem Ramaden- who had only been on the field for thirteen minutes- found the net for Angels, consigned Borough to a second defeat in three, and sent Wanderers into first place! Angels climb to seventh, one point off the playoffs.

The first Premier goal of the day came at the Enclosed Ground, and it came not to bottom side Whitehawk but to visitors Carshalton Athletic, Jacob Mendy curling home in only the third minute. The Robins went two up after the break through Tommy Bradford, but Hawks weren’t done, Nat Pinney pulling one back with twenty one minutes left, before- in the very last minute- Sinn’Kaye Christie grabbed an equaliser. The Hawks are five points behind fourth bottom Harlow.

Burgess Hill Town went into their match with Bishop’s Stortford hoping for a victory which could potentially lift them three points clear of the drop zone, but they didn’t start well. A ball from Jamie Cureton saw a Luke Callander shot saved by Josh James, but Ryan Charles was on hand to steer home the rebound and put Bishop’s ahead in the seventh minute. In the second half Charles also got the Blues second, and when loanee Ben Worman made it three with twenty seven minutes remaining it was as good as game over. Victory for Harlow and a draw for Wingate and Finchley saw the Hillians fall to second bottom, Stortford climb to twelfth- and Green Elephants manager Simon Wormull later described the efforts made by his players as “unacceptable.”

Folkestone Invicta entertained Kingstonian, starting the match two places and one point below their visitors- but in wonderful form, with defeat in their last match at Brightlingsea Regent their only loss in seven. They took the lead in the eleventh minute through Ian Draycott, and Johan Ter Horst made it two before the break as Invicta climbed to sixth. The K’s are now 9th, but only two points behind fifth place Bognor.

Corinthian-Casuals, entertaining Bognor Regis Town, knew that anything other than defeat would earn them an unbeaten January- but they wanted more than that, and Hamilton Antonio put them ahead in the tenth minute. The Rocks weren’t about to lie down, however, and after the break first Tommy Scutt and then Jimmy Muitt turned the tables in front of a crowd at 434 who were enjoying four types of cheese on their chips. An injury to Max Oldham- the player was later able to walk to an ambulance, but needed lengthy treatment- saw a significant delay, but Bognor were able to get a third through Muitt and end the day in fifth place. Best wishes to Max for a speedy recovery.

After seven matches unbeaten- and six victories- Brightlingsea Regent slipped up at home to Worthing in midweek, but made a great start at Wingate & Finchley, Harvey Hodd putting them ahead in the 18th minute. They couldn’t hold onto that lead until the break, Charlie Cole ensuring that the computer said yes in the forty-second minute to equalise, but Billy Jones put Regent in command once more on the hour. The away side must have been ready to celebrate three points- but no, Sean Cronin grabbed a last minute equaliser from the spot. There was time for Wingate’s Ola Williams to get sent off- perhaps the referee hit the delete button- but no time for any more goals.

Margate had gone seven matches without victory before today’s match with Leatherhead, and things didn’t start well for the Blues as Shaun Okojie put the Tanners ahead, firing home at the back post after Will Seager won an aerial ball. A David Martin penalty got Gate level with ten minutes to go, and that’s how it ended, but Leatherhead ended the match without a manager as Nikki Bull- much to his amazement- had been sent off a couple of minutes earlier. The Tanners boss was also upset with the penalty award.

Worthing got back to winning ways at Brightlingsea in midweek, and another victory- this time over Enfield Town- could have taken them up to fourth. Seven hundred and forty three turned up to watch, but most were shocked as Billy Bricknell put the Towners in front just before half time- and in the five minutes after the break it went from bad to worse for the Mackerel Men, Mathew Johnson scoring twice in two minutes to make it three-nil. Town leapfrogged their opponents into eighth place, and Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood said he and his side had “no excuses” and described their performance as “disappointing.”

Lewes, in third, travelled to a Harlow Town who have looked far better than relegation candidates of late, and it was the Hawks who took the lead, Nathan Koranteng scoring from the spot just after the hour. The advantage lasted only four minutes, Dayshonne Golding equalising for the Rooks, but Harlow were soon ahead again through Drew Richardson and held on to the points. After the match, Rooks manager Darren Freeman stated that his side “didn’t play great today, but probably could have scored seven goals, I’m angry, disappointed and gutted, but we have to learn from it.” The Rooks suffered another injury, this time Leon Redwood suffering knee problems.

The headline image, taken by Rooks Chair Stuart Fuller, is from the Harlow Arena.

Merstham are one of our form sides of late, unbeaten in eight matches- whilst visitors AFC Hornchurch have been struggling for consistency. Harry Osbourne put the Moatsiders ahead five minutes before the break, and after the interval they made the points safe, Fabio Saraiva making it two and Roman Michael-Percil scoring their third with fifteen minutes remaining. That’s twenty three points from twenty seven for the Moatsiders.

North Division

Our North Division match of the day came at Parkside, where third place Aveley had the chance to close the gap on leaders Bowers & Pitsea to one point- with the Millers having a game in hand. Bowers hadn’t read the script, however, and Lewis Manor put them ahead on the half hour, and they held on to that lead to go six points clear. Second place Maldon & Tiptree won 1-0 at Brentwood Town on Friday evening.

Heybridge Swifts, who had dropped to fourth place after defeat at Soham last time out, saw Luke Wilson give them the lead at Scraley Road in the 22nd minute against AFC Sudbury. They left it late to secure the points, Kreshnic Krasniqi getting their second only three minutes from time, but moved up to third, above the Millers.

Seventh place Bury Town travelled to a Romford side who were desperate for points in the scrap at the bottom of the division. Bury are still pushing for the playoffs and gave the Boro no help, Cemal Ramadan putting them ahead from the spot in the fifteenth minute and then scoring another in the second half. Before Ramadan’s second Ollie Hughes had made it two-nil, and after it Ryan Horne made it four, as Bury headed back to Suffolk happy and up to sixth.

Canvey Island seem to be on the up. With ten points from their last twelve they entertained a Grays Athletic side who were looking to shake off a hangover after turning victory into defeat against Aveley midweek, and the Gulls didn’t provide Alka-Seltzer, Marlon Agyakwa putting them ahead just after the half hour. Josh Hutchinson made it two just before the break, and the three points sent Canvey seventh.

Witham Town had lost only two of their last ten matches, and they took the lead once more against Barking in the fortieth minute, Johnny Ashman finding the net- but couldn’t hold it, Joe Bruce equalising with ten minutes remaining. Town are fifteenth, Barking one place ahead.

Mildenhall Town entertained a Basildon United side buzzing after finally picking up a victory last time out, and the Bees were happy once more, a last minute goal from Rhys Fatt giving them three points which sent them tenth.

Fifth place Coggeshall Town took on bottom side Dereham Town, and that match ended without a breakthrough. Dereham are showing improvement of late, and are now only two points behind third-bottom Mildenhall.

Felixstowe and Walton United made it ‘pay what you like’ for their match at home to Great Wakering Rovers, and 400 did just that. They had little to cheer about until ten minutes before the end, when Miles Powell got the winning goal for the Seasiders.

Tilbury experienced unexpected defeat last time out, losing 4-3 at AFC Sudbury after being 3-1 up at half time. Could they get back on track against a Soham Town Rangers side who surprised many by beating Heybridge Swifts on Saturday? Sadly for Dockers fans the answer was an emphatic no, as first Will Gardner and then Sam Mulready with two gave the visitors a three-nil victory.

South East

The first ten minutes of the afternoon saw two goals, and they both came in the same match- and to the same side. Cray Wanderers? Hastings United? No, East Grinstead Town, who saw Jerson Dos Santos and then Greg Cundle put them two up at Sevenoaks Town. Frankie Sawyer got one back for Oaks and they home side were level by the break, Tommy Whitnell finding an equaliser. A goal each in the second half- Matt Day for the Wasps, Sawyer again for Oaks- saw each side get a point.

Leaders Wanderers travelled to Faversham Town, and went behind in the sixteenth minute after Danny Walder scored from the spot for the Salters Lane outfit. Mitchell Nelson equalised nine minutes before the break, but that was that.

Hastings United, looking to close the gap if Cray slipped up, saw their game at Herne Bay delayed by referee incapacity, and after a replacement official was found must have wished it had been delayed still further, as Bay charged into a two goal lead, Danny Leonard and Jake Embery finding the net. It was three just before the break, Leonard scoring once more, but Daniel Ajakaiye pulled one back almost immediately to give Hastings hope. Embery had the last word, however, making it 4-1 with ten minutes remaining as Bay climbed to sixteenth.

Third place Ashford United travelled to Three Bridges, whilst fourth place Horsham were at home to Ramsgate. Half time saw both matches goalless, but the Nuts and Bolts picked up all three points when Sam Corne got the only goal of the game on the hour, whilst the Hornets ensured they remained just behind Ashford when Rob O’Toole got the only goal at Culver Road fourteen minutes before the end.

Fifth place Whyteleafe were hosting ninth place Phoenix Sports, and Lauris Chin gave them the lead in the 34th minute, before Valentino Carpene made the points safe in the second half.

Sixth took on eighth as VCD Athletic hosted Hythe Town, and it was the away side who took the lead after twenty six minutes as Kieron Campbell scored. Vickers turned the tables, goals from Jake McIntyre and Aymun El-Moyhalbel putting them ahead after the break, but Town had the last word, goalkeeper George Kamurasi- at the other end of the pitch as the Cannons looked to grab a point- equalising right at the death.

Sittingbourne came into their match with Haywards Heath Town with only one win in ten, but when Lewis Chambers put the Brickies ahead they looked to be certain to make the inhabitants of Blakey’s Shed- and a collection of Danish visitors- happy for once. Kane Louis grabbed an equaliser early in the second half, but shortly afterwards Heath’s Karly Akehurst saw red. Could Sittingbourne capitalise? Sadly not. Instead the ten men grabbed the points with a minute to go, Louis getting his second.

New management team, new goalkeeper, could Greenwich Borough get their first win of the new year? Whitstable Town were the visitors, but nobody managed to break the deadlock.

South Central Division

The first goal of the afternoon involved leaders Hayes & Yeading United, which might well have been expected- but it went to home side Ashford Town, Mark Bitmead putting them ahead. The Tangerines lead lasted half an hour, Toby Little equalising, and when Little put United ahead with a quarter of an hour remaining that, surely was that. But it wasn’t- and Ashford did something that nobody had done since December 1st, taking a point from Hayes when Bitmead got an equaliser with three minutes remaining.

James Clarke put Marlow ahead at Hanwell Town, and they’d doubled that lead before the break through Devontae Romeo. Clarke had his second- and Marlow’s third- nine minutes after the break, and his hat trick from the spot eleven minutes later- and still Marlow weren’t done, Chris Ovenden firing in their fifth with 22 minutes to go. Adam Richards made it six, sixteen minutes before the end, and Marlow climb to second.

Second place Bracknell Town were looking to close the gap on Hayes as they travelled to Bedfont Sports, but fell behind just after the hour, Charlie Postance opening the scoring. They grabbed a point just before the end, however, Adam Cornell with an equaliser, but drop to third courtesy of Marlow’s victory. Our image shows Bostik League Chair Nick Robinson presenting a Manager of the Month Award to Sports boss Paul Johnson.

Cheshunt started the day in fourth place knowing that victory could take them as high as second, and given that visitors Molesey haven’t been able to buy a victory- and indeed had lost their last six- Craig Edwards men, unbeaten in seven, were certainly the favourites. Just being the favourites doesn’t get you the points, however, they have to be earned- and goals from Hafeez Sanusi, Dave Kendall did just that- but results elsewhere kept the Ambers fourth.

Westfield were looking to continue their excellent form at Northwood, and Greg Hayden gave them the lead just before the break. Tremayne Charles equalised for the Woods thirteen minutes after the break, but Aaron Watson restored the Westfield lead only seven minutes later- and a third from Tinashe Nkoma made the victory certain and kept the Woking side in fifth. After the match Westfield keeper Gary Ross gave a pair of his gloves to young Northwood fan Lewis- credit to Gary for being a good sport and a generous chap!

Tooting & Mitcham United saw Daryl Coleman dismissed at Hertford Town, but almost immediately took the lead through Stefan Ilic. After the break Ruben Soares-Junior got an equaliser against the ten men and surely Town had the advantage- but they couldn’t take it, Sol Patterson-Bohner finding a winner.

Goal machine Chiduben Onokwai put FC Romania ahead at Chipstead in the 9th minute, but the Chips were level by the break, Izzy Bademosi with the equaliser- and took the lead in the second half through Ibitayo Oyebola. That’s how it remained, and Chips ended the day in fourteenth place.

Waltham Abbey had slipped outside the top five with some inconsistent form recently, but it looked as if normal service had resumed when Tim Ogunrinde put them ahead at Uxbridge. The sending off of home defender Ben Peden gave the Abbotts a man advantage too, and Ogunrinde made the most of that when doubling his tally- and that of his side- 21 minutes after the break. The match finished 2-0, and Abbey remain sixth.

Third bottom South Park travelled to Chalfont St Peter and fell behind on the stroke of half time, Frankie Jones with the opener, but Charlie Pitcher equalised fifteen minutes after the break. It got better for Sparks, who moved seven points clear of the bottom two when Great Evans got a winner nine minutes from time.

Bottom side Egham Town brought in a new striker just before kick off, but it didn’t seem to help them much as a Brandon Adams double gave visitors Ware a two goal lead before the hour. A third- from Dan Cowley- made it three with fourteen minutes remaining. Ware are eighth, six points off the playoff places, whilst the Sarnies are nine points behind third bottom South Park.