Weather helps Hawks to stretch lead

By Peter Butcher

LEADERS Whitehawk made the most of the weather which sidelined their nearest rivals to move ten points clear of the Ryman Premier field with a 3-2 victory at Wingate yesterday (Saturday).


Second-placed Margate had their game at home to Leiston called off shortly before kick-off and Concord, in third spot, suffered an earlier postponement of their match at Hampton as heavy rain swept across the south.

Hawks took command of their game with goals by Michael Malcolm in the 34th and 37th minutes. Anthony Thomas pounced on a defensive error to pull one back straight after half-time but James Fraser’s deflected free-kick quickly restored the two-goal margin and Hawks held on after Daniel Brown’s 71st-minute reply.

Wealdstone are now second, edging ahead of Margate on goal difference after Alex Dyer’s 73rd-minute goal earned them a 1-0 home win over Bognor, who were denied a last-minute equaliser when Peter Dean cleared Stuart Axten’s header off the line. Dyer is pictured (courtesy of Steve Foster/Wealdstone FC), on this occasion being foiled by Bognor keeper Craig Stoner.

Canvey moved up to fourth, ahead of neighbours Concord, thanks to a Bradley Woods-Garness double in a 2-0 win over Thurrock on the island. He netted his first after 20 minutes and added his second, his 13th league goal, 16 minutes from time, immediately after Robbie Norris was denied an equaliser by the crossbar.

Lowestoft are a menacing sixth, with at least two games in hand on all the teams above them, after their own 2-0 home win. Blake Saker’s 25-yarder made the breakthrough against Lewes nine minutes after the interval and Jack Defty knocked in a loose ball in the 73rd minute.

Kingstonian slipped back to seventh after losing to a lone goal at Hendon, for whom it was the third 1-0 victory in four games. K’s were on top for most of the game and Andre McCollin hit a Hendon post before Jack Connors scored the decisive goal on 41 minutes.

Even after Wade Small’s dismissal with 25 minutes to go left them with ten men, K’s continued to apply pressure but could find no way through.

East Thurrock moved into the top half of the table with a 2-1 win at Bury, who took the lead six minutes after half-time when John Sands took his league tally to 13. Liam Burgess levelled it seven minutes later and Kye Ruel nabbed the winner in the 71st minute.

Bottom club Carshalton came from behind to earn a 2-1 home win over out-of-form Cray, though they remain at the foot of the table, trailing Thurrock and Hastings on goal difference. Leigh Bremner won and converted a 26th-minute penalty for the Wands but a long-range shot by Hakeem Adelakun slipped through the grasp of visiting keeper Andy Walker five minutes later and Luke Nolan won it in style with seven minutes left, another long-distance effort but one that gave Walker no chance at all.

After FA Cup dreamland, reality for Hastings is a relegation battle after they slipped into 21st place with a lone-goal defeat at fellow-strugglers Enfield Town. Liam Hope and Michael Bardle both hit the Hastings woodwork before veteran Scott McGleish netted the 77th-minute winner, lifting Enfield to 17th place. But they are only two points ahead of Carshalton.

Harrow are also deeply involved in the fight for survival, leading the bottom trio by the point they earned in a 1-1 draw at Met Police. The Met had the better chances in a poor game and took the lead in the 13th minute with an inswinging corner by Ty Smith, with Steve Sutherland perhaps getting the final touch. A well-taken goal by Charles Ofusu-Hene levelled matters in the 34th minute.

Where next?

Ade again as Stones take over MAIDSTONE are back on top of Ryman South, edging ahead of Dulwich with a 2-0 victory at Burgess Hill tonight (Tuesday).
Casuals comeback leaves Bridges in trouble IT’S not looking good for Three Bridges in their first Ryman South season. They let a 2-0 lead slip and were beaten by a last-minute goal in their all-important home game with Walton Casuals yesterday (Saturday). The 3-2 defeat leaves the Sussex club five

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