Whitehawk move closer

Bury, needing points to stay in the play-off hunt, took a third-minute lead through the division’s top scorer John Sands, whose 25th league goal of the season gave him a lead of four in the race for the golden boot.

Danny Mills levelled matters after 14 minutes and when Charlie Henry put Hawks ahead seven minutes before half-time they looked well on course.

A straight red card for Sam Gargan midway through the second half changed the picture and the table-toppers were hanging on after Russell Short’s 83rd-minute equaliser.

One point turned out to be a handy return, though, as main rivals Lowestoft collapsed to a 3-2 home defeat by bottom club Carshalton, still battling hard to stay in the division.

The Trawlerboys must have fancied a gentle afternoon’s cruise after Lee Smith opened the scoring in the first minute. But they soon discovered it would be nothing of the sort: James Ashton made it 1-1 before the clock had ticked round to the 90-second mark.

The visitors hit the woodwork before Luke Pigden’s 35-yard free-kick gave them a half-time lead. Jack Defty was denied an equaliser by a post and the Robins stretched their lead in the 52nd minute through Nathaniel Pinney, another superb long-range strike.

Smith’s penalty reduced the deficit with 17 minutes left but Carshalton held out to maintain their survival hopes. They remain on the bottom, though, and will probably need to win two of their last three games to have a chance.

Lowestoft, meanwhile, forfeited second place to Wealdstone, who chalked up a 2-0 home win over relegation-threatened Cray.

Scott McGleish put them ahead after six minutes (pictured courtesy of Steve Foster/Wealdstone FC) and Cray wasted a chance to hit back when Rikki Banks saved Leigh Bremner’s weak penalty. Chris Moore gave Stones some breathing space in the 69th minute.

So Whitehawk, who have two games left, lead Wealdstone by ten points and Lowestoft by 13. Stones have four to play, the Trawlerboys six.

At the moment Hawks need to win both games to be sure of the title but they do not play again until next Sunday, when they make the long trip to Leiston, and could even be champions before they set off.

Wealdstone must take at least four points from away games at Hampton on Thursday and Carshalton on Saturday to stay alive, while Lowestoft also need four points from their three away matches at Bury, Thurrock and Bognor to stay in the hunt.

Both clubs are virtually certain of a play-off place and Concord’s six-point cushion should be enough to ensure that they make it as well, though their 2-1 home defeat by Harrow will keep them on edge.

The League Cup winners fell behind to Paul Olima’s early goal and, after Nicky Cowley’s 56th-minute reply, Harrow regained the lead three minutes later through Shaun Lucien and held out to give their survival hopes a huge lift.

The final play-off spot is wide open, however, after
Margate’s miserable run continued with a 2-1 home defeat by Met Police. Kezie Ibe gave Margate a 25th-minute lead against the run of play but Billy Crook squared it from 25 yards ten minutes before the interval and set up the winner for Dave Knight soon after the change of ends.

So Margate are down to seventh and out of a play-off place which, having played more games than all their rivals, they may never regain. The Police take over fifth spot but they are looking over their shoulders at East Thurrock, a point behind them with a game in hand after their 3-0 victory at Hampton.

Rocks, 14th at the start of March, have been unbeaten in 11 games since then, winning eight of them. Sam Collins struck twice in three minutes around the half-hour mark to put them in charge and they clinched it seven minutes after half-time, when keeper Rodney Chiweshe fumbled the ball into his own net.

Canvey stayed in the picture with a 2-0 victory at Enfield Town. Bradley Woods-Garness put them ahead after 20 minutes, his 21st league goal, and Ashley Miller made sure with 17 minutes left. Woods-Garness could have added another, but blasted a penalty over the bar.

The islanders are two points behind the Met, having played the same number of games, with Bury a point further back.

It’s tight at the bottom, with seven points covering the bottom eight, and the situation is even more muddled by the variation in games played: Hastings, who occupy 21st place, have six matches left while several of their rivals have only three to go.

The Sussex club stayed in the drop zone with a 2-1 home defeat by Hendon, despite taking the lead eight minutes before half-time through Sam Adams.

Carl McCluskey equalised 12 minutes into the second half and Hastings were then betrayed by their own goalposts, which kept out shots from Lee Carey and Danny Ellis for the home side but then teed the ball up nicely for Casey Maclaren’s late winner when a Junior Lewis header rebounded.

Lewes are just a point ahead of Hastings after their 1-0 home defeat by Leiston and have played three games more. Gareth Heath scored direct from a corner with 13 minutes left.

Cray are a point above Lewes and, although they have four games left, three of them are at home. That is hardly an advantage: they have won only twice at Hayes Lane and lost 12.

A point further ahead are Wingate, who eased their fears with a 3-0 home victory over Kingstonian. Spencer McCall curled in the 15th-minute opener and Matt Pattison hit a post for K’s before Leon Smith’s penalty doubled the lead soon after half-time. Wade Small became the second visitor to hit the woodwork before John Christian’s late strike wrapped it up.

Thurrock also lost at home and are not out of trouble yet although they, like Harrow, have five to play. Ahead after 18 minutes through Ben Smith, Thurrock went down 2-1 to Bognor, who equalised through Sam Pearce in the 69th minute and won it with a late header by Dan Thompson.