A big night at the bottom!

Our Premier Division programme ended up disappearing under a large collection of mud, as all scheduled matches were called off. So we start our round up in the North Division, where our big match brought top and bottom together, as Maldon & Tiptree entertained Romford.

A match between a side who seem to be running away with the title and one who, until recently, couldn’t buy a victory should have been easy to predict, particularly given the Jammers Liverpool-like form, but Romford came into the game having won their last three fixtures and their much-changed squad finally seemed to be building an understanding. Despite that Maldon were ahead after nineteen minutes, Charlee Hughes with his thirtieth goal of the season in all competitions if our maths is correct (we ran out of fingers and toes)- but the visitors were soon level, Ejiro Okosieme getting on the end of a free kick to head the equaliser eight minutes before the break, and then went ahead, Mekhi McLeod with their second six minutes later.

Maldon dominated possession after the break but couldn’t get an equaliser, and then at the other end Romford scored another! This time it was Archie Tamplin who found the back of the home net. Three-one with ten minutes to go- could the Jammers respond? They tried, but Romford held on for a famous victory that means they only stay bottom on goal difference.

Brentwood Town, who started the evening seven points clear of the relegation place, were desperate to get back to winning ways as they ‘hosted’ Cambridge City. The match was played at Tilbury’s Chadfields, as the pitch at the Brentwood Arena remained unplayable.

Town had won two consecutive matches but came down with a bump against Felixstowe at the weekend, whilst City had won their last two and were in no mood to help their hosts out, taking the lead eight minutes before the break through Mikey Davis. They doubled their lead just before the hour, Tom Wood with the second goal, and held onto their advantage in a match that finished in appalling weather. Still, we’ve had months of that so we should all be used to it by now!

South Central

Bottom side Northwood had looked in improved form over recent matches but still hadn’t managed to take as much as a point from any of them, and came into their match with a fast-improving Marlow having lost ten in a row. They must have been heartened just after the half hour, however, when Romario Hart gave them the lead- but not as heartened as they were at full time, as that turned out to be the only goal of the game! Northwood move off the bottom, to be replaced by Staines Town who are three points behind and have played a game more.

South East

Haywards Heath Town hosted Faversham Town aware that they could climb four places with victory. A late goal had seen them do the double over Sevenoaks Town at the weekend, whilst Faversham, in contrast, had gone nine matches without a victory- but it was the Lilywhites who got their noses in front as Anthony Adesite, who got two in their draw with Phoenix Sports on Saturday, scored again after fourteen minutes. Heath didn’t take that lying down and equalised- Byron Napper scoring for the second match in a row ten minutes before the break.

Into the second half and the hosts took control. First Danny Cumber gave them the lead after sixty five minutes, and four minutes later it was three-one as Nico Cotton scored from the spot. When Andrew Dalhouse made it four with fourteen minutes remaining it was game over for the visitors, but Heath still hadn’t finished and Raheem Sterling-Parker made it five right at the end. They climb to eleventh place.

Phoenix Sports, who grabbed a late point against Faversham at the weekend, hosted Sittingbourne. Sports had only one point from their last three matches, whilst the Brickies hadn’t picked up a win in seven matches and had lost six of them, including the last five, so both could have done with three points- but it was the hosts who made the breakthrough, Jack Hopkins scoring after twenty five minutes.

Sports doubled their lead after fifty six minutes, Ryan Andrews breaching the Brickies backline, and Kenny Alireu finished things off with their third just before the end, a result which sees them up to ninth.

Velocity Trophy

We had a Quarter Final tie at the Camping World Community Stadium, as Horsham hosted Margate. The Hornets had only lost twice at home in the league all season, and the last one of those had been a shock heavy defeat to Margate on November 30th, so revenge was undoubtedly on their minds as well as a Semi-Final place- and they got an early breakthrough, Jack Brivio putting them ahead after only seven minutes.

Margate weren’t helped by the dismissal of Ben Swift soon after the break, a straight red card being brandished after a melee, and although the ten men applied some pressure the hosts held on for victory.