A Casuals advantage

Last season Bowers & Pitsea travelled to Corinthian-Casuals and left with three points and a three goal advantage, so yesterday their hosts turned that result around entirely. With both clubs under new management, it was Tony Reid’s men that had all the joy, triumphing four-one after charging into a two goal lead within just four minutes of kick off. Seidou Sanogo got the opener with his head, Ibitayo Oyebola added the second, and just after the half hour Ben Cheklit made it three. Although Samson Bello quickly got one back for the visitors, Checklit’s second seventeen minutes from time made quite sure that Casuals topped the table after matchday one.

Our acrobatic image is from Andy Nunn- more like it can be found here.

Horsham, our League Cup winners, are just behind the side in pink and brown after giving Canvey Island an unhappy return to the top flight. Daniel Ajakaiye, who moved in from Kingstonian over the summer, opened the scoring three minutes before half time- and it was two before the referee could blow the half time whistle, another new arrival, former Met Police striker Jack Mazzone, doubling the advantage. Seven minutes after the restart it was as good as game over as Ajakaiye got a third, and although Evans Kouassi gave the home fans something to sing about soon afterwards, that was that.

We had a late, late show at Pilot Field, as Aveley defeated Hastings United in the battle of two promoted sides. Bryan Ifeanyi gave the Millers the lead just after the start of the second half, only for Kai Brown, who used to ply his trade at Parkside, to equalise with twenty minutes left. Those last twenty minutes were rather competitive, with five yellow cards and a red card- but they also saw a late winner, which went to Ryan Scott for Aveley- who was promptly sent off shortly afterwards. The ten men held on for three points. One thousand, one hundred and forty six watched the match, and most went home disappointed.

Billericay Town managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Cray Wanderers. The visitors took the lead just before the break, Dan Bassett opening the scoring, but with twenty minutes remaining former Wand Chris Dickson got the leveller from the spot. The winner came with five minutes remaining, Alfie Cerulli scoring for the Blues, who took all three points in front of a crowd of six hundred and forty eight. This weas their first meeting since 2014.

Title favourites Bishop’s Stortford staged a second half comeback to defeat Haringey Borough. Rakim Richards gave Borough the lead on the half hour, and they held it until midway through the second half, Frankie Merrifield grabbing the equaliser. With twenty minutes left Ollie Peters got the winner- but Borough might reflect on the fact that, the last time the two met, they lost six-nil!

Coming from behind is proving a bit of a theme, and Carshalton Athletic were the next team to do it, defeating Brightlingsea Regent. Luke Woodward gave the visitors the lead after just seven minutes, but Tom Beere equalised from the spot seven minutes later and seventeen minutes from time Aaron Smith-Joseph fired home after former Margate man Crossley Lema bamboozled the Regent defence.

Another of our title favourites, Hornchurch, fell to the only goal of the game at Bognor Regis Town. Alfie Bridgman got it, after thirty three minutes, and six hundred and thirty seven watched on.

Perhaps our match of the day was at Donkey Lane, where Enfield Town hosted Folkestone Invicta. Jake Cass gave the Towners the lead midway through the first half, but former Margate man Kadell Daniel got a rather impressive equaliser just before the hour.

Margate relied enormously on the goals of Ben Greenhalgh last season, and he got them out of jail again against Kingstonian, a last minute penalty earning his side a point after Tyrese Owen’s effort at the end of the first half looked to have earned three points for Kingstonian.

Lewes had taken only two points from their last fifteen against Wingate and Finchley, and now it’s three points from eighteen after a draw at the Maurice Rebak Stadium. The hosting Blues had to come from behind after Ronan Silva scored for the Rooks six minutes after the break, but they weren’t behind for long, Dylan Kearney with the equaliser seven minutes later.

Potters Bar Town welcome Herne Bay this afternoon.

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