A happy night for Bowers and Bees

Bowers and Pitsea travelled to East London to take on Redbridge, and hoped to bounce back after their defeat to leaders Lowestoft Town at the weekend. Bowers were eight unbeaten until the Trawler Boys sailed into town on Saturday, and started the night in fifth place and aware that victory would see them climb to third- and they charged into action determined to record that victory, were three goals to the good in almost no time at all, and then ended the evening having to hang on for three points.

There were only nine minutes on the clock when Luke Reeve found the top corner of the Motormen’s net from the edge of the area, and only five minutes later Solomon Addy was the first to react to a long throw into the box, making it two. On sixteen minutes it was three-nil to the visitors, Benas Vaivada with his seventh of the season, the player capitalising on a slip by a home defender to round Connor Wheatley and surely put the match out of sight- only it turned out that it wasn’t actually out of sight at all.

Just before the half hour Redbridge pulled a goal back, Joe Elliott heading home a corner, and eighteen minutes from time Elliott was at it again, this time firing home a free kick via the bar to set up an enthralling end to the match. Could Bowers hold on? It turned out that they could- but only just, Lewis Clark having a goal ruled out for offside for the Motormen, who will be delighted by the strength of their comeback but disappointed that it brought them no reward.

Bowers climb to third- ten points behind the leaders, but seven clear of sixth place Basildon United- and also complete a double against the Motormen. Redbridge are fifteenth.

Basildon United climbed to sixth place after a dominant first half gave them three points against Maldon & Tiptree, despite a late rally from the Jammers. The Bees went ahead after twelve minutes at the TLM Environmental Stadium, Sid Walker the fastest to react in a goalmouth scramble- and little more than ten minutes later they doubled their advantage, Ben Allen hitting a beauty to double their advantage.

The visitors then got going, and Bees keeper George Marsh was repeatedly called into action, but it took until there were only ten minutes to go before the Jammers grabbed a lifeline, Harry Phillips getting a goal back. Try as they might, however, it was the Bees who held on to take the points- and leapt above their visitors in the race for the play offs.

Both sides are now on forty two points, five points away from a top five spot, whilst the Jammers have played two games more.