A three-way tie at the top

Our top three are tied on forty two points, after only Southall of the trio managed to deliver three Boxing Day points.

Leaders Chertsey Town needed a last minute leveller to claim any points at all, after an impressive Thatcham Town travelled to Alwyns Lane and went ahead twice, so will undoubtedly consider themselves unlucky not to pick up a notable scalp. The Kingfishers, who had lost only one of their previous seven, went ahead on twelve minutes through Harry Hoath, but were quickly pegged back, Oliver McCoy’s ninth in fourteen matches making it one-one just three minutes later. On the hour mark the visitors were ahead once more, Curtis Angel making it two-one, and this time it looked like they’d keep the lead and three points, only for Luke Robinson to pop up right at the end and secure a point for the Curfews.

Raynes Park Vale were thwarted in their bid for top spot by the resilience of visitors Sutton Common Rovers, who have now drawn with both of our top two in recent weeks. That said, Vale didn’t help themselves, playing much of the match with ten men after Jordan Gallagher saw red ten minutes before half time.

Southall won their third match in a row to join the leading trio on forty two points, but they left it late after falling behind at Northwood. Kofi Anokye-Broadi put the Woods ahead on the hour mark, but The All’s new marksman Brendan Matthew, signed from Ascot United recently, won the match for them with his twenty second and twenty third goals of the season. The equaliser arrived seventeen minutes from time, and the winner with only three minutes remaining, and that’s three goals he’s scored against the Woods this month.

Leatherhead are scoring fewer goals than any of their promotion rivals, but they are conceding fewer too, and a third clean sheet in four was coupled with a Tyler Cox goal shortly after half time as the Tanners defeated Corinthian-Casuals. A late red card for Francis Quarm made the visitors afternoon even worse.

Marlow made it two three-two defeats in a row as Hartley Wintney got back to winning ways at Oak Tree Road. The hosts went ahead on fourteen minutes, Dave Tarpey with the opener, but they were ahead for only two minutes before Conor Lynch got an equaliser, and it was to prove a red letter day for Lynch and The Row. He put the visitors ahead just before the break, and although Kai Hamilton-Olise levelled for Marlow seven minutes later there was no stopping the Hartley Wintney number nine, and he got his hat trick and the winner twenty four minutes from time. Hartley Wintney are in eighth place, five points behind Marlow, who hold on to fifth- and their celebrations are shown courtesy of Josie Shipman.

Hanworth Villa were the victors in an eight goal thriller at Ashford Town- and move to within a point of the top five, but they needed two late, late goals to finalise their victory. Villa went ahead on ten minutes through Kyen Nicholas, and although Scott Day quickly levelled for the Tangerines another from Nicholas ensured the visitors were ahead at the break. They weren’t ahead for long after the start of the second half, Daniel Stokoe equalising for the hosts, but the Villa lead was restored just after the hour, Gagendeep Samra making it three-two. Again the Tangerines hit back, and looked to have earned a point when Sam Humphreys levelled with seven minutes left- but right at the end the visitors struck again, and they did it twice, Guy Ansah-Palmer and Sam Merson somehow turning a three-three draw into a five-three win. That’s only one defeat in ten for Villa.

It’s ten points from twelve for South Park Reigate, their third victory from four coming in style at Chipstead, who have now lost nine in a row. All of the goals came after the break, and the first four of them went to the Sparks, Craig McGee, Deondre Date, Ryan Healy and McGee once more making it four-nil before the Chips got a late consolation through Arlie Desanges. The Sparks are up to seventh.

Uxbridge got a late, late leveller to thwart Ascot United’s quest for three points on the road. The Yellas went ahead on thirty eight minutes, Oliver Harris with the goal, but the next contribution from Harris was to pick up a red card four minutes later and leave his side with a long time to hold onto the lead he’d given them. They held onto it until two minutes from time, when Dan Williams earned the hosts a point.

Note to all clubs- please upload any goal of the month contenders as soon as you can!

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