Advantage Stowmarket?

By Ian Townsend

After Canvey and Aveley fail to win, Town are three points off the top with two games in hand. We also have important wins for Brentwood and Dereham. It's our Pitching In isthmian North round up.


Aveley went into last night's match at Basildon United having not lost a league match since Saturday December 4th, and that record still stands, but all they got from the Bees was one point and no goals. They extend their lead to three points over third place Stowmarket Town and two points over second place Canvey Island, but Town now have two games in hand over both sides above them. .

The Gulls, who saw a five match unbeaten run come to an end against Coggeshall Town on Saturday, welcomed an AFC Sudbury side who similarly gave up an unbeaten run at the weekend, in their case, six matches. The opening goal came just after the hour, and it went to the visiting yellows, scored by Marley Andrews. It looked as if the visitors would hold on for a point, but perhaps the extra space freed up when both sides had a man sent off- Matt Price for the Gulls, Luke Wilson for the Yellows- gave the impetus to the hosts, and Elliott Ronto equalised deep into stoppage time. Sudbury are four points away from the top five, having played a game more than three of their chief rivals for that spot.

Image courtesy of Steve Screech. See more here.

Brentwood Town climbed to fourth place with victory over Bury Town. All the goals came in the first half, and indeed in the first twenty seven minutes, as Tom Richardson got his twenty seventh and then twenty eighth goals of the season, before Cemal Ramadan got his twenty first, this one from the spot.

They meet again at Ram Meadow on April 2nd.

Dereham Town closed to within one point of the top five with victory over Barking. Shaun Bammant put them ahead just before the half hour, and any chance of a Barking comeback was thwarted a minute from time when Toby Hilliard got number two- his fifteenth of the campaign.

Barking have taken only two points from the last thirty three available, and remain second bottom and in dire danger of the drop.

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Where next?

Non League Day 2022: Hullbridge Sports We're rounding up Non League Day events and offers- and we're off to Lower Road, which hosts Heybridge Swifts.
Towners and Urchins record vital wins Cheshunt are gaining momentum, but it was a bad Pitching In Isthmian Premier night for strugglers East Thurrock, Leatherhead and Merstham. It's our round up.

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