An Urchins and Millers one-two after big wins on the road

Hornchurch did something unusual on Saturday- they lost- but the Urchins got straight back in the saddle with an impressive win at Billericay Town to leap right back to the top of the Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division.

It took until two minutes before half time for the Urchins to take the lead, and it was from the spot, Sam Higgins putting away his fifteenth goal of the season after a foul by Blues keeper Harry Seaden. Billericay fought back after the break, but were undone when they saw George Wind dismissed with twenty two minutes to go- particularly as it took the Urchins only one more minute to double their advantage, Micky Parcell making it two-nil. Three points were soon assured by a third goal, Lewwis Spence with that one only five minutes later, and the Urchins regained the summit- if only on goal difference. Billericay are ten points behind in eleventh spot.

Image from Nicky Hayes.

Aveley are the side who are no points- yet eleven goals- behind the Urchins, although they did their goal difference a power of good as they hammered Folkestone Invicta for five on the Kent coast. The Millers were two up by the break. Brendon Shabani found the top corner to open the scoring on eighteen minutes, and then five minutes later George Sykes delivered his twelfth of the season. He’d be up to fourteen by the end. Invicta’s woes were compounded by watching fifteen goal striker Ade Yusuff forced of with an injury before half an hour had been played.

After the break Nathan Green quickly halved the deficit for the hosts, but the respite lasted only four minutes as Sykes got his second, flicking home a Ben Allen free kick. Less than a quarter of an hour later and Allen got his first Millers goal, assisted by Kenny Aileru, making it four-one and surely sealing the points. Ian Draycott got the hosts back to two-four, but the visitors had to have the last word, and it was once again their number nine, making it fourteen for the campaign and claiming the match ball.

Both the Millers and the Urchins have Essex derbies at the weekend, Aveley travelling to the Len Salmon to face Bowers and Pitsea whilst Brightlingsea Regent play host to Hornchurch.

Congratulations to Hastings United, by the way. The Pilot Field saw them knock League Two side Crawley Town out of the Sussex Senior Cup last night, a goalless draw followed by a victorious penalty shootout.

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