An Urchins late show sees them go eight points clear

Leaders Hornchurch, the only unbeaten side in the Division at start of play, looked to be in great danger of losing that record against Folkestone Invicta last night- but the Urchins showed their usual fortitude not only to come back and level twice but to record a late victory.

Invicta had won only one of their previous five, but for much of the match they belied any idea that their form was anything less than tip top. David Smith- who, of course, spent time with the Urchins last season- opened the scoring on eighteen minutes, only for Nathan Bertram-Smith to level five minutes before the break, but when Luke Holness restored the visitors advantage with only twenty one minutes left it seemed as if the Urchins might finally have met their match. Sadly for the visitors it was one of their former players, Ade Yusuff, who struck next, levelling once more with thirteen minutes left- and then a recent Hornchurch arrival from Hastings United, Femi Akinwande, who had entered the fray ten minutes after the break, took control. He got his second Urchins goal of the campaign with eleven minutes to go, putting the hosts ahead for the first time, and four minutes from time made sure of three points with his eleventh of the campaign.

Hornchurch are now eight points clear at the top- and proved that Steve Morison's Manager of the Month award, presented before the game (pictured), didn't come with a curse!

Billericay Town are up to third, but could only pick up one point as Enfield Town quickly came from behind to draw. Alfie Cerulli opened the scoring five minutes after the break, but only three minutes later Sam Youngs earned the visitors a point from the spot.

Wingate & Finchley were in fine form. The Blues hit Canvey Island for six at the weekend, and had won their previous three- whilst visitors Dulwich Hamlet hadn’t yet won on the road this season, which undoubtedly made the hosts favourites. Hamlet, of course, had other ideas, and came from behind to win by the odd goal in five.

Ruben Carvalho got his ninth of the season for the hosts on twenty four minutes, but Hamlet levelled just two minutes later, Adrian Clifton with the equaliser- and they were never behind again. Shortly after the start of the second half Ryley Scott made it two-one to the visitors, and with fourteen minutes left Luke Wanadio added a third. A late goal from Anointed Chukwu made the last moments interesting, but Hamlet took the points and moved up to fifteenth.

Another five goal thriller was played out at Whitehawk. The Hawks are on an unbeaten run which goes back to August 15th, but they fell behind against Sussex seaside rivals Bognor Regis Town on eleven minutes, Danny Howick with his first of the campaign. The hosts were soon level through Imran Kayani, and on twenty six minutes Jack Dixon gave them the lead. The next goal arrived six minutes before the break, and again it went to the Hawks, Charlie Lambert’s seventh of the campaign, but with thirty five minutes left Dan Gifford’s penalty narrowed the gap and gave the Rocks hope. Sadly for the travelling faithful that hope turned out to be forlorn, and the Hawks held on for three points and climbed to fourth.

Canvey Island hoped to bounce back from Saturday’s debacle at Wingate and Finchley, as they welcomed Cray Wanderers to the Moviestarr Stadium- and they managed that against ten men. Four minutes before the break a red card for Cameron Black saw the visitors depleted, but they made light of this to go ahead through Gary Lockyer. They held the lead for almost no time at all, Mason Hall going up the other end and equalising, and the half time whistle went with the sides somehow level. It looked as if that was how things would end, but four minutes from time Bradley Sach decided otherwise, scoring a winner for the Gulls which lifted them to ninth.

Margate, in fifteenth, welcomed the side directly above them, Hastings United welcoming new/old manager Chris Agutter back to the dugout. United had lost their previous five, but that new manager bounce immediately came into play and they left Kent with three points. The hosts went ahead just before the hour mark, Sam Blackman opening the scoring, but an own goal quickly saw United level and ten minutes from time Davide Rodari ensured the away fans had a happy journey home. Hastings are up to tenth.

We had a local derby, as Potters Bar Town welcomed Cheshunt to the Lantern Stadium, both sides in need of points. The Scholars were in decent form, nine unbeaten across all competitions (six in the league), and they took that to ten- but had to settle for a point as the Ambers levelled right at the end. Town went down to ten men just before the break, Chevron McLean seeing red, but made light of that to go ahead with twenty two minutes left, Max Jessop with the goal. That looked to have assured three points, but Nathaniel Orafu decided otherwise with a last-gasp equaliser.

Haringey Borough, boosted enormously by their first win of the campaign on Saturday, hoped to build on that as Concord Rangers came to call in a clash of our bottom two- but it was more of the same for the Coles Park faithful as Rangers narrowly took the points. Ricky Modeste scored the only goal of the game, eleven minutes after the break, and the two sides swapped places in the table, Borough sinking to the bottom.

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