And then there were two…

Billericay Town welcomed Corinthian-Casuals to a frosty Essex, which luckily had a 3G pitch. The Blues had gone off the boil somewhat of late, an came into this one with only one win from their last five, whilst third bottom Casuals had looked much improved. The visitors went ahead on the half hour, Luke Stokoe with the finish- and a beautiful finish it was, a free kick worthy of David Beckham in his pomp. The ever reliable Brad Stevenson equalised just before the break for the hosts- his thirteenth of the season- but eight minutes after the restart Lewis Croal restored Casuals advantage, and they held onto it to win on the road for the first time this season. Casuals climb to nineteenth.

Image from Nicky Hayes.

Folkestone Invicta and Bognor Regis Town faced off on the Kent coast, in a match between two sides who had not previously reached the heights expected of them this season.

There was an interesting pattern in matches between the two over the past few years. Invicta won both of their encounters last season, the Rocks won both during the 2019-20 season, Invicta won both during 2018-19, Bognor won both during 2016-17- so on that basis, it was Bognor’s turn for victory. Sadly for the travelling Rocks, some folks in stripes had something to say about that! Bognor went ahead after just five minutes, Nathan Odokonyero with his seventeenth goal of the season- but that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Ade Yusuff equalised for the hosts on twenty seven minutes- his twentieth of the campaign, fired into the bottom corner- and within six minutes Invicta were ahead, Scott Heard with their second. With twenty five minutes remaining victory was as good as assured for the hosts, Nathan Green creating and finishing his own chance, and then with eight minutes remaining, Cameron Black- goalscoring hero for the Rocks in midweek- turned villain, seeing red. Ira Jackson’s last minute goal for Invicta rubbed salt (Rock salt?) into the visitors wounds. The two sides change places in the table, Invicta up to thirteenth, Bognor fourteenth.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.