A Vale of tears as Hendon hit seven- on a night packed with South Central goals

Hendon went into their match with Raynes Park Vale filled with confidence after victory at Binfield on Saturday- but even the most optimistic home fan would not have expected what was to follow. The greens were two goals to the good within thirteen minutes- Nathan Braithwaite and Radu Stefanaoica making it two-nil, and then, as if they needed a helping hand, they were given one- Tobi Ogundega seeing red.

In first half added time Stefanaoica got number three, and straight after the restart it was four-nil, Isaac Currie first to react to a corner and scoring his first goal for the club. Ta’shae Andall-Gibbons added number five only three minutes later, and then the hosts waited an entire fifteen minutes to get number six, Reece Nicholas-Davies also scoring in green for the first time. Another three minutes and we had number seven, Florian Ada scoring at the near post. Finally the torture stopped for the visitors, and hendon end the night in second.

Winchester City have had a superb start to their first South Central campaign, and once again they delivered three comfortable points- although visitors AFC Stoneham did something nobody else had yet managed- they scored! Oliver Balmer put City ahead on three minutes after an assist from Bradley Waters- and seven minutes later the exact same combination saw them two goals to the good. Six minutes before half time Scott Bungay added a third, and twelve minutes after the break Waters went from provider to scorer, making it four-nil. Stoneham did get onto the scoresheet eighteen minutes from time, Joe Warren with a consolation from a free kick, but the outcome was already certain- nine points from nine for City, thirteen goals scored, and top spot.

Ashford Town are a welcome return to our ranks, but we suspect that Binfield wish the Tangerines had stayed away! Town played their first League match of the season last night, and Jack Arnold almost single-handedly put the Moles to the sword, scoring three goals of his own in a four-nil victory.

The first came from the spot on eighteen minutes, and just before the break the Tangerines had a second, Zidan Akers putting the ball into the bottom corner. The Moles chances finally departed fifteen minutes from time when Arnold added a third, finishing a lovely ball from Leo Decabo, and in added time he claimed the match ball. Town go seventh.

Westfield travelled to the Sussex seaside to take on Littlehampton Town, and they picked up their first win of the campaign, turning the match around after the break. Marcel Powell put the Golds ahead early on but five minutes after the break Aderi Dede powered home a header to bring the sides level. Fourteen minutes from time another header completed the turnaround, this one coming from Sam Folarin, and in added time the hosts resistance was finally ended as James Roberts made it three-one, a fabulous free kick crashing home off the underside of the bar.

Ascot United and Kingstonian played out a six goal thriller at the Racecourse- and the Yellas will feel as if it was a victory despite only picking up one point! It looked one way traffic in the first half as Eddie Simon put away a spot kick and Rocky Williams made it two-nil to the visitors, but the hosts got a goal back just before the break through Quaye Vine- and then, calamity, reduced to ten men as Sam Swyer saw red early in the second half. With no keeper on the bench that looked like a match-defining blow, but with outfield player Regan Clarke-Salter in goal and performing heroics the hosts actually drew level, a spot kick of their own put away by Vine on fifty four minutes.

On sixty four minutes the visitors were ahead once more, Javaun Splatt making it two-three, but the Yellas drew level seven minutes from time. Isaac Brown was clearly injured, but remained on the field with all substitutes used- and it was just as well he did, as he managed to somehow score the equaliser seven minutes from time- three-three the final score. Image from Shooting Stars Photography. 

Egham Town travelled to Hartley Wintney, and left with three deserved points. Connagh Wilks put the Sarnies ahead seven minutes before half time, and in the closing stages an own goal made it two-nil- and three points.

Windsor & Eton were at home to Cobham in a battle of the new boys, and the hosts picked up all of the points, scoring the only goal of the match. Morrison Hashii got that goal just after the half hour, and the visitors ended the match with ten men, keeper Rourke Pickford seeing red in the closing stages.

Two of our fancied sides, Moneyfields and Jersey Bulls, met in Portsmouth. The Moneys went ahead six minutes before half time, Harrison Brook walloping home a good ball from Sam Ashton, but Bulls drew level just before the hour through James Sunley and held on for a point.

We had a late goal fest at Earlsmead, as Harrow Borough and Southall drew two-two. The All went ahead just before the break, Bill Montague finishing well from the left hand side of the area, and it looked like that might be that- but it very much wasn’t. Six minutes from the end Lewis Cole brought the hosts level, his header looping over the keeper, and then in added time the visitors regained their lead, Ryan Hope curling home a free kick. Visiting celebrations were cut short, however, as their was still time for Lenny Farhall to lob home an equaliser, two-two somehow the final score.

Hayes and Yeading United got their league campaign underway as they hosted Bedfont Sports, and it looked as if they’d start with three points, but Sports had other ideas. Dernell Wynter headed Hayes ahead midway through the first half,  and eleven minutes into the second half it was two-nil, Amari Fashanu finding the bottom corner of the visitors net. With five minutes to go and the hosts seemingly comfortable, Oliver Davidson headed home to half the arrears for Sports, and in added time James Barnett also used his head to earn the visitors a point.

AFC Portchester host Bognor Regis Town this evening.