Eight in a row for Borough

Eastbourne Borough had the chance to edge ever closer to the top two as they welcomed second bottom Stanway Rovers. The hosts were clear favourites and looking for an eighth win in a row, whilst with two wins and eight defeats from their last ten Rovers were desperate to take something from the match- particularly as they started the evening eight points from safety.

The hosts opened the scoring six minutes before half time, Josh Rees, on the end of a Matthew Hayden cross, with his seventh League goal of the campaign- a record better than a goal every two matches. Borough couldn’t find a second, and in the closing stages were thankful for two goal line clearances from Sam Oguntayo to preserve their lead- but they did enough for three more points and an eighth consecutive victory. 

Image courtesy of Eastbourne Borough FC.

Lewes, in fourth at start of play, were at home to the side one place and three points further back, Dartford. The Rooks were five unbeaten but had seen their progress slowed by two successive draws, whilst their visitors had lost three in a row, and indeed four of their last five, a run which they hoped to end. Given the previous four meetings between the sides had ended in home wins the hosts were perhaps the favourites, but it was Darts Player-Manager Ben Greenhalgh who got the opening goal, putting his side ahead on twenty two minutes with a left foot finish into the top corner- and just before the half hour Dan Smith made it two. 

Eight minutes from time the Rooks made a match of it, Brian Garzon getting a goal back, but that was as good as it got for the Dripping Pan faithful. 

Wingate and Finchley were four unbeaten and indeed had only one defeat from six, whilst their visitors Burgess Hill Town had been struggling with injuries and unsurprisingly struggling for wins, having lost three of their last four- including a six goal hammering at the hands of Enfield Town at the weekend.

The match looked like it was heading for a goalless draw, and then Hill struck ten minutes from time, Chris Whelpdale -only on from the bench five minutes earlier- finally making a breakthrough with his head. If the Hillians thought they had the three points secure, it turned out that they hadn’t, as eight minutes into added time up popped Ryan Lowe with an equaliser- a penalty, and the last kick of the match. 

Brentwood Town, still in the bottom four as we kicked off, hoped to climb out of the drop zone as they welcomed Leatherhead, and knew that victory would take them level on points with their fourteenth place visitors. The Blues had won four of their last six in the League but were still searching for consistency, whilst the Tanners had hit seven on Saturday- but that had been their first win in five.

Leatherhead made an early breakthrough. Anas Igozouln has started the season in fabulous form, and it was his seventh goal in twelve matches which broke the deadlock on seventeen minutes- and it was two-nil midway through the second half, Mark Waters with the Tanners second goal. Town did get a consolation two minutes into added time, Suley Zudhu with it, but the visitors took the points- and climbed into the top ten. Brentwood remain fourth from bottom. 

Monday had seen Aveley make it two wins in a row, defeating St Albans City one-nil. Alejandro Machado got the only goal eight minutes into the second half. 

In the Velocity Cup Sheppey United of Pitching In Isthmian South East were at home to top flight Ramsgate, and the Ites were ahead on thirty four minutes courtesy of Oghosa Williams, before doubling their lead nine minutes later, new signing Ollie Sotoyinbo making it two. Freddie Godden made it three-nil eleven minutes from time, and the scoring stopped there.