Field squeeze into second, Sparks hit four, and The Row return to winning ways

Our focus last night was on Pitching In Isthmian South Central, where we had matches vital to the promotion hopes of Hayes & Yeading United and Westfield, and to the relegation fight which featured Horndean and Binfield.

Third place Westfield started the night eleven points behind the leaders with only six matches remaining. They hadn’t been in the best of form- indeed they had only three wins from ten- but hoped to build upon their hard-fought victory at Bedfont Sports at the weekend as they travelled to the Skyex. Hosts Hayes and Yeading seemed to be getting over their slump, winning two of their previous three, but they had a nine point margin to make up on fifth place AFC Portchester so victory looked a must if their promotion hopes were not to crumble. 

When the sides met in October, Field won seven-nil- but it looked as if they’d perhaps used up their goal quota, as the first half ended with neither managing to score. Then second half went the same way- a goalless draw really doing neither side any favours, although it does lift Field up to second once more. United have an eight point margin to make up on the top five, and five matches remaining in which to do it. 

At the other end of the table, Horndean were in dire straights, even if they hadn’t given up hope. The Deans started the night thirteen points from safety- albeit with two games in hand- but had lost their previous four and indeed had only one win in eleven. Their visitors, Hendon, were climbing the table after a five match unbeaten run, and had put a six point buffer between themselves and the bottom four.

Hendon won their first meeting of the season by its only goal, but they were behind in this one early on, Ralph Anelay delighting the home fans after only five minutes. The lead lasted a quarter of an hour before Sam Shaban’s nineteenth goal of the season drew the visitors level, his one a close range header, but the hosts got their noses in front once more nine minutes into the second half, Kevin Ngombi making it two-one as the hosts caught their visitors out with a quick break. There was more Deans delight nine minutes later when Lewis Olajide got a third, yet another speedy charge from one end to the other, but Hendon finally made an attack pay seventeen minutes from time when Jadyn Dundas pulled it back to three-two, a curling shot from distance finding the top corner. Only three minutes later and Dundas was there again, this time scoring from a free kick to make it three-three, and that was how it ended.

Hendon are fifteenth, with the Deans needing something miraculous given they are twelve points from safety with six matches left. 

Binfield knew that they weren’t yet safe, only three points above the drop zone, but a slump from hosts Hartley Wintney had left them in danger, too, and they kicked off only six points clear of the bottom four, albeit with three games in hand on many of the sides pursuing them. The Moles had managed only one win- and five defeats- from their previous eight; whilst The Row had lost five in a row, four of those by only one goal. 

The first half was without a goal, and it looked as if the second half was heading the same way until, seven minutes from time, George Wallace got on the end of a cross and put Hartley ahead. That was that- The Row avenging two defeats by the Moles this season with three vital points and climbing to thirteenth. 

Raynes Park Vale, in thirteenth, welcomed the side one place and three points above them, South Park Reigate. Neither side was yet mathematically safe, although both would hope that a few more points would be enough. South Park had seen a three match winning run come to an end against Bognor at the weekend, whilst Vale had gone five without a win. 

Former Vale player Bradley Sweeney put the visitors ahead on twenty five minutes, and five minutes before the break the returning Shamal Edwards made it two. An Alex Body spot kick made it three-nil nine minutes into the second half, and thirteen minutes from time the visitors had another- and it was another former Vale star, George Vincent, who made it four-nil and confirmed that his side would take six points from these opponents this season. The Sparks scorers are pictured, courtesy of the club. 

Vale are seven points clear of the drop zone, but only Met Police have worse recent form. 

Tonignt leaders Leatherhead are at home to Kingstonian, and we’ll have a report from that one early on Thursday morning. The Tanners are ten points clear at the top, and ten points is rather a lot with six games to go, so that won’t worry them unduly. What might worry them is their home form; if the table was worked out on away performance alone they’d be fifteen points clear, but if it was decided only on home form they’d be seventh! Fetcham Grove has not really been their friend, with six defeats on their own patch as opposed to none at all on their travels. They have three defeats and seven wins from their last ten matches, and all of those defeats have arrived in front of their own fans, which will give the travelling K’s hope. 

Kingstonian have only two defeats from ten, with only one of those loses coming away from home. On that basis, the trip to Fetcham Grove shouldn’t hold many fears. That said, they have already lost twice to the Tanners this season in League and Trophy; and indeed don’t have a competitive victory over their green-clad hosts since January 2022.