Isthmian League round-up | Carshalton and Dartford continue impressive winning starts
The goals continued to flow across the Isthmian League on Matchday 3, as both Carshalton Athletic and Dartford secured their third win in as many games.
Following impressive wins at AFC Whyteleafe on the opening day and another 2-0 triumph against Wingate & Finchley at home on Monday, Steven Bates’ Carshalton side climbed up to first after a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home to Cray Wanderers.
Forward Nathan Young-Coombes opened the scoring for the hosts before Alex Hernandez levelled for the visitors in the 53rd minute.
Then, full-back Matt Yates was on-hand to score the winner from a rebound four minutes later.
Behind the Robins on goal difference, Dartford claimed another victory with a late winner at Maldon & Tiptree.
An excellent Samuel Adeyeye strike cancelled out Dan Smith’s early opener, but captain Ben Swift ensured the Darts walked away with three points when he struck home from close-range in the 85th minute.
Also continuing their impressive start on Saturday afternoon were Eastbourne Borough, who beat Brentwood Town 3-2 in an enthralling clash at Priory Lane.
Despite Bradley Sach cancelling out Kai Corbett’s opener early in the second half, winger Corbett scored two more for his hat-trick before striker Freddie Sears scored a consolation second for the visitors.
It was Eastbourne’s second successive 3-2 win after beating Three Bridges on Tuesday night, meaning they sit in fourth with seven points.
Over at the Medical Travel Compared Stadium, Leatherhead were unable to keep hold of top spot after a 2-2 draw with Burgess Hill Town.
Mark Waters and Anas Igozouln struck for the visitors, while Chris Whelpdale scored in either half for the hosts to earn them a share of the spoils. It has been an impressive start to the season for the experienced midfielder, who opened his account in the Hill’s 3-0 win against AFC Whyteleafe on Tuesday.
With a 4-0 win over Stanway Rovers at Park View Road, the performance of the weekend could well belong to Welling United.
Demaray Anyadike opened the scoring to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at the break, before Tyrell Miller-Rodney added another, Anyadike scored his second and Ade Azeez rounded things off with Welling’s fourth to complete a resounding triumph.
It was also the perfect response for the Wings after a 4-1 defeat at Leatherhead last time out, while Rovers will be hoping for quick improvements following successive defeats.
Consigning bottom side Three Bridges to another defeat at the Bauvill Stadium, Chatham Town continued the momentum of a 3-1 victory against Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night to win by the same scoreline on Matchday 3.
A Brad Stevenson penalty and Olly Evans strike gave them a two-goal cushion before Kevin Rivera halved the deficit midway through the second half.
However, Ben Allen eased any late nerves with a deflected third in the 86th minute to confirm the win.
Elsewhere, both Aveley and Enfield Town claimed hard-fought 3-2 wins over Whitehawk and Ramsgate respectively, while Lewes displayed encouraging signs with their first win and another clean sheet on the road with a 2-0 victory at St Albans City.
A topsy-turvy affair at Parkside saw visitors Whitehawk go 2-0 up inside 24 minutes courtesy of Kamarni Ryan and Rhys Murphy, but Aveley showed incredible spirit to fight back and win from behind in front of their home fans.
Ollie Peters pulled one back from the spot and Malachi Napa equalised early in the second half, before Jayden Robinson was on-hand to score the winner with a thunderous hit from outside the box in the 83rd minute.
In an equally entertaining affair at the Dave Bryant Stadium, a Franklin Domi double and Thomas Avgoustidis chip were enough to see Enfield Town past Ramsgate - a result that leaves Billy Holland’s men sixth in the table.
Sitting just above the Towners in fifth are Dulwich Hamlet, who responded to Tuesday night’s defeat at Chatham Town with a 2-0 win over Cheshunt at Champion Hill.
Sol Baugh and Lonit Talla were on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Cheshunt are still yet to register a goal so far this campaign following 0-0 draws against Stanway Rovers and Cray Wanderers in their opening two.
Elsewhere at Flamingo Park, AFC Whyteleafe came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Wingate & Finchley after a flurry of goals in the first half.
Ghanaian winger Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei opened the scoring after 10 minutes before forward John Shamalo doubled the lead just after the half-hour.
But after Matt Warren replied with a volley for the hosts four minutes later and Peter Ojemen headed home an equaliser in the 39th minute, neither side was able to find a winner in the second half.
The result provided AFC Whyteleafe with a first point of the season in front of their home fans, while Wingate & Finchley sit just outside the drop zone in 17th with two points.
Results - Saturday 15 August
- AFC Whyteleafe 2-2 Wingate & Finchley
- Aveley 3-2 Whitehawk
- Burgess Hill Town 2-2 Leatherhead
- Carshalton Athletic 2-1 Cray Wanderers
- Chatham Town 3-1 Three Bridges
- Dulwich Hamlet 2-0 Cheshunt
- Eastbourne Borough 3-2 Brentwood Town
- Enfield Town 3-2 Ramsgate
- Maldon & Tiptree 1-2 Dartford
- St Albans City 0-2 Lewes
- Welling United 4-0 Stanway Rovers
Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the Isthmian North, Isthmian South Central and Isthmian South East.